Lowell Purchased Lloyds Accounts

[bsb]

Hi to all, I am new to this siteand would really appreciate advice.
In January 2006 I closed myaccounts with Lloyds TSB and moved abroad, I returned to the UK in 2012, a fewmonths later started receiving numerous letters from Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltdclaiming they had purchased two accounts from Lloyds TSB and required immediatepayment of around £20k. I researched Lowell and having read numerous complaintsdecided to simply ignore them and the letters stopped. However, I decided tojoin Experian and check on my credit rating, I found no CCJs but severalsearches from Lowell.
I received a further letter on22/09/2013 from Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd stating that they purchased my accountin the sum of £264.23 from Lloyds TSB on 24/06/2013, this included a rather dubiousdocument that looks like it has been badly copied onto Lloyds letter headedpaper confirming this including reference and account numbers I have no knowledgeof.
I have had no communication withanyone in relation to the above and am convinced that should there be any outstandingamounts these are now statute barred and should not be per sued, I would liketo write to Lowell but am unsure as to how I word the letter.
BSB

[Amethyst]

Re: Lowell Purchased Lloyds Accounts

Hi there,

When you closed your accounts at Lloyds was there any debt remaining on the account ?

If there has been no acknowledgement / payment of these purported debts since January 2006 then indeed they would be statute barred.

This is the kind of letter you want to be sending to Lowells; others may have something more refined/relevant to Lowell, I would definitely tell them to bog off though as Lowells do have a habit of issuing Statutory Demands on people for these kinds of debts and it's best to head them off at the pass if you can.

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: Your Reference

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that under the Limitation Act 1980 Section 5 “an action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued.”

We would also point out that the OFT say under their Debt Collection Guidance on statute barred debt that “it is unfair to pursue the debt if the debtor has heard nothing from the creditor during the relevant limitation period”.

The last payment communication regarding this alleged debt was made over six years ago and no further acknowledgement or payment has been made since that time. Unless you can provide evidence of payment or written contact from us in the relevant period under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, we suggest that you are no longer able to take any action against us to recover the alleged amount claimed.

The OFT Debt Collection Guidance states further that “continuing to press for payment after a debtor has stated that they will not be paying a debt because it is statute barred could amount to harassment contrary to section 40 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970”.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed and that no further contact will be made concerning the above account after that last letter.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully

[bsb]

Re: Lowell Purchased Lloyds Accounts

Hi, thanks for your help.
I actually instructed Lloyds to close all the accounts andthen transfer the remaining funds to a currency exchange company, this wasdone.
bsb