LOWELLS

[Bok]

hello ALL

I have received letters from lowells regarding an outstanding Vodafone bills.
the bill dates back 4yrs........it is not a huge amount but I don't have a job at the moment and cant afford this.
I was told to ask them for a credit agreement and they came back with sending me an invoice.
I called and said that this was not a credit agreement and they said they don't need one.
is this true? do I have to go on what they have come up with? and how can I squash this bill?
thank you in advance for helpful suggestions.

[nemesis45]

Re: LOWELLS

hello ALL

I have received letters from lowells regarding an outstanding Vodafone bills.
the bill dates back 4yrs........it is not a huge amount but I don't have a job at the moment and cant afford this.
I was told to ask them for a credit agreement and they came back with sending me an invoice.
I called and said that this was not a credit agreement and they said they don't need one.
is this true? do I have to go on what they have come up with? and how can I squash this bill?
thank you in advance for helpful suggestions.

4

Hi welcome to LB,

A mobile phone contact is a " service " contact and there is no regulated credit agreement for this.
It is unwise to engage with companies like Lowell by phone as conversations have a habit of being
denied. Lowell is correct on that point!
How much is Lowell chasing?
I'm afraid it's not just a case of " squashing " the bill.
On what grounds would you challenge the validity of the bill?

nem

[Bok]

Re: LOWELLS

anybody???

[FlamingParrot]

Re: LOWELLS

hello ALL

I have received letters from lowells regarding an outstanding Vodafone bills.
the bill dates back 4yrs........it is not a huge amount but I don't have a job at the moment and cant afford this.
I was told to ask them for a credit agreement and they came back with sending me an invoice.
I called and said that this was not a credit agreement and they said they don't need one.
is this true? do I have to go on what they have come up with? and how can I squash this bill?

It is true. Mobile contracts are not credit agreements thus are not regulated under the Consumer Credit Act so the CCA request wouldn't apply to them.

thank you in advance for helpful suggestions.

It would all depend on how the amounts were accrued. Have you any grounds to dispute the amounts charged? If so, you may be able to get help from our onboard Vodafone rep. :thumb:

Otherwise you may just have to consider an affordable repayment plan or a reduced F&F settlement if you are in a position to do so.

[Bok]

Re: LOWELLS

It is for £200 an I was sure that it had actually been paid by my ex husband
apparently not!
Do I just take their word for it that its outstanding and that the amount they say is owing is true?
I have been out of the country for 5yrs now and have been back a few months and trying to settle,
this is the last thing I need right now.
I have this all in writing, too. they have sent a copy of an invoice but it does not even have them mobile companies logo on it.

[nemesis45]

Re: LOWELLS

It is for £200 an I was sure that it had actually been paid by my ex husband
apparently not!
Do I just take their word for it that its outstanding and that the amount they say is owing is true?
I have been out of the country for 5yrs now and have been back a few months and trying to settle,
this is the last thing I need right now.
I have this all in writing, too. they have sent a copy of an invoice but it does not even have them mobile companies logo on it.

It would not be unheard of for VF to have been paid but still go on to sell an account, it is the worse company for " administrative " mistakes".
You can challenge Lowell on the validity of their evidence of the alleged debt it would be helpful if we can see a copy of the statement.

nem

[Vodafone Company Rep]

Re: LOWELLS

Hi Heidi,

So I can access your account to look into this further, email me via the Contact us form here.

To access the form you'll need to enter the code WRT135.

As well as stating your query in the question box, please also quote "Legal Beagles".

Once sent, you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. Post it on here and I’ll check I've received it.

Kind regards,

Lee

Social Media Comms

Vodafone UK

[Mother hen]

Re: LOWELLS

How would I challenge them?
i thought that was what I was already doing by asking for more than an invoice?

[Bok]

Re: LOWELLS

I sent lowells an email making a small offer for full and final settlement. I let them know that I am not working and that I could only afford £1/month.
this is what their response was:@

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately I am unable to accept your offer to settle the account for £44.00. Please note that Lowell are not obliged to offer a full and final settlement on your account. The whole outstanding balance of £216.00 is correct and liable. However, as a gesture of good will, Lowell are prepared to offer you a full and final settlement for 90% of the balance, meaning a one off payment of £194.00 would close the account.

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order.

I am happy for you to pay £1.00 per month to this account if you are unable to pay the full and final settlement figure. Please reply to this email confirming the date you are going to begin the Standing Order, I have provided our bank details below for you, and please ensure to quote the Lowell reference number to ensure we receive payments successfully

what do you suggest I do? should I just set up a standing order? or should I make another offer?
thank you

[FlamingParrot]

Re: LOWELLS

I sent lowells an email making a small offer for full and final settlement. I let them know that I am not working and that I could only afford £1/month.
this is what their response was:@

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately I am unable to accept your offer to settle the account for £44.00. Please note that Lowell are not obliged to offer a full and final settlement on your account. The whole outstanding balance of £216.00 is correct and liable. However, as a gesture of good will, Lowell are prepared to offer you a full and final settlement for 90% of the balance, meaning a one off payment of £194.00 would close the account.

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order.

I am happy for you to pay £1.00 per month to this account if you are unable to pay the full and final settlement figure. Please reply to this email confirming the date you are going to begin the Standing Order, I have provided our bank details below for you, and please ensure to quote the Lowell reference number to ensure we receive payments successfully

I think the above sums it all up with regards to their attitude! So they could have £44 next week OR wait nearly FOUR YEARS to get their hands on the same £44 @ £1/month and they chose to wait four years to get their hands on the money. :wacko: :crazy:

what do you suggest I do? should I just set up a standing order? or should I make another offer?
thank you

I would set up the standing order and let them wait four years to get what they could have had in a few days! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[nemesis45]

Re: LOWELLS

I sent lowells an email making a small offer for full and final settlement. I let them know that I am not working and that I could only afford £1/month.
this is what their response was:@

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately I am unable to accept your offer to settle the account for £44.00. Please note that Lowell are not obliged to offer a full and final settlement on your account. The whole outstanding balance of £216.00 is correct and liable. However, as a gesture of good will, Lowell are prepared to offer you a full and final settlement for 90% of the balance, meaning a one off payment of £194.00 would close the account.

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order.

I am happy for you to pay £1.00 per month to this account if you are unable to pay the full and final settlement figure. Please reply to this email confirming the date you are going to begin the Standing Order, I have provided our bank details below for you, and please ensure to quote the Lowell reference number to ensure we receive payments successfully

what do you suggest I do? should I just set up a standing order? or should I make another offer?
thank you

In this case Heidi I say set up a standing order, and forget about it!!
You can expect Lowell to send begging letters asking for an increase
you just tell them nothings changed.

nem

[Bok]

Re: LOWELLS

hi there

could I ask if the below statement is true?

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order

thanx

[nemesis45]

Re: LOWELLS

hi there

could I ask if the below statement is true?

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order

thanx

Hi yes that is correct, the Information Commissioners Office which regulates the manner in which entries on
Credit Files are maintained says the each entry must be accurate and up to date so to be accurate the entry
for your debt would have to be marked " partially satisfied".

nem

[Debt Camel]

Re: LOWELLS

hi there

could I ask if the below statement is true?

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order

yes, that is the normal way that F&Fs are recorded on your credit file. See http://debtcamel.co.uk/ff-credit-record/ for more details.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: LOWELLS

hi there

could I ask if the below statement is true?

I will also make you aware, if an account is cleared by a full and final settlement, the debt would show on your credit file to potential creditors as 'partially satisfied', not 'satisfied'. Please advise if you would like to accept this, if not I am happy for you to set up the Standing Order

thanx

Yes, it is, and it hardly makes any difference credit-wise to have a partially satisfied default, all the more reason to set up the standing order and let them wait four years to get what they could have had in one go IMHO. :thumb: