Lowell's financial demanding £1000 for a debt that never happened!

[Daffinski]

Hi all,

I am new to this - my husband received a letter from Lowell Financial asking payment for over a £1000 debt owed to Orange. This is impossible. My husband works in Telecoms and has only ever had phones through work - he has never had a privately owned phone since he moved to the UK 14 years ago (he is Australian). The companies he has worked for have only given him phones on Three Mobile contracts (which was owned by Hutchison Whampoa which also owned Orange until 2000) and since 2011 he has had an 02 contract (again, through work).

We ignored the first letter but have now received one threatening enforcement via court. Could you please advise? I have heard about 'Prove It' letters but don't know what I need to write. I'm dealing with it as he has tons of work on at the moment and I don't want it to escalate further. If you can please advise that would be great.

Thankyou!

[Kati]

Re: Lowell's financial demanding £1000 for a debt that never happened!

You could try something like:

Dear Sir/Madam

Account No: XXXXXXXXX
Ref: XXXXXXXXX

Your company have contacted me regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself.

I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to XXXXXX. I am familiar with the Consumer Credit sourcebook of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which states the following rules.

"A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer's claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer's claim is not valid." 7.5.3

"A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds." 7.14.1

"Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner." 7.14.3


I would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to my liability for the debt in question.

Yours faithfully

(printed signature)

unless any of the other Beagles have advice

K xx

[nemesis45]

Re: Lowell's financial demanding £1000 for a debt that never happened!

Hi all,

I am new to this - my husband received a letter from Lowell Financial asking payment for over a £1000 debt owed to Orange. This is impossible. My husband works in Telecoms and has only ever had phones through work - he has never had a privately owned phone since he moved to the UK 14 years ago (he is Australian). The companies he has worked for have only given him phones on Three Mobile contracts (which was owned by Hutchison Whampoa which also owned Orange until 2000) and since 2011 he has had an 02 contract (again, through work).

We ignored the first letter but have now received one threatening enforcement via court. Could you please advise? I have heard about 'Prove It' letters but don't know what I need to write. I'm dealing with it as he has tons of work on at the moment and I don't want it to escalate further. If you can please advise that would be great.

Thankyou!

Hi welcome to LB,

I suspect this another " clerical error" Lowell have a raft of old mobile accounts that pop
up from time to time.
I presume all the phone accounts were paid for by the employers?
As you say he has never has an Orange Account in his name the we can try the following.

To Andrew Bartle
COO The Lowell Group
9 Savannah Way
Leeds Valley Park
Leeds
LS10 1AH

date.............

Ref: use Lowell's.

Dear Mr Bartle,

I write in response to Lowell's letter dated ...........................: in which it is alleged that I am indebted to Lowell for the sum of £.......... which it is claimed arises from an account with " Orange", please note I do not acknowledge any debt to Lowell for the following reason.

I am not now nor have I ever been a customer of Orange therefore all liability for this alleged debt is denied.

I suggest that Lowell immediately closes its file on this matter and confirms in writing that it has done so.

Lowell will cease to process all allegedly relating to me from it's records. All telephone numbers land line or
mobile are to be removed also.

I am sure Lowell is aware of the seriousness of contacting a person regarding a debt when it is unsure it is contacting the correct person.

Any further correspondence other than that mentioned above will be forwarded to the FCA for information regarding the conduct
of Lowell in regard to this matter.

Yours etc.

Use signed for post check delivery.


nem

[Daffinski]

Re: Lowell's financial demanding £1000 for a debt that never happened!

Thankyou so much nem ! I will get this to them asap.