Verona67:

See thread regarding latest development re 3G and DCA's

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/3g-mobile-and-lowell-portfolio-i-23089.aspx?PageIndex=18

Huckster

Hi Verona

Did you receive a response from 3G or Lowell/Red ?

Here is another thread. http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/3g-mobile-and-lowell-portfolio-i-23089.aspx?PageIndex=18

Appears there is still a problem with 3G sending duff info to DCA's. This was on watchdog before and they promised to sort the problem out.

Huckster

Copy of post just added. See what I mean about a potential libel case!!!!

Hi

The BBC Radio 4 Money Box programme today will discuss the case of Mike Thompson. He was chased for a debt that was not his, due to the DCA making a mistake when carrying out searches. There are over 1000 Mike Thompson's in the UK and for some reason his credit record was changed in error by a DCA. This led to them chasing him for the money when he did not owe a penny.

Mike sued the DCA for libel and won £5000 in damages and return of the £1700 legal fees incurred.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/8096972.stm

I have noted some posts on this forum where this has happened. You may wish to contact the BBC programme if you have been a victim of this by a DCA.

Thanks Huckster, I'm sending the CEO and Red a complaint letter with a copy of the other's letter. I've found the CEO's home address too and am sending a copy there.

I will keep you posted and thanks again.

Verona

Hi

Sounds good to me. By the way, this issue Lowell & 3G was on Watchdog earlier in the year. Link below :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/01/the_chase

_for_debts_not_always.html

This appears to be the customer service address, although I suspect the office of their MD or CEO is elsewhere. Companies often hide their bosses address as they try to avoid complaints and get staff lower down to do the dirty work.

Hutchison 3G UK Ltd
PO Box 333
Glasgow
G2 9AG

Must have been worrying having knocks on the door. You could perhaps claim for compensation under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. You should speak to your Citizen Advice centre about this as I don't think these companies should get away with their behaviour. You should copy your letter to Lowell and warn them that you will complain to the OFT and Credit Services Association about their behaviour. Most people do not mind companies chasing genuine debtors in a legal manner, but some companies do not appear to be acting in line with regulatory/statutory requirements.I have noted that the OFT have recently taken action against Mackenzie Hall who also work in the debt market. I have read rumours (allegations, substantiated?) on the internet that the OFT is keeping an eye on Lowell at the moment, so any complaints may assist the OFT.

Good luck. Don't worry too much, but make sure you follow this up. If you don't Lowell will give up and sell the debt on. You will then have to go through the same process with another debt company in 6 months. This could continue for years. You will see various forums on the net with people saying this has happened to them. Most people do appear to give up chasing and don't get there credit record cleared. This just lets these companies off the hook.

If you don't hear from 3G within 7 days I would phone their customer services and ask to be put through to the Manager. Make sure you record the name of the Manager, their direct telephone number, date/time, what actions have been agreed. Tell them you will phone in 2 days if you don't receive a call back. When resolved ask them to write an apology letter confirming what they have done i.e. debt record cleared, lowell notified and what compensation they are offering you. From memory on a Watchdog program, one mobile customer received a top of the range phone and free calls for a year, so it can be worth asking for compensation. I suspect any fine from OFCOM would cost them more. If 3G have made a mistake saying you are a debtor they have committed libel. Some people with deep pockets would sue them for a lot of money.

Huckster

Thanks Huckster and Rockchick

I think it's them that have been turning up at my flat and banging on the door, last night I didn't answer and he waited outside until my neighbour told him to get lost. I've now written to the CEO of 3G (see below - comments welcome) and am sending it to 3G's Customer Service office (can't find their HQ address) and his home address. Hopefully he'll do something.

Is the following OK? Thanks very very much.

Dear xx

I am writing to complain about a company I believe Hutchison 3G UK Limited uses as a debt collector. Lowell Financial Services contacted me a while ago about an unpaid mobile phone bill for a number which wasn’t mine. I called them and told them to send me proof at which point they promptly slammed the phone down. I called 3G and they had no record of me owing any money, but it looks like 3G have registered me as holding the debt in error.

I have had my account with 3G for well over ten years (no. xxxxx), which I pay on time by direct debit. Since the call with 3G I have been hounded by Lowell Financial Services and another company, Red. I received a calling card from Lowell, which I ignored as they won’t listen to me and now I believe they have been turning up at my flat, banging on the door and waiting outside.

I now feel like I am being bullied through no fault of my own and I have unfortunately resorted to writing to you to ask if you would kindly get these people to stop contacting me.

I would be very grateful if you could do something as it is now becoming very stressful and I am nervous about opening the door to anyone and do not want to feel like I am being bullied, especially from associates of a reputable company like 3G to whom I have been a loyal customer for years.

Please feel free to contact me at the above address or on my mobile xxx.

I also apologise for sending a copy of this letter to your personal address but I wasn’t sure if this letter would reach you via the normal channels.

I look forward to hearing from you.

if you still get hounded tell them you are sending a letter to the OFT as well. that will put the wind up them ;)

Hi Huckster

Thank you very much, that's put my mind at ease.

I shall write a letter of complaint to 3G.

Thanks again!

Verona67

Verona67

Relax, don't worry about this. These organisations will continue to harass you with letters and phone calls in the hope that you will get fed up and pay. They will never take you to court because if they did they would have to prove that you owed the money. You don't have to prove that you don't owe the money, they( lowells etc) have to provide proof that you do. Because of the way these companies operate with scant details of debts being passed around on lists, they will never provide this proof. This is why the call centre staff from lowells etc when making calls to so called debtors, get a bit agitated when asked for proof. They don't have any proof, so they will not be getting their bonus or commission. You have to feel a little bit sorry for these poor souls having to work for these companies. From experience writing letters and making phone calls to these companies on behalf of friends is a waste of time. Lowells in particular do not respond to any correspondence.

Best advice is to complain to 3G by recorded delivery to there head office, with a copy of the letter received from Red. I suspect the original error was caused by 3G, who must have incorrectly registered you as holding the debt. Whatever the cause, it is 3G that must sort this out for you, as you are still a customer. If this is a case of mistaken identity 3G can then arrange to clear this debt from your record. Don't forget that this debt may be on your record in error and therefore you cannot leave it and do nothing, as you may have difficulty in obtaining loans etc in the future.Make sure 3G contacts lowells and Red to advise them if this is there mistake. Once resolved, don't forget to ask for compensation for the distress this has caused you, otherwise you will complain to ofcom..

Hope this helps

Huckster

Dear Mallory

Since my last email to the site I've received a letter from Red Debt Collection Services saying they're acting for Lowell Portfolio and have been instructed to collect the money by attending a meeting at my home (no way!) or starting legal proceedings.

This is the first letter I've had (received 18 May 09 when they state I have to have replied to them by this date).

The 3G Mobile debt is definitely not mine (I've another number with Three which I've had for years).

Do I ignore it or write to them?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

Many thanks, I'll send them a letter and will let you know how I get on.

Bcw are a dca in glasgow, I speak to them on a daily basis, lowell portfollio specialise in buying old debts and some reason they swap accounts between them.

To be on the safe side I would request a CCA in writing too. There's several copies of the letter you need on various posts throughout this forum, or perhaps someone will oblige and post one in here? It's good that you're recording all your conversations, but it might be wise to just do everything in writing rather than over the phone, just in case :-)

I panicked after opening the brown envelope and reading the big red letters "Formal Demand" and immediately called BuchananClark & Wells (who have taken over from Lowells in this particular case). I've never heard of either of them. The Creditor is 3G Mobile, whom I have had an account with for years (paying by direct debit) and now they are asking for £216.45. I denied the debt saying I pay my bills by DD. There was an incident a few years ago when they sent me two bills with two different telephone numbers - one of course wasn't mine. At the time 3G closed this case and said I didn't owe anything. I told this to BuchananClark and they said I had to prove my conversation with 3G and that it was closed. I said THEY should prove the debt, she then slammed the phone down. I called again and a guy answered - he said that I had to prove the debt but I asked him to prove it and also asked him to confirm who BuchananClark were and who Lowell were as they could be scammers. He told me to look on the web (yeah right!). He said legal action would be taken and I said I had absolutely no intention of paying. I asked for a copy of the bill and he said he'll send an invoice from Lowells, which I will wait for. I called 3G and they have no record of any other telephone number linked to my name and no debt. I tried to call BuchananClark back but luckily their lines had closed and then I found this forum.

I have kept records of my conversation, have got ref from the 3G call who say I have nothing to worry about. I will wait 12 + 2 days for BuchananClark to get back to me with prove (although it was requested by phone, should I still wait or should I write asking them for it too?).

Thanks so very much!