You should also ask the Credit Reference Agencies (Experian, Equifax etc) to remove the default and send a copy of the letter, as I am not sure how proactive they (O2 / Lowells) will be about removing any default.

Sparky

I have received no less than two letters from O2 confirming that there is no longer a debt. I checked my credit rating and a default has been recorded against myself for this debt. Contacted Lowell to get them to take it off. They said that O2 have requested the account back off them and they will update it accordingly.

Hi All

Was good to read through all the updates this evening, I have given that 0800 number a ring just now, it was for O2 Broadband support, they gave me the normal Mobile Customer services number of 0800 2300 202 and I spoke to a lady named vicky, she brought my account up - something i didnt expect after 4.5 years as date of disconnection was 14th Jan 2005, and she said my account shows "no unbilled charges for this account". Although she then advised that I would need to callback between 8am-8pm so that the customer service advisor could speak to debt advisory teams to confirm any balance owed.

I will give them a call back tomorrow and let you all know. CK I do like the letter and have made the amendments and will get ready to send this off.

Cheers

I also concur... without a letter of vindication, you could be at risk of a later allegation.

Also serves to demonstrate, that it's always worth contesting these claims though. !

Sparky is right. Without a letter from 02 you could be in for alot of hassle from Lowell. Go back to them and get them to send letter or email to you. Then forward a copy to Lowells.

Huckster

hi Josh,

Did you ask O2 to send you out written confirmation? This would be useful incase Lowells aren't ready to drop it just yet, and for any future potential issues.

Sparky

Well that was.... Interesting. I contacted O2 on the number included in my letter. It turns out that the outstanding balance was down to a mobile phone that I bought and returned within 14 days (I have no recollection of doing this) . The account balance should have been set to zero when they received the phone back but it was not. The operator typed away for a minute and said "OK, that's all taken care of."

Why this could not have been done without sending me a threatening letter, or in fact contacting me at all, I don't know. I'm sure Lowell would have been more than happy to take my £13.73 if I'd phoned them directly.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Josh.

Urzrkymn:The last two paragraphs of the letter I received seem to contradict each other. The account is 'on hold' with O2 for 20 days, before they pass it to Lowell. But if I want to discuss repayment I'm to contact Lowell???? I guess I'll give the O2 number a ring tomorrow.

Yes I think you are correct to contact O2 in the first instance if they still have the account. Don't be surprised if O2 are not helpful, as I suspect it is Lowell that have sent the letter. Lowell have probably received loads of computer data on disc for 02 customers that are supposed to owe money. If the parrameters entered by the 02 IT people were incorrect, it may have picked up incorrect data and therefore people have been listed as owing money in error. If you did owe money at the time you cancelled your account, you would have received details at the time.

If you have problems with 02/Lowell, send the letter contained in conmankillers post. I would be tempted also to bring this matter to the attention of OFCOM on 0300 123 3333 and/or trading standards. Conmankiller is right that Lowell could end up with a load of money, that perhaps is not legally theirs or 02's.

huckster

The last two paragraphs of the letter I received seem to contradict each other. The account is 'on hold' with O2 for 20 days, before they pass it to Lowell. But if I want to discuss repayment I'm to contact Lowell???? I guess I'll give the O2 number a ring tomorrow.

Sorry I misread one of threads.

access - It's not a O2 problem, it's legally out of O2's hands once they have sold these debts onto the likes of Lowelife. I already believe this has taken place, which is why there is no contact details for O2 contained within the letters received by the above recipients or any means of paying O2 directly.

It's the so called Lowelife debt collectors, who try it on to boost their profit "yield" from the amount of debt they have purchased.

I have been dealing with O2 BB and mobile just recently. As per the awards they have been getting they have been incredibly efficient, helpful and friendly. This flies in the face of everything they're doing. Is it possible it's a scam nothing to do with them or an awful computer glitch from pre Telefonica when O2 should have been winning awards for appalling CS? Try phoning O2 on 0800 230 0202 and drawing it to their attention - it or one of their free numbers is 24 hours - not suggesting going against CMK but an extra.

Guys - Send them a edited to suit copy of the "prove it" letter below.. by recorded delivery, if there is no response or reasonable explanation of how these debts have come to exist within 28 days, then forget the matter. Until such time as they produce this proof to yourselves ...then their letters are simply unproven allegations.

Mr.Spock - the link you posted also contains a template letter at the very bottom..but I prefer this letter. Written representation covers you; as once you've requested the evidence the burden of proof that you actually owe anything... shifts onto them. They try this in the lucrative hope that people will just pay a relatively small amount as an easier option ....rather than contesting their speculative claims.

They can earn a lot from a little, by operating this charade.!

Can you imagine if batches of 10,000 of these letters are sent out at any one time, then 50% to 60% of the recipients just pop a £10 - £15 cheque in the envelope..... just to get shut of the problem because it's easier to pay it than it is to challenge it......then there are people who will pay just because someone says they owe it.....followed by some people who are just too plain scared not to pay...... or some who are just innocently ignorant of their legal rights...???

Once they have the above proceeds, they can afford to write off the other 40% to 50% of debt that was never owed or where people have challenged them or not paid, simply because based on the law of averages they have made a very tidy profit indeed from the percentage above, who have been conned into paying money they never owed.

................................................. ,...........................................

Your name address & Date.

Dear Sir/Madam

Account / ref no.

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

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (insert company name).

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

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

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

I/we look forward to your reply within 28 days.

Yours faithfully

Hi Urzrkymn,

I also received a similar letter on Friday, stating that i have an unpaid debt, cant recall the amount but its similar to yours of between £10-£15.

Again there is no contact details to contact O2 and also the letter states that the contract was disconnected in Jan 2005. Regrettably I only keep my mobile phone bills for 2 years but I am not a person that leaves any balance owing with anycompany so I cant understand where this balance has suddenly (well over 4.5 years ago) appeared from.

Again it mentions contacting this debt collectors for proof of this debt being owed. But as an avid watcher of "BBC Watchdog" I know this company have been on their programme, so have a read of this link, as will I, but can anyone else offer any advice ?:

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

Cheers

Mr Spock

Earlier this week I received a letter from 'O2' stating that I owe £13.73 for a mobile phone that was disconnected on the 7/1/2005. The exact letter is as follows:


We've been checking our records and they show you still have an outstanding account with O2. It is for a mobile that was disconnected on 07/01/2005.

We know we've not contacted you about it for a while so if you need any more details about this account, or have a reason for non payment, then call us on 0844 847 1417. We are open weekdays 9am until 5.30pm.

We will hold the account for 20 days, after which it will be sold to our chosen specialist debt purchasing partner Lowell Portfolio I Ltd who will take over collection of the debt.

If you want to discuss repayment, you can contact Lowell Portfolio I Ltd direct on 0113 308 6018. They will be able to discuss payment options with you.

Regards

(Signature)

Debt assistance
Telefonica O2 UK Ltd


Does anyone know where I stand with this? It just strikes me as very strange. I cant think why I would owe them this money (I have had mobile phone contracts with O2) Also they don't seem to give an option to settle the debt directly with O2, only the debt collectors.