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Lowell Financial Debt Collection – Should You Pay?

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Scott Nelson

Managing Director

MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.

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Janine
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Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.

Learn more about Janine
· Feb 23rd, 2024
Could you legally write off some debt? Answer below to get started.

Total amount of debt?

This isn’t a full fact find, MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

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Lowell Financial Group

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

When a letter from Lowell Financial Debt Collection lands on your doormat, it can be a bit scary. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you understand what’s happening and what you can do about it. 

Over 170,000 people visit us each month for advice on debt issues – so you’re not alone.

In this article, we’ll help you figure out:

  •  How to make sure the debt is really yours.
  •  What you can do if you can’t afford to pay.
  •  How to stop Lowell from contacting you too much.
  •  Ways to set up a payment plan or even get your debt written off.

Nearly half of people chased by debt collection agencies report experiencing harassment or aggression1, and even our team knows what it’s like to be chased by debt collectors.

So, let’s dive in and find out more about Lowell Financial Debt Collection and what you can do if they’re chasing you.

Could you legally write off some debt?

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

Why are Lowell contacting me?

Lowell Group will be contacting you because they think that you owe them money that you have failed to repay. It is likely that you have unsecured debt and Lowell debt collection agency purchased it, in order to collect payment from you for it. 

Debt collection agencies regularly “buy” billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices – at an average of 10p to £12.

They buy debts from other organisations, so the money they claim you owe will be originally owed to a different company. So just because you’ve never heard of Lowell, doesn’t mean you don’t owe them.

However, they could just be using scare tactics to try and get you to pay a debt that you aren’t liable for without realising.

why are lowell group contacting me

This can be confusing, which is why it is crucial that you ask Lowell Financial to prove you owe the money first. We can help you do just that with our prove the debt template letter.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Your Rights With Lowell Debt Collectors

It’s important to know what Lowell can and can’t do when it comes to demanding payment from you.

We’ve put together this table to give you a general overview. For a more detailed breakdown, make sure to check out our article on your rights with debt collectors.

Debt Collectors Can But They Can’t
Contact you by phone or mail. Call you after 9pm or before 8am.
Conduct home visits (on rare occasions) and knock on your door. Forbily enter your home, or stay if you ask them to leave.
Threaten to take you to court by suing you for payment on a debt. Harrass you, including threats of violence, repeated calls and visits, or abusive language.
Negotiate a debt settlement. Tip: make sure to get this new arrangement in writing. Visit your workplace.
Access your bank account, but only after a court judgment has been made. Take anything from your home or threaten to do so.
Sell your debt. Speak to other people about your debt without your permission.
Contact you frequently. Keep doing so if you request that they reduce communications.

Should You Pay Lowell Financial?

Whether you should pay depends on several factors. If the debt is proven to belong to you and you can afford it then yes, you should pay or at least speak to Lowell about setting up a payment plan.

If the debt isn’t proven as yours or it has become statute-barred (more than six years old) then you should not pay the debt.

How a debt solution could help

Some debt solutions can:

  1. Stop nasty calls from creditors
  2. Freeze interest and charges
  3. Reduce your monthly payments

A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.

Here’s an example:


Situation

Monthly income £2,504
Monthly expenses £2,345
Total debt £32,049

Monthly debt repayments

Before £587
After £158

£429 reduction in monthly payments

If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.

Get Started

What Happens If You Ignore Lowell Financial?

If you ignore letters and phone calls from a debt collection agency they could take you to court. At court, a judge will decide whether you really owe the debt and could issue a court order forcing you to pay.

The balance of your debt owed could go up due to fees and interest if you keep ignoring them. If you get in touch and ask for some time to explore your options, they might pause any debt interest.

lowell payment options

Best Way to Pay Lowell Financial

You can make a payment to Lowell over the phone or online. They even have a website tool that can help you work out what you can afford to pay back each month (see below). Or you could use our free budgeting guide!

Budget Calculator page in Lowell Group Debt

Next, check out their payment options page (their site has easy navigation). 

Here you can enter your Lowell Financial reference number that you likely received at the top of any letters. 

Make sure you note down the reference number of your payment, so next time they call you you can tell them that you’ve already paid (it may take some time for this payment to be reflected on your account).

Lowell Solicitors

As you can see it’s relatively simple to make a payment providing you have the reference number and card to hand.

Will Lowell Group use Bailiffs?

The short answer – Maybe. Lowell Financial Ltd are not bailiffs themselves and it would be a legal offence for anyone to pretend to be one.

I recently spoke to the Mirror about debt collectors vs bailiffs 3. While a bailiff may be permitted to take your possessions, a debt collector never can. All they are allowed to do is demand payment, potentially escalating to a county court judgement (CCJ). That’s where a bailiff comes in.

So to sum up, a debt collector might eventually bailiffs, but you can avoid this by cooperating.

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

Natasha

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

Is It possible to write off my Lowell Group debt?

It is possible to write off some or 100% of the money you owe to Lowell Group Debt Collection. The right method to use will depend on your personal circumstances.

Some ways to write off part or all of the debt include:

  1. Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA)
  2. Bankruptcy
  3. Debt Relief Orders
  4. Settlement Agreements

The other method is to use a law called Statute Barred, which states some older debts cannot be taken to court. Without court action, Lowell Financial can never force you to pay. The debt isn’t exactly written off, but it is as good as.

For more information on writing off debts with this law, read our Statute Barred guide with a free letter template.

Can I stop Lowell Financial from contacting me?

Yes! Like with all debt collection agencies, you can provide contact preferences to reduce the number of calls and texts you receive. If the agency doesn’t respect these wishes you could make a complaint to the FOS. 

If you believe that a debt collection agency is contacting you in an inappropriate manner (i.e. you are getting too much contact from them), you can send them a letter specifying when and how you’d like to be contacted.

If you’re looking for a way to deal with your debts for good then you might consider using one of the UK’s 7 debt solutions.

How do I make a complaint about Lowell Debt Collection Company?

From my experience, the fastest way to complain about any regulated company is to follow their Complaints Procedure, by giving them a call and officially letting them know the issue. If this doesn’t resolve your problem, then you can escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Any complaints should be first directed towards Lowell Financial so they have a chance to put things right.

If they don’t reply in a satisfactory way, or don’t respond within 8 weeks, then provide the FOS with as much detail and evidence as you possibly can to explain your experience. The more you can provide the better chance you have of making a strong case against.

The FOS have a lot of authority and can make a big difference if your complaint is justified.

What is Lowell Telecom?

If you’ve received a letter talking about an account labelled “Lowell – telecom”, it’s likely that you owe a debt to a telecommunications company. This could be an unpaid phone bill or you’ve got debts with your broadband provider.


If you don’t recognise the debt or can’t remember being in debt, ask them to prove the debt is yours by sending a prove it letter. If the debt is truly yours, they won’t have any problem proving this debt to you. However, if they cannot prove the debt you are not liable to pay.

Lowell Group Debt Collection Contact Details

Below are the best ways we can find to contact Lowell Financial. Many debt collection agencies have multiple phone numbers, so we’d recommend trying all of them if the first doesn’t work. 

Website: www.lowell.co.uk 
Phone numbers: 0333 556 5552
0333 556 5701
Post: Lowell Financial, PO Box 13079, Harlow, CM20 9TE
Office Address: Ellington House 9 Savannah Way, Leeds Valley Park West, Leeds LS10 1AB
Opening times: 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am-2pm on Saturday
Email: [email protected]

Other Debt Collectors to look for on your Credit Report

There are hundreds of debt collectors in the UK and they each collect for different companies.

It’s surprisingly easy to not notice that you’re in a debt collector’s crosshairs.


I’d suggest you spend time checking your credit report. If a debt collector purchases any of your debt, it will appear on your credit report.

Some of the biggest to look out for include Cabot, PRA Group, and Lowell.

So if you see anything relating to their names, then you’ll need to investigate further.

Lowell Group Debt Collection FAQs

Who owns Lowell Group Debt Collection?
Lowell Group is a privately owned limited company called Permira. It was bought by the International private equity firm in 2015 and is independent. It is not owned by a specific lender.
Are Lowell Group regulated by the FCA?
Yes, Lowell Financial Limited is regulated by the FCA. Its FCA number is 730175
So, who Is Lowell Portfolio I Ltd?
Lowell Portfolio I Limited, is one of several companies that make up The Lowell Group. Lowell Portfolio is the company that actually owns the debts – is also authorised and regulated. The registered company number is 730071 and they are registered by the Financial Conduct Authority. Their registered offices are based at Ellington House, 9 Savannah Way, Leeds, LS10 1AB. Lowell Portfolio Ltd and Lowell Financial are practically the same company, but not legally the same entity.
Is Lowell Financial used by HMRC?
Lowell Financial is not currently listed as one of the companies used by HMRC to collect tax payments etc. If the company tries to collect HMRC debts, you will be able to make sure by checking on the HMRC website.
Will Lowell Group buy other companies’ debts?
Lowell Group Debt Collection buy debt from other companies way below the real value to then collect and keep payments for themselves.  They buy the debt for much lower than its value due to the risk of not receiving payment (but also for big profits when they do). They normally buy debt under the company name Lowell Portfolio and collect it under the name Lowell Financial. 
How do I clear my Lowell Financial Debt?
In order to clear your Lowell Financial Debt you must pay the entire sum in one payment, arrange an affordable payment plan or dispute the debt.
Can Lowell Financial issue me with a County Court Judgement?
No, Lowell Financial (or any debt collection business) can’t issue you with a County Court Judgement (CCJ), but they can apply for one from the courts. A CCJ will then force you to pay – or face enforcement officers.
Can you be arrested for debt?
Lowell Financial and any other Lowell associated company cannot have you arrested for debt. But this doesn’t mean you can’t land in hot water if you ignore them or a CCJ.
What will happen if I ignore a County Court Judgement letter?
A CCJ is a legal request, if you ignore it, Lowell can then use bailiffs to enforce the court order and repossess items for auction. A CCJ letter will inform you that the courts have recognised you as responsible for paying the debt. Consequently, you must pay Lowell what is owed. 
Can Lowell Group issue a warrant?
No, Lowell Group, Lowell Financial and Lowell Portfolio are not authorised to issue a warrant for your arrest. You can’t be arrested for Lowell debts.
Are Lowell Financial bailiffs?
No, Lowell Financial buys and collects debts from other companies. If the debt collection process escalates to court and beyond, they may have to pay for bailiffs to enforce payment. They aren’t authorised to do this themselves as they do not have the right licence, they’d need to ask the courts to begin formal legal proceedings. Some debt collection agencies are pretending to have these rights, which is an illegal claim.
Can Lowell Group Debt Collection come onto your property?
Because they are not bailiffs, Lowell has no legal right to come inside your home or property. You may receive contact from them at your house and they may want to discuss the debt, loan or creditors, but you can decline. If they are threatening or do not leave, you should call the police.

If a debt collection agencythey is acting in a threatening way or do not leave, you should call the police.
Will Lowell Group Debt Collection give up chasing me?
Sometimes Lowell Financial will stop chasing you because the debt is not worth them starting legal proceedings. But don’t bet against them because they could have purchased your debt for next to nothing, putting them in line for a big profit if you pay. The only time they are made to give up chasing your debt is if the debt becomes too old to be collected, for example if it is more than six years old. More below.
Will a debt ever be too old to collect?
Yes, a debt can become too old to collect. Due to debt collection laws, debts that are six years old in the UK (five years old in Scotland) do not have to be repaid because they cannot be discussed in court. They are not wiped by the company, but can’t be legally enforced either. There are other conditions to stop a debt having to be repaid. The debt must not have received a CCJ in its lifetime and a few other boxes need to be ticked.
Does Lowell Group Debt Collection wipe debts?
Lowell FInancial will not wipe off your debts voluntarily. They may wipe off some of the debt on your account if you agree to a final settlement offer with them. Other times when Lowell Financial will agree to wipe off some of your debt is when a debt solution is being used. For example, they may have to wipe off some of your debt at the end of your repayment plan on an IVA. Once they agree to an IVA they agree to this and cannot change their mind.
How Can I Contact Lowell Group Debt Collection?
You can contact them via their website, sending an email or calling them on 0333 556 5701. Alternatively, you can write to them at Ellington House, 9 Savannah Way, Leeds, LS10 1AB. If another address has been provided on their letters, use the address you have been told to use.
Could you legally write off some debt?

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find, MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

References

  1. Indebted Debt Collectors Survey
  2. Jubilee Debt Campaign
  3. Mirror Interview

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers

Firm-level complaints data sortable table

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The authors
Scott Nelson Profile Picture
Author
MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.
Janine Marsh Profile Picture
Debt Expert
Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.