Everything you need to know about Lowell Financial
Lowell Financial is a debt collection agency that recovers debt that is owed to creditors. You may hear from them if you find yourself in this situation.
Recently received a letter, email, or phone call from Lowell Financial and uncertain of the next steps to take? We’ve got you covered in this blog, going over everything you need to know about Lowell Financial and what to do next.
Unsure about the best plan of action to clear your debt? Get in touch with NDH Financial’s team of debt consultants to discuss your options and for further information on our debt solutions.
Who Are Lowell Financial?
Lowell Financial Limited (Lowell Financial Ltd.) is a debt collection company registered in England and Wales that buys debts from creditors. It is an agency under the umbrella of Lowell Group, which houses other companies (Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd and Lowell Solicitors) that operate across Europe. All of the companies under Lowell Group participate in the debt collection process.
If you are contacted by Lowell Financial, you will most likely have unsecured debts that Lowell Financial has either purchased from, or is chasing on behalf of, the original creditor. Nonetheless, it is good practice to verify that it is actually Lowell Financial that is contacting you, as there are third parties that may also pose as debt collection agencies as part of large fraudulent schemes.
If you are ever unsure about who you should now be paying, always contact your original creditor so that they can confirm and explain the situation to you and clarify who you now owe money to beyond any doubt.
Are Lowell Financial Regulated?
Lowell Financial is regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning that they are classed as a legitimate agency authorised to carry out certain regulated financial activities.
If you are in any way unsatisfied with the way that they are handling your case – whether that is how they speak to you, if you are receiving an extraordinary amount of calls and letters, or if they have violated your rights – do not be afraid to make a complaint against them, as you are well within your rights to do so.
Send your complaints to the debt collector themselves – but if this does not help, then you can also complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FCA.
What Debts Can Lowell Financial Collect?
The types of debts that debt collectors like Lowell Financial collect are primarily commercial debt such as:
PRA recovers debts from:
- A loan (or loans) from banks or other lenders, as well as from individual parties
- Overdrafts
- Credit card debt
- Utility bills
- Mobile phone contracts
- Council tax
It is important to note that interest or charges can either stop or continue (according to the conditions on your contract with your original creditor) once the debt has been purchased by a new debt collection agency - such as Lowell Financial).
What Powers Does Lowell Financial Have?
Although debt collection may seem intimidating, debt collection agencies have no special legal powers that set them apart from creditors. Whilst they can either act on behalf of the creditor or may now own the debt that you owe to the original creditor, they will simply try and get in touch with you. Lowell Financial may contact you by:
Text
Phone
Letter
It is also possible that they may send Lowell Financial representatives to your address – however, home visits are not that common and may only be done should you ignore their other remote attempts of contacting you. You will be informed in a letter or other mode of communication prior to the visit that a field agent will be visiting your home.
It would be a good idea to not avoid any correspondence that you receive from debt collectors like Lowell Financial, as this could lead to further action such as them turning up at your doorstep.
If they do call at your house, keep in mind that you are within your rights to refuse entry and ask them to leave – and they must do so.
Can Your Assets be Seized?
Lowell Financial are not an enforcement agency or bailiffs, meaning that they, unlike bailiffs, are unable to visit your home and seize assets. And, even then, a bailiff will only be authorised to take your belongings after court action has been issued - this is if you have been ignoring the court’s correspondence, or you were unable to make a suitable payment plan.
It is worth noting that an exception to this – and so where bailiffs may turn up at your door without a court order – is if your debt lies with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Examples of some of the items that bailiffs are able to take include items that you own or co-own, such as:
Vehicles
Jewellery
Furniture – apart from those that are essential, like beds
Electrical goods – such as laptops or computers, unless they are for work or school purposes
As a debt collector, Lowell Financial does not possess the legal rights to seize assets like an enforcement agency can. At most, they are only able to ask you to pay back your loan or arrange an appropriate payment plan for your debt. They will be able to discreetly discuss your options with you, but they are not entitled to take your belongings, nor should they act threatening or menacing towards you.
Get in touch today
NDH Financial can help free you from the shackles of your debt.
Call us on 0800 002 9051 or apply below.
How to Write Off Debt When You’ve Been Contacted by a Debt Collector
If you have been contacted by a debt collector, you will probably be wondering how to write off your debt. If a debt collector knocks on your door asking for payment, do not offer them cash payments. Instead, call the agency later when you have formulated a suitable plan to write off your debt in a realistically affordable manner.
If you find yourself in a vulnerable situation – for example, you are going through bereavement or loss of a loved one – and it is taking a toll on your mental health and/or your performance at work, thus affecting your ability to pay off your debts on time, then make sure that you let the debt collection agency know this. They may be able to provide you with additional support.
Otherwise, if you are struggling with writing off your debt, you can get professional help with debt solution providers like NDH Financial who specialise in individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs).
IVAs: Explained
An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors that freezes your debts, enabling you to pay them off over a certain period of time in affordable amounts, usually spread over five to six years. This also includes freezing any interest and additional charges.
You may benefit from an IVA if you have unsecured debts of £7,000 or more with multiple creditors. You can set up an IVA with a licensed insolvency practitioner (IP) like the one here at NDH Financial, who will consider the following:
Your assets
Your household expenditure
Your household income
Your assets The amount of debt you owe
All of these factors contribute to whether an IVA is suitable for you and how your IVA will work. IPs may ask for a range of paperwork such as bank statements that can prove your financial circumstances. If you are deemed eligible, the IP will work with you to produce a proposal to present to your creditors.
At NDH Financial, we are able to supply you with an IVA should you meet the requirements. You will need to demonstrate that you:
- Can afford to pay £100 per month (after household expenses)
- Have a long-term source of income that is consistent
An IVA can be an ideal way to write off your debt if you’re looking for a solution that can be tailored to your circumstances. It is worth considering if you are not able to pay back your debts quick enough with any savings or your disposable income.
In particular, NDH Financial can help with the following debts:
If you are interested in an IVA and believe that it may be beneficial in your debt situation, do not hesitate to speak with our experienced debt consultants at NDH Financial. We’ll assess your circumstances to see whether you would be an eligible candidate and talk you through what to expect from the process.
Apply Today
Get in touch with NDH Financial today for a free consultation about your debts.
Call us on 0800 002 9051 or apply below.
Financial Solutions with NDH Financial
NDH Financial’s team of experienced IVA consultants can help you with your debt problems, helping you identify suitable options and providing information about our IVA debt solution. We specialise in IVAs, meaning that you can be rest assured that you will be given a first-class service with us.
With our customer-focused approach, you can trust us to be that helping hand when you are facing financial difficulties. NDH Financial recognises that debt is not fixed with a one-size-fits-all solution, which is why we also recommend that you consider all the possible solutions for your debt situation.
On the other hand, as debt can impact people’s lives stressfully, IVAs can potentially be extremely helpful in helping you get back on your feet. With over 15 years of experience and expertise in personal insolvency, we can provide you with the support that you need.
Get in touch with NDH
Interested? Book a no-obligation consultation with one of our NDH Financial debt consultants today.
How NDH Financial can help you with your debts
If you are worried about having to deal with the PRA Group or other debt collection agencies, our debt consultants can talk you through your debt repayment options.
We specialise in Individual Voluntary Arrangements and, depending on your circumstance, will be able to determine the best way in which to tackle your debts.
We've worked with thousands of people over the years, providing an important service to consumers by helping them pay off their debts.
More information about IVAs can be found on our IVA Learning Hub, but there are several other debt solutions available if you don't think an IVA is right for you.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact us for a no obligation consultation today.
*Once the IVA is completed, all outstanding debts that are included are written off. There are some unsecured debts that will be excluded, such as court fines, child maintenance arrears and Student Loans, and you will need to make separate payments to these. As the IVA will only cover unsecured debts, you will need to continue making payments to secured creditors both during and after the IVA.
Do You Have Any More Questions?
Our IVA Learning Hub Can Help
We know you might have questions and that’s fine.
We can answer most of those on our call.
But we’ve also built our learning hub so that you can learn more about an IVA and see if one is right for you.
Click below to check it out.