The text says Lowell, it wants you to click a link, and your stomach drops because you cannot tell if it is real.
Quick answer: Lowell is a real debt collector, so a genuine letter is possible. But scammers copy real names too. Do not click the link or call the number in the message. Look up the firm yourself on the FCA register, then contact it using details from its official website.
Based on Which? and the FirmTracer register listing, which mirrors FCA data. Re-check the FCA register yourself before relying on it. This covers the UK.
Is the company real?
Yes. FirmTracer, a third-party site that mirrors the FCA register, lists Lowell Financial Ltd as authorised under reference 730175, with permissions including debt-collecting and debt administration, and no restrictions or disciplinary history shown (FirmTracer). The official place to confirm this is the FCA Financial Services Register.
That only proves the firm exists. It does not prove the message in front of you came from it.
Five checks before you do anything
- Do not pay, click or call the number in the message. Which? says to contact the organisation using a number from its official website (Which?).
- Look for an account reference and the name of the original creditor, such as the bank or card company.
- Search the sender’s number on a number-checking site. Which? suggests Who Called Me? (Which?).
- Check the firm is on the FCA register. Which? says to avoid any financial firm that is not (Which?).
- Write down the dates you last paid anything, then run the statute barred checker.
A real letter against a warning sign
| Check | Looks genuine | Walk away and verify |
|---|---|---|
| Who it names | The new owner, the original creditor and usually the old account number. | No creditor named, or details that do not match any debt you know. |
| Where to pay | Payment details given in the letter, matching what the original creditor confirms. | Pressure to pay by gift card, crypto or a transfer to a personal account. |
| The firm | Appears on the FCA register under the name on the letter. | Cannot be found on the register, or the name is slightly different. |
| Tone | States what it says you owe and invites you to talk about what you can afford. | Threatens arrest or instant action to make you panic. |
The first row comes from StepChange’s description of a sale letter. The other rows are standard fraud warning signs. Look up the firm on the FCA register.
A fifteen-minute check
| Minutes | Do this |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 | Read the letter for the original creditor, the account number and the amount. Do not ring any number printed on it yet. |
| 3 to 8 | Find the original creditor’s own number on its website or on an old statement and ask if the debt was sold and to whom. |
| 8 to 12 | Search the firm’s name on the FCA register. |
| 12 to 15 | If it all matches, write to Lowell asking for a statement and the credit agreement. Do not pay yet. |
When it turns out to be real
Then the debt is genuine, or at least claimed. You can still ask for proof, and you still have rights. Read what to do when your debt is sold to Lowell, and if money is tight see whether Lowell accepts a discount. The planner can show what a monthly payment would do.
If you already paid a scammer
Which? says to call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card and to report it to Action Fraud. In Scotland, call the police on 101 (Which?).
Common worries, answered plainly
Is Lowell a real company?
Yes. A third-party register aggregator lists Lowell Financial Ltd as FCA authorised under reference 730175, with debt-collecting and debt administration among its permissions (FirmTracer). Confirm the current status yourself on the FCA Financial Services Register.
So can a text from Lowell still be a scam?
Yes, a real firm’s name can be copied. Which? says to contact the organisation using a number from its official website, not the one in the letter or call (Which?).
What are the red flags?
Which? lists letters with a short deadline and a phone number to call, requests to post cash in an envelope, and callers offering to write off your debts (Which?).
Should I pay the money if I’m not sure?
No. Which? says if you are unsure, don’t pay (Which?). Check first, then deal with it properly.
The debt looks real but I don’t recognise it. What now?
A real firm can still be chasing a debt you do not owe or that is too old to enforce. Check the dates with the statute barred checker and read what to do when your debt is sold to Lowell.
I think I paid a scammer. What do I do?
Which? says to call your bank straight away using the number on the back of your card, and report it to Action Fraud. In Scotland, call the police on 101 (Which?).
Is ignoring it safe if it’s real?
No. See what happens if you ignore Lowell. Real debts can end up in court, so check, then respond.
Not sure whether a debt relief order or bankruptcy is on the table? Run your figures through the bankruptcy and DRO checker.
Disclaimer: DebtShift is an educational platform operated by H Ali Logistics Ltd, which is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This article is general education, not financial or legal advice. For free, impartial debt advice, contact StepChange on 0800 138 1111.
Sources
Last reviewed October 2026
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