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Please help with ridiculous phone bill!

jaycee0408
jaycee0408 Posts: 33 Forumite
in I wanna buy it or do it
Hi everyone,

My boyfriend received an letter from vodafone for outstanding balance around £3000 from 4 years ago. My boyfriend was not aware the charges of WAP therefore in 2 months, he has a £2000 bill for 2 months usage! I would have thought that Vodafone would have a limit on WAP usage!
Can anyone give any advice regarding this?

Thank you.

JC
«1

Comments

  • _Andy_
    _Andy_ Posts: 11,150 Forumite
    Why didn't he deal with this 4 years ago?
  • jaycee0408
    jaycee0408 Posts: 33 Forumite
    He thought ignore it is the best way, and now they are sending letter regarding debt collectors.
  • tyllwyd
    tyllwyd Posts: 5,496 Forumite
    You might get some advice on the Debt Free Wannabee board. Has the debt been passed on to a debt collection agency? If you can get some money together, they might accept a lot less than the outstanding amount in full and final settlement, or they might accept a monthly payment.
  • jaycee0408
    jaycee0408 Posts: 33 Forumite
    I think Vodafone is requesting the payment for outstanding balance. If no action is been taken, it will be passed on to a debt collection company.
  • maninthestreet
    maninthestreet Posts: 16,127 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Your boyfriend owes this money, so he needs to settle the debt.
    Offer the DCA a lot less than they are asking for, they may well accept it.
    "You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"
  • jaycee0408
    jaycee0408 Posts: 33 Forumite
    Thank maninthestreet,
    Just how much less do the DCA usually accepts?
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Anything less than 100% may affect his credit rating if it has not already happened.
  • geordie_joe
    geordie_joe Posts: 9,112 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    Anything less than 100% may affect his credit rating if it has not already happened.

    Why? If an amount is agreed as full and final settlement then the debt is paid.
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    geordie_joe wrote: »
    Why? If an amount is agreed as full and final settlement then the debt is paid.
    If you don't believe me then all I can suggest is that you try it.
    If you lent someone £4k and only got £1k back would you be happy?
    If it goes that far (as most certainly has happened in this case) then arrears have built up and the sum sold on to a debt collection agency so it will already show as a bad debt on his credit file.
    The debt collection agency might have only paid a few pence in the £ for the debt and in theory they could make a profit by coming to a settlement.
  • geordie_joe
    geordie_joe Posts: 9,112 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    If you don't believe me then all I can suggest is that you try it.

    perhaps you could also suggest looking at other people who have already done it and seeing what happened, it would be much quicker than waiting 4 years for an answer.
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    If you lent someone £4k and only got £1k back would you be happy?

    No, but if they couldn't pay the full amount and I agreed to accept £1k as full and final settlement, and they paid it, I couldn't then continue to say that person still owed me money.
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    If it goes that far (as most certainly has happened in this case) then arrears have built up and the sum sold on to a debt collection agency so it will already show as a bad debt on his credit file.

    But you said not paying 100% may affect their credit rating. We are not talking about what may have already happened, just what may happen if they agree to pay part of the debt in full and final settlement.

    If the DCA agrees to a payment of 50% of the debt in full and final settlement of the debt, and you pay the 50%, then they can not say you have not paid the debt. Once the payment has been made the debt has been paid.
    jonesMUFCforever wrote: »
    The debt collection agency might have only paid a few pence in the £ for the debt and in theory they could make a profit by coming to a settlement.

    We are not interested in what profit they may make, just that the debt would be settled. Once it is settled the DCA can not say you still owe money, or that you didn't settle the debt.
This discussion has been closed.
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