My O2 Phone Bill !!! Help Please !!

iwanttosave_2

Microstar wrote: »

Seems quite wrong to me that mobile phone companies are effectively 'blackmailing' customers by implicitly threatening to damage their credit rating.
When a bill is disputed the debt should not be passed to a collection agency until the matter is thoroughly investigated and the customer sent written details of how the bill was calculated.

I had a similar dispute with T-mobile and they were unable to provide me with full details of how the bill had been calculated but nevertheless passed the debt to a collection agency. Eventually I got to speak to the 'right' guy in T-mobile and it turned out that they owed ME 8p !!

If there is reason for dispute then it will be placed into dispute and no charges will be liable until it is proven that the customer made these charges, then the charges stand.

This is a common query, people use the internet knowing how expensive it is, not once during those jaunts on the net bothering to check their recent charges on the bill and then claiming they never used it or "it was only for 10 minutes" when the bill comes in.

sporedude

Only reason it went to a DCA was that the direct debit was cancelled.

Pagan98

iwanttosave wrote: »

If there is reason for dispute then it will be placed into dispute and no charges will be liable until it is proven that the customer made these charges, then the charges stand.

This is a common query, people use the internet knowing how expensive it is, not once during those jaunts on the net bothering to check their recent charges on the bill and then claiming they never used it or "it was only for 10 minutes" when the bill comes in.

But it is not clear from the OP's posts that the useage breakdown has been forthcoming from O2. If the charges are valid then okay, but as Microstar states, the networks sometimes seem to almost blackmail their customers into paying by threatening adverse credit ratings and legal action when they haven't/can't justify their bills.

sparkey1

Never ever cancel a Direct Debit unless you pay by other means. Did you make any payment? or did you just decide not to pay? You would have been better off paying something maybe the equivalent to your normal bill whilst querying it.

Ask O2 for an itemised bill and then query it. As for the debt collection agency, which one is it? Maybe they will take installments in the mean time. Work with them. Its not their fault your account has gone to collections. Be warned that until you can prove otherwise the debt agency will want some form of payment. If you dont pay them something it will then go to court. Agree an installment plan whilst you argue with O2.

I am suggesting this because at the end of the day you have a bill to pay. Whilst paying the agency, you are not being taken to court. This gives you time to argue with O2.

If you are in the right, you can argue for compensation from O2, O2 can clear up the issue with the collection agency, and in the meantime they would have had to pay the agency fees.

If you are wrong, at least you won't end up with a CCJ, and you may have seen the benefit of interest free instalments.

Your arguement is with O2. Not the collections company.

spirit

sporedude wrote: »

Only reason it went to a DCA was that the direct debit was cancelled.

Sort of correct sporedude. Sending an account to agency is the very last resort. SPs usually bend over backwards to help people. I expect that 02 will have been keeping in contact with the OP in an effort to resolve this.

Remember too that we only have the OP's story here, we have had posters on here before who you might have thought have had a real bum deal - until you hear the other side of the story.

Not saying this is the case for this OP but I prefer to keep an open mind.

adam266

Just to let you all know, I disputed this with O2 & finally I have had a result I recieved last month Credit in my bank account of £30 they said that this was a gesture of goodwill and my account is now soted and closed !!
Thanks everyone for your help in this matter & just proves if you keep fighting at something it will come good in the end !

Cheers

spirit

I'm pleased you got it sorted Adam. :T

stokefan

sparkey1 wrote: »

Never ever cancel a Direct Debit unless you pay by other means. Did you make any payment? or did you just decide not to pay? You would have been better off paying something maybe the equivalent to your normal bill whilst querying it.

Ask O2 for an itemised bill and then query it. As for the debt collection agency, which one is it? Maybe they will take installments in the mean time. Work with them. Its not their fault your account has gone to collections. Be warned that until you can prove otherwise the debt agency will want some form of payment. If you dont pay them something it will then go to court. Agree an installment plan whilst you argue with O2.

I am suggesting this because at the end of the day you have a bill to pay. Whilst paying the agency, you are not being taken to court. This gives you time to argue with O2.

If you are in the right, you can argue for compensation from O2, O2 can clear up the issue with the collection agency, and in the meantime they would have had to pay the agency fees.

If you are wrong, at least you won't end up with a CCJ, and you may have seen the benefit of interest free instalments.

Your arguement is with O2. Not the collections company.

not correct, i doubt the credit agency who probably purchased the debt for about 30 quid would take it to court. BUT this will be very damaging to your credit file

katy-lou

so they wrote off a £300 bill and gave you £30?? Madness.

adam266

yep thats right they gave me £30 !! well good