Old Virgin media 'default' back from the dead - anyone have same odd experience?

greenmantle

I've been tracking my credit reports on Experian and Equifax for some months now, just to watch them improve/keep an eye on them (nothing horrendous on there bar a short time on the electoral roll at current address and gradually settled loans).

Today, I got a fresh report from Equifax, which listed this odd Virgin media account, as recently updated.

(I can't seem to post a screenshot, but anyway...)

It listed the account as opened when it was opened (in 2005) and not closed (even though I closed it in 2007). The only two months marked were February and March of *this* year. Both of them are marked with the U with the strike through it, to show that the info was not updated. It says 'Default/Delinquent Balance = £0', but under 'Current Balance' it says £8.

I closed this account in March 2007, moved away from the address, and thought nothing of it, as I had paid by Direct Debit. I had no requests for further payment; no phone calls or emails.

I phoned Virgin today and got through quickly to the Collections Department, when they told me this was a stray final settlement on the closed account. I thought 'oops', though a bit puzzled, it was only £8, so I paid it. I then questioned how I had this inaccurate info on only one credit report.

The rather inflexible lady I was dealing with said that the amount, all £8 of it, had been registered or 'written off' as she put it, as a default only two months after my account had closed in 2007, and this record had been passed to the credit reference agencies.

Yet it had not appeared until this year, over two years later. And it does not appear as a default, merely the 'Current Balance'. She claimed this was a mistake on the part of the credit reference agency (who are in all other respects almost completely correct and up-to-date). I asked her why I had been not pursued for the debt (and therefore sadly unaware of it) and she stated that it was because it was such a small amount. Yet she now claims it is registered as a default...?

Yet she seems to be wrong, because a new FAQ on the Equifax website states:

'Why is an old Virgin Media/Telewest/NTL account now appearing on my file?

Answer: Virgin Media Accounts
Virgin Media have begun to supply us with information regarding older Virgin Media, Telewest and NTL accounts.'

Now I think about it, Virgin probably don't even have my credit agreement, as I signed that with Telewest (or maybe it was even London cable) in 2005...

What a mess. I now wonder whether I'll have a fresh default registered on my credit record, when the settled amount is updated, when I wasn't even aware of the debt and apparently, neither was hardly anyone else....

G

greenmantle

*bump* anyone had a similar experience? phantom default?

gettingbetter

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1648929&highlight

have a look i am going through nearly same thing
the only difference is i was BR

how did you make the payment
if by card try and get the payment recalled

if it has taken them 2 years to up date there records

tough luck

i might be wrong
someone with more experience will be here soon

kas xx