Vodafone demands payment 4 years later??

burrellines

My husband just received a letter from Vodafone informing him that his debt of 69 pounds has been bought by some company and we should now pay it to them. The problem is, my husband has not had a Vodafone contract phone for about 4 years. It was lost and unused after the contract time expired but we still paid for the contract every month till we eventually cancelled it. We did not receive any demands for money for the last four years. Although we have moved a couple of times we always had out mail redirected for quite a long time so we should have received all correspondence.
Now this "debt" is passed on to debt collection company and they, naturally, do not care that we do not agree with this as being our "debt". Vodafone would not talk to us - this is not longer their problem. How on earth can this be sorted out? I really do not want to just pay out for god knows what! What is to stop every single service provider to do the same? I suppose we could take it to court but we do not even know what it is for!!!! We might end up paying the court bill as well.
If anybody out there knows where to find help in this case I would greatly appreciate it. We are already struggling with everyday bills as it is, even 69 pounds can do a huge damage to our fragile finances.

Cheers,
Ines

OneADay

Early termination fees - it happens, 6 years to chase - see other threads.

burrellines

No, the minimum term of the contract was long since over. We cancelled the contract by phoning them and the last payment should have been taken out by DD as usual. So what is this about?

OneADay

Some pages I read a short while back and other comments from people on this forum suggest that you do not acknowledge the debit to the debit collector by not responding to letters or answering their calls.

I do not know how that helps.

In essence, you need to see what the debit is for - its likely to include a fee from the debit collector as well.

Your best bet is to talk to your local citizen advice bureau and get some quick legal advice on ways to proceed (if you are forced to respond). Other people on here probably have better ideas than me but thats what I would if I found myself in that situation. Just pick up the phone and get some free advice.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Old_Gold

Surely the onus is on the other party in the first place to prove their is a debt. If vodafone refuse to talk to you then it appears to me that they then are failing in their obligation to prove the debt. Complain to Trading Standards, Ofcom and your local MP. Tell the debt company that you do not acknowledge the debt and unless they can prove it you will sue them for harassment.

burrellines

Thanks! Got in touch with Consumer Advice and they told us to ask them for proof which we did so now we have to wait for the docs to come through. They are saying we cancelled before the contract was over but I remember paying for the silly phone for several months after the contract ended. Of course, I do not have any docs left from that time.

Guys_Dad

I had this with a Gas company who off-loaded their debts to a 3rd party and were chasing someone else who rented a house I previously owned some 6 months after I sold it.

I wrote to the parties chasing the debt, agreeing that I would pay any money I owed and demanded to see the paperwork etc that supported the debt. There are standard letters in the Debt section of the forum - I think - that you should use, but, should it get to court, you need to show that you would willingly pay any legitimate debts you owe, but are reasonably asking for some proof of that debt first.

Search for the template letter - sorry I can't remember the thread but it could be a sticky.

DaveMacD

In the first instance, you should NEVER call the debt collectors, as many of them take your response as an acknowledgement of the debt (had the same problem in the past). Your first port of call should be the CAB, as they can give you the best way to continue. I would keep on badgering Vodafone, relentlessly. Eventually someone will find out what the debt is all about.

Guys_Dad

DaveMacD wrote: »

In the first instance, you should NEVER call the debt collectors, as many of them take your response as an acknowledgement of the debt (had the same problem in the past). Your first port of call should be the CAB, as they can give you the best way to continue. I would keep on badgering Vodafone, relentlessly. Eventually someone will find out what the debt is all about.

I know you are trying to be helpful, but that is bad advice.

We don't know if these are debt chasers employed by Voda or if Voda has sold the debt on for pennies in the £. If it is the latter, Voda have washed their hands of the debt - at least for the time being.

CAB are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard here. For all you know, there could be some outstanding charge that the OP is genuinely unaware of and it is OP's credit rating that will be affected till this is sorted out.

So, putting head in sand and ignoring debt collector is NOT the answer. Finding out what the charge purports to be IS the right way.

DarkConvict

Firstly they have 6 years to chase the debt from last payment or written aknowledgement. Phone coversations do not reset the 6 year clock.

You mention you did cancel the contract, after the original period applied, as it was 4 years ago ill assume you you had 12 month contract. As this expired the contract will still run but only on a 30 day rolling contract. So cancelling would just mean you pay for 30 more days and then that is it.

My question to you is did you renew the contract, change it (reduce tariff etc) or accept an upgrade? These may well had put you on a new 12/18/24 month contract of which you should be made aware of but not everyone is.

As you have done, send the Prove It! letter

Wait for the response and let us know what they said, we can advise further. My advice also is to post in the debt forum rather than mobile as i feel they can provide more suitable advice on debt chasing issues. Debt Forum

Any questions, just ask

Vodafone

burrellines wrote: »

My husband just received a letter from Vodafone informing him that his debt of 69 pounds has been bought by some company and we should now pay it to them. The problem is, my husband has not had a Vodafone contract phone for about 4 years. It was lost and unused after the contract time expired but we still paid for the contract every month till we eventually cancelled it. We did not receive any demands for money for the last four years. Although we have moved a couple of times we always had out mail redirected for quite a long time so we should have received all correspondence.
Now this "debt" is passed on to debt collection company and they, naturally, do not care that we do not agree with this as being our "debt". Vodafone would not talk to us - this is not longer their problem. How on earth can this be sorted out? I really do not want to just pay out for god knows what! What is to stop every single service provider to do the same? I suppose we could take it to court but we do not even know what it is for!!!! We might end up paying the court bill as well.
If anybody out there knows where to find help in this case I would greatly appreciate it. We are already struggling with everyday bills as it is, even 69 pounds can do a huge damage to our fragile finances.

Cheers,
Ines

Good afternoon Ines,

This sounds like it has been a nightmare for you. I would like to look into this on your behalf if I may.

Please feel free to contact us including a link to this thread and your username. Please also include WRT135 in the subject field so that the email routes directly to me.

Ian
Web Relations Team
Vodafone UK