Frederickson International

bodgerx

Just got a letter from this company saying that they have confirmed my current change of address, requesting that I call them on a number.

Stupidly, I did phone them. It turns out I owe Pipex £34! From 5 years ago! I didn't even have an account with them - I was with a company called freedom2surf which may have been taken over by them.

I had no idea I owed this money. I didn't accept any responsibility on the phone and said that I need some proof. Person on the phone said that I would have to write and request that information from them.

The trouble is, I've got a clean credit record and I've just been approved for a mortgage. I am concerned that the mortgage company will do another credit check and searches or, worse, some kind of default will show up and my family will be left stranded, with the bank withdrawing the mortgage.

Help! What would be the best way to respond?

Can this company put a bad reference on my credit report for an amount this small and for what seems like a broadband service that I didn't sign any credit agreement for?

Would it be best to just pay up?

bodgerx

Any help appreciated.

DarkConvict

Start by sending them the prove it letter - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2

The letter they sent you should have an address on it to send it to.

If they provide no proof, do not pay, not unusual to chase the wrong people. They can't add negative information to your credit file unless they know it is your debt and have proved it belongs to you. If they do then go straight to the ICO and lodge a complaint under DPA, if it interferes with your mortgage and its not your debt then sue them.

I doubt they can do anything to the file anyway as if its an old debt they cant add a default, and for so long along they would struggle to get away marking late payments.

If your in scotland the debt is likely statute barred, (5 year), in England the statue barred date is 6 years. If they do provide proof but you think the debt is statute barred send this template and it means they have to prove it is not statute barred. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11571227&postcount=3

bodgerx

Thanks for the response - much appreciated. I'm in England, so its a little off the 6 years.

I will send the prove it letter.

This company doesn't appear on my credit report, so I hope they don't end up adding anything.

DarkConvict wrote: »

Start by sending them the prove it letter - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2

The letter they sent you should have an address on it to send it to.

If they provide no proof, do not pay, not unusual to chase the wrong people. They can't add negative information to your credit file unless they know it is your debt and have proved it belongs to you. If they do then go straight to the ICO and lodge a complaint under DPA, if it interferes with your mortgage and its not your debt then sue them.

I doubt they can do anything to the file anyway as if its an old debt they cant add a default, and for so long along they would struggle to get away marking late payments.

If your in scotland the debt is likely statute barred, (5 year), in England the statue barred date is 6 years. If they do provide proof but you think the debt is statute barred send this template and it means they have to prove it is not statute barred. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11571227&postcount=3