3 Credit Management

garothb

Not entirely sure this is the right area to post this, so apologies in advance if I've got it wrong!

I recieved a letter from 3 credit management today relating to an outstanding balance on an old mobile contract. It stated that if I did not pay within 7 days they would refer the matter to a collection agency and lodge details with credit reference agencies. This later was dated the 15th of September, and is the first I've heard of owing anything - the contract was cancelled in December 2005...

Looking at the address I can see what has happened - they've taken my work postcode (which is effectively a PO box), and grabbed an (incorrect!) address based on that, so I assume they've sent previous letters which haven't been getting to me....but they have access to my correct work address, my home address, and contact telephone numbers so I'm quite annoyed!

I have of course phoned them up and paid, but how can I check that they recall any details from the reference agencies? I don't see why I should have a black mark against my record due the their mistake!

lynzpower

Do you believe that you owe them this money?

garothb

Hi,
to be frank I don't know - it's been so long since the contract ended! I'm happy to pay it though, it's a tiny sum...just makes it all the more annoying that my credit record might be worsened over such a petty thing.

Bunnie1982

It doesn't suprise me that you haven't heard from them before now, it is likely that they haven't tried to write to you.

The first we heard from 3 about an old contract we had cancelled was when we got a letter from their debt collectors about 2 years after the contract was cancelled. We had not moved at all during that time so they should have had no problem writing to us.

Both the DCA and 3 were unhelpful when we tried to find out more about the amount owed and why we hadn't heard anything sooner, so like you we just paid up

lynzpower

how much is it for? #

garothb

I think it was £14 something...it's perfectly possible I owed them that much I suppose...would've just been nice to get a bill or something! Is there anyway I can check if it's been recorded as a default against me?

KatrinaC_2

garothb wrote:

I think it was £14 something...it's perfectly possible I owed them that much I suppose...would've just been nice to get a bill or something! Is there anyway I can check if it's been recorded as a default against me?

Do a credit check with the three main companies - Experian, Equifax and... errrm, the other one (it'll come back to me).

If you send off £2 they will send you a copy of your credit history which should show if they have logged a default against you. Their addresses and the procedures to get the reports are on their websites.

Experian and Equifax also offer free trials of their premium service, but you have to be quick and cancel at the end of it or else you will end up paying something like £70 for the priviledge!

Kat

garothb

Brilliant, thanks - I'll get writing. If I have defaults on there, presumably only the company that put them there can revoke them?

KatrinaC_2

Copied from the Experian website:

(oh, and the other credit reference agency is Call Credit...)

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What can I do if I believe the credit account information is wrong?

You should contact the lender concerned (contact addresses should appear at the end of your report). Once a lender has investigated your comments they will notify us of any required changes. We will then make the necessary changes to your credit report. If you contact us we will contact the company on your behalf and make any necessary amendments when they reply.

If the information is incorrect because you only recently paid an account, please bear in mind that it can take up to a month for lenders to amend their records and, in turn, your credit report.

If you think an account needs further explanation, you have the right to add an explanatory statement, called a Notice of Correction, to your report. This is seen by any company searching your report in the future, as well as anyone searching over the past six months, and may help when apply for credit in the future. Click here for information about adding a Notice of Correction to your report. 515


How do I add a Notice of Correction to my credit report?

A notice of correction is a short (200 words max) explanatory note you can add to your credit report explaining any circumstances about information in the report. Anyone searching your report in the future or who has seen in it in the previous six months will see the notice of correction, and it may influence their decision.

You can use the “Any Questions” tab to submit the text for the notice of correction. Alternatively, you can post the text to us at the following address.

Experian Ltd
PO Box 9000
Nottingham NG80 7WP

We drafted the following examples to help you compose your notice. (Click a link to view the text.)

NOC Examples
Electoral roll
Judgment information
Credit account information

We'll make the necessary changes to your report. Any statement we believe to be defamatory, libellous, incorrect, or frivolous may be referred to the Information Commissioner for arbitration.

We also recommend you use the addresses below to inform Equifax and Call Credit (the other two credit reference agencies) of the circumstances you want to explain, as the information we hold is not necessarily the same.

EQUIFAX PLC
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford BD1 5US

CALL CREDIT PLC
Consumer Services Team
PO Box 491
LEEDS LS3 1WZ 1001