Missed Mobile Phone Payment - Affect on Mortgage App

LongTimeThinker

Hi,

I have just gotten off the phone from our mobile phone provider and am pretty livid.

We recently changed the account for direct debit from my partners account to our joint account some 2 weeks ago. Confirmed on the phone all was OK, that the next payment would come out of the joint account. We did not cancel the direct debit on my parenters account, it is still setup (with more than enough funds for the amount), the new direct debit is also setup on the joint account (also with enough in for the amount).

We have just had a text from the mobile phone provider to say payment has not been made. Rang them up and its 10 days late, their mistake. Asked if it had been reported to credit reference agencies and she says it will have been.

They will remove (she said it takes 2 hours?) the missed payment from my partners file. Have aksed for written letter to say it was their mistake and that they will amended credit file, this is so I have something to give to lender if it does cause a problem.

My questions - will this have any affect on our mortgage application, which is at the offer stage?

Our IFA has a written offer from the lender, we are waiting for our copy in the post. Everything is OK credit history wise other than this one late payment. Am worried with it being so close to us buying this house it will affect us (only have exchange\completion left).

Not sure if I am being oversensitive because of the stress but I am absolutely livid with the mobile provider for this !!!! up! I hope someone tells me this wont cause problems.....

Thanks.

Conrad

I think you will be fine. There's an outside chance they could carry out a further search and decline but I thinks it's unlikely, but as ever I cannot gurantee such a statement.

You did all the right things with the DDM changeover except for that final step - making double sure the payment was actualy made on the day.
I myself always expect such things to go awry - and in this way ensure nothing does. In fact bI'm ott as I always expect everything to go wrong - even little things like ordering speakers with a new pc - I just expect them not to appear in the order - thing is I'm often right unfortunatley.
A habit I've found to be a life saver is too put anything like a direct debit change in writing and using SPECIAL DELIVERY POSTAGE. Things like this may seem OTT, but I cant tell you the amount of times it's enabled me to prove a supplier wrong - in fact we got £500 in compensation from BT, thanks to having this proof of instruction.

All the best

LongTimeThinker

Thanks Conrad, I wish I had checked the payment too but we are so busy at the moment. I just (wrongly) assumed that nothing could go wrong as both bank accounts are still active, I thought logic would dictate if the direct debit wasnt in place for new account this months payment would simply come out of the origional bank.

I dont suppose if you know the length of time it takes to get this removed from my wifes file do you? The person I spoke to assured me it was 2 hours (seems suspiciously quick!).

It sounds like I am similair in my ways, I normally expect things to go wrong and try to get things in writing etc (cover my !!!!). I just couldnt see this one coming.

Thanks again.

Conrad

LongTimeThinker wrote: »

I dont suppose if you know the length of time it takes to get this removed from my wifes file do you? The person I spoke to assured me it was 2 hours (seems suspiciously quick!).

Good question. As ever if it were me I would assume that the call centre person will make an error. What I have found from experience with clients is that call centre staff make glib promises but tend not to see things through to a satisfactory outcome, so keep on top of this - record names, times, phone numbers dialled etc. Often such companies do not like admitting guilt in writing on thier part.

If I were you I would insist you get a categoric statment of your non culpability as you suggested above.

Best