Equifax black mark

matavin

this is shocking to read. Im lucky i used google to search for

"Consumer Underwriting Services
Virgin Media"

Im in the same boat with this and now need to write a letter to CUS to remove an outstanding debt that VM have placed on my report.


History with myself is that i just checked my report and randomly VM popped up. My score dropped a significant 80 points ( experian ). Points which i cannot afford to lose at this moment in time. I checked the report, everything is settled or at 0 apart from VM. I looked further into it and they have stated that for the last 14 months, i have been in arrears and have an outstanding debt of £44. This dropped to £22 in the second month and then every month since, it has been increasing by £1 a month.

I spoke to VM via phone and email and have confirmation that I have no outstanding bills, never paid a late direct debit and paid in full each time.

I now have to spend my time trying to settle a very important issue. VM have nothing to say apart from getting it cleared. I will only send the VM report and my score, not the full report.

I am due to come out of my contract with VM in two months time. I wont until this is settled. Is there anything that VM do as a good will gesture for these errors?

I feel like I am at a small loss. Nothing major but a big corportation like this can destroy individuals. Im lucky that im looking at 14 months arrears of £33 rather than £100s.

gypsysaffy

I agree with you, same thing has happened to me and i am applying for a remortgage so had to put it on hold. I dont see how virgin media are allowed to mess up customers files like this, and yet my virgin broadband has been off more than it has been on the past 2 years, wish i could register them somewhere for not fulfilling their contract. I am in the process of sorting it with VM but it is a slow process but i will get it sorted even if i have to get other bodies involved. I am also waiting to leave VM but want this sorted first. When i rang VM about it they blamed Experian, when i rang Experian they blamed VM. I think Vm need to be looked at for the poor service they give. When i first rang VM about it the lady said dont worry you are up to date so nothing to worry about, so i explained about my credit file and she said ring your bank they will sort it. (nothing to do with my bank) Sorry if i am going on but i am so annyoyed

Gordon_Hose

No-one other then VM can remove the default.

carlos1974_2

Dear all

I have also had a black mark on my credit file due to Virgin Media's incompetence, after weeks of trying I have tracked down a Contact number for the actual Underwriting Services, I have been on hold for 20 minutes so far, but thought I would share to see if anyone else has more luck.

Number is 0800 052 0290

good luck

pdarc

Hi:
Just like to add my experience.
Mid 2011 I changed banks, the new bank had a account switch service which would port all my Direct Debits over to the new account. It worked on all my direct debits except for one... yep Virgin Media. I only knew because I was sent a bill which included a late payment charge and roll over of the previous balance. I called VM and they told me all is fine, they processed the change to the Direct Debit instruction later than the billing cycle but they said not to worry as they will refund my late payment charge. I also asked them about impact to my credit report and they said they only report late payments if it happens more than once.
I just ran a Statutory Credit Report and have seen a Late Payment Mark on my report from VM. Very upsetting considering I did nothing wrong and this is the first black mark on my credit report.

I called VM customer services, they apologised and asked me to email VM Consumer underwriting services with the request to correct the report, which I did today. I also wanted a third party to confirm this will be fixed, so I also decided to raise a dispute with Equifax in which I will get a response in 28 days.

I agree with many of you that companies like VM should be held accountable in some way for all this. imo Credit reference agencies should keep track of the number of disputes per lender and once they hit a threshold the FSA should investigate and enforce penalties.... if only *sigh

pdarc

pdarc wrote: »

I called VM customer services, they apologised and asked me to email VM Consumer underwriting services with the request to correct the report, which I did today. I also wanted a third party to confirm this will be fixed, so I also decided to raise a dispute with Equifax in which I will get a response in 28 days.

Just to update for anyone's future reference.
VM failed to respond to me, and Equifax have also contacted me to say that VM did not respond to them either. Equifax have removed VM from my credit report all together and will remain like this unless they hear back from VM.
It's a shame that many big companies don't do a proper job, thanks to sites like this that help us bring a little power back to the consumer.
I will now write a complaint to VM, not that I expect the right thing to be done. If anything of significance happens I will post back.

Chimpers

Virgin Media, if you are reading this i am fuming!!!

I have always paid every bill on time (except once), i with my wife earn over £60k, yet i've just been refused a mortgage and was told to check my credit files.

Transpires i have a £36 outstanding debt with virgin from 2009 - when i closed the account with them (or so i thought)!!

I am absolutely furious, i've always done everything to protect my credit score - similar experience to others in that on contacting Virgin Media all they wanted was the balance paying, if they've added a £1 each month then so be it, if its because they didn't close the account i will do everything i can to hold them to account on losing our dream house. i just paid it to start credit working for me again asap.

The lady also said to contact consumerunderwritingservices@virginmedia.co.uk to try and resolve credit issue, i asked to be put through to them but she refused.

Moral: always make sure you have it in writing that the account is closed.

I hope others do not have the same experience! Graham.

fermi

Also please see this link.

Wrongful Defaults on Credit Reports - BBC WatchDog - Important

Asbestross

I've just had a Defaulted Account removed from my credit file yesterday by the CEO's office of Virgin Media, after they've admitted liability...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4231033

If it is a genuine mistake on Virgin Media's part, i'd recommend emailing [EMAIL="neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk"]neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk[/EMAIL] to escalate if, as I was, you're getting zero responses to their complaints procedure.

lapishp

I have had similar issues with Virgin Media. I took over an account into my name (one shared with my sister) - same address and bills coming from same bank account. On taking it over into my name Virgin cancelled the existing direct debit without telling me or asking me to set up a new one. When the money was not taken and the wrote to me telling me my account was in arrears I set up a new direct debit and the account was cleared the next month. I only find out 14 months later when trying to get a mortgage that they have listed this as a missed payment on my credit file. After contacting customer services, the direct debit team and then the collections team I am told i need to email the consumer underwriting services. I do this and hear nothing for a couple of days. I am fortunate enough to find this thread that has a number for them on and call them. Apparently they have 14 days to respond and at this time all they can do is confirm they have had my email. I stress the importance what with wanting to make an offer on a house we want but get little in they way of appreciation of this fact. anyway 14 days after i sent the email I call again. This time the opening line is 'we have 28 days to respond' I question this and they say 'it's 14 days to acknowledge the email and 14 days to deal with the credit report side dealing with experian etc.' Slightly concerned I ask if they have done anything and the answer of course is no, not a single thing.

I have again stressed how urgently I need them to deal with this but I don't hold out much hope so I might give Neil Berkett a try.