Dispute re credit file default - advice pleAse!! -UPDATE

Cj1986_2

Where to start… I took out an account with o2 in September 2005. It was taken out though the company Phones4u. This was settled in October 2006 and a new contract was taken out with Orange.

O2 then advised I could keep my number for 20 free minutes and texts a mth, which i thought was a good idea at the time due to a relationship break up but i ended up never using. Still i was invoiced each mth, but when I called to dispute it, they were always credited. After a few mths I had enough of calling and told them to cancel it. I heard nothing further from o2.
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In 2009 I had a letter from Lowell Group advising I owed £120.00 due to an unpaid o2 account. I asked for evidence for this as I KNOW I pay my bills and have never defaulted on anything! They were unable to provide me with anything other than an excel spreadsheet which I could have complied myself. I did not find this satisfactory so I called my local Trading Standards.
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In June 2010, I obtained my Credit File from Equifax. It showed on this that my o2 account had been settled in full with NO outstanding amount. I forwarded this to my Trading Standards Officer who passed it on to Lowell. I was then sent a letter of apology in September 2010, which I no longer have, but I do still have the emails passed between myself and Trading Standards.
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I am currently applying for a Mortgage so checked my file to make sure that any old accounts were closed and you can imagine my surprise and disgusted to see that as of September 2010, when I BELIEVED the matter was resolved as id recieved an apology, my file updated to DEFAULTED! It has the closure/ default date as 26.01.07 and the update date as the 9.9.2010!

I've have emailed creditfilereferrals@o2.com and they cannot help. His words "The account terminated on 23/10/2006, but was re-connected for 3 months and terminated again on 26/01/2007.! This is partly why I referred you to the complaints team, as to me, that looks odd."

So I have now emailed their complaints department and am waiting an out come.

Does it look likely that I will have it removed? The best is, before I knew about this default I took a new contract out with O2 that I am in my 3rd yr of as i renewed my contract for a further 2 yrs this january! Why would they give me a new contract if I 'apparently' didn't pay my last?

This whole default has dragged my score down to 341! But I don't want to pay what I don't believe I owe! Its the Principle!

My other question is... If the default listed as January 2007, will it fall off my file next Jan (6yrs) or from the day O2 updated my file?

Any advice would be appreciated!!

I'm stressed, pregnant, hormonal and I just want to own my own house!!! Lol

Thanks in advance n sorry for the essay

[Deleted User]

Well I thought I should respond as so many havent!

I would say 6 years from default date.

I had a very similar situation with T-Mobile, I thought I had closed, I had not and someone had used my account. My account was put on pay as you go style basis, but the balance is collected at the end of each month , so no use = no charge, so I didn't know for years, then someone used it, bills were online and then you can imagine my surprise when I get a huge bill with late payment fees.

Good news was, mine was all removed and refunded.

Cj1986_2

Thanks for your response. Can't believe how many read and run! Charmin that!

So what T mobile did to u, sounds like what O2 did to me, only they continued to charge me for it! Really hope this gets sorted soon. Can't believe I've gone 18mths without knowin it was there! Even taken a loan out with ltsb during that time so I really had no clue...?

Don't understand how they can sell a "debt" to a company, and then buy it back when that company decides the debt isn't real, and then default me for it! Grr.

But on a better note, if there is one, It should fall off next Jan ur sayin? if the complaints department don't sort it for me anyways...

fermi

Yep, will be removed in Jan 2013 if still there by then.

Keep pushing at O2.

Point out that by recording a false default, they are in breach of the data protection act and are guilty of defamation. That if they do not sort it PDQ, then you want a response that you can take to the Communications Ombudsman. That you will also report data protection breaches to the Information Commissioner and file a complaint, plus consider formal action for removal and compensation.

Cj1986_2

Thank you Fermi! I have copied and saved that to hit them with it if i don't get the outcome that is right! Fingers crossed it resolves sooner rather than later tho...
Thank u again!

Cj1986_2

So, o2 complaints came back to me today. Apparently it is showing that I owe the money. I am still disputing it as my contract was cancelled dammit!! The complaints team said they any go over the head of the credit file referral team - so WHY did the credit file referral team refer me to the complaints team?!?! I have now registered my complaint with the Communications Ombudsman. Will o2 still have the call recordings bck to 2006? I am no will to let this lie. It was their !!!! up originally by not transferring my number to pay as u go as they offered!! I'm furious. I hope the ombudsman can sort this...