Mobile phone company bill default

eze2410

Here is my problem I recieved an unexpected very high bill from a Mobile phone company in early 2006 for £400. I contacted them stating that the bill was wrong and that I could not afford to pay the bill. If I remember right they had put me on to a new tariff/contract over the phone (I did not sign anything) but It was not explained to me that my call charges had increased and I lost inclusive minutes and txt, hence the high bill. I tried to explain that this was a error on thier part as my bill the month previous was £60ish and that was about my usual bill amount and from this they could see I am not a high user, but they were not willing to listen. I think a week later I recieved another bill from them but this time it said I owed them £600 and I think what happeded was they terminated the contact and billed me for the rest of the contract term £200ish. I did not reply to them on this So basically I heard nothing else from o2 no debt collecting agencies, no more bill reminders and no default notice.
Fast foward to now, I have preparing to apply for a mortage and I have done a credit check and this default has shown up on it. The default reads as follows

LENDER BALANCE UPDATED STATUS
O2 Uk Limited £ 600 01/08/2012 Default

Account type Telecommunications Supplier
Account number ******xxxxxxxxxx
Opening balance £ 600
Repayment frequency Monthly
Date of default 1/10/2006
Default balance £ 600

As I have already said the bill was from 2006 but on the report under the Updated heading it says 01/08/2012.
The questions I have are
1. is there anything I can do to remove this default.

2. if there is nothing I can to do to remove it should I wait it out untill the 6 years is up and hope it vanishes from my report.

3. After the 6 year period what actuallys happens in regards to the default. How do you get rid of it from your report.

4. Does the 6 years run from the intial default date or does it run from the Updated date.

5. if it runs from the updated date are they allowed to keep updating the report because what would be the point of this 6 years period thing because all debt owners/compnanies like o2 would just keep updating on the persons credit check.

Cheers in advance
eze2410

fermi

1. Not realistically. Even if you dispute it, it will almost certainly come off anyway before the dispute is resolved.

2. It will come off your report at the end of October no matter what.

3. It automatically drops off your report. You don't have to do anything.

4. The initial default date. Updated dates are irrelevant.

5. It doesn't, so not a concern.

eze2410

Many thanks fermi you dont know how glad I am to hear that I just hope your right, is there any official literature, websites for information on this 6 year thing?

fermi

It is correct. Only caveat is that Equifax can sometime be a bit slow removing them. But it WILL go.

(I have direct experience of that, and so do many many many others on these forums)

Some examples of official info, offhand:

https://equifaxuk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/238/

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames211.html

http://help.creditexpert.co.uk/help/CreditExpert_OOS/Credit_report/howlong_default

http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/~/media/documents/library/Data_Protection/Practical_application/credit_explained_leaflet_2005.ashx

eze2410

I have also read that telecommunications companies are not properly governed this wont effect the 6 year rule will it.
Also when the 6 years is up do i need to have it statue barred for it to not effect my credit score?

fermi

eze2410 wrote: »

I have also read that telecommunications companies are not properly governed this wont effect the 6 year rule will it.

They and the CRAs are covered by the Data Protection Act/Principles and the ICO guidance on reporting defaults, regardless of anything else.

So yes, they are properly governed. Or as properly governed as anyone is.....

Regardless, it is the credit reference agency that will remove the default from your report. The phone company has no say at all in it.

eze2410 wrote: »

Also when the 6 years is up do i need to have it statue barred for it to not effect my credit score?

No. It's gone from your report regardless.

eze2410

Thats brilliant to know and cheers for the links. So come October do I just write to the CRA to get the defaults removed?

fermi wrote: »

They and the CRAs are covered by the Data Protection Act/Principles and the ICO guidance on reporting defaults, regardless of anything else.

So yes, they are properly governed. Or as properly governed as anyone is.....

Regardless, it is the credit reference agency that will remove the default from your report. The phone company has no say at all in it.



No. It's gone from your report regardless.