Default by O2 on my file - £9

Safeguyz88

Hi, I have been trying to resolve this issue for a while now so I will give you some more information.

I was with O2 for around 5 years and dealt with them all the time, upon wanting to get a new phone and contract, I asked them whether they were able to match a deal I could get elsewhere and they said no. So I paid up, asked them if I had anymore outstanding payments on the account to which I was confirmed not to have and I could cancel the direct debit, to which I did.

Since then, I started getting declined for credit, and being naive thought I just had to get more credit to improve my score, so I kept trying different lenders and eventually was lumped with some high interest (such as Capital One, Barclaycard Initial). I was also declined for car finance and personal loans. When moving with work to a different part of the country I attempted to get a personal loan to help out with the furnishing of my new rented apartment, which I could not get and could not afford the relocation at once, so started taking out pay day loans (all of which I paid off each month).

I then decided after a lot of searching online, to check my credit report (for the first time) and I noticed a few surprises. One being a couple of "missed" payments on a buy now pay later scheme (was the 2nd and 5th months of an 12 month grace period) I contacted Littlewoods to which they removed them and apologised.

The second was a default on my credit file from Nov 2009, In Feb 2012 was when I noticed it and contacted O2, to which their response was that it is not policy to contact the customer if it is under £10 (it was £9) and therefore as I had not paid it as I was told it was fully paid and they never told me there was £9 remaining it defaulted leaving a recent default on my file. They asked me to pay the £9 to remove the default to which I swiftly paid and they removed it. Although I was not entirely satisfied with this and waited to see what they were willing to do to help out.

I heard nothing back from them, no apology, no justification etc. I do not know where I stand in terms of legal proceeding as it seems to me that the only reason why my credit has been affected for the past 4 years is due to an illegal default on my credit file.

I am slowly building it back up and am now able to get credit, although at a higher APR than I should. It seems to me I have paid a lot more in interest due to O2 than I should have.

Does anyone have an idea where I can start now to reclaim any lost monies that I have paid out? Or whether I can actually claim them in the first place?

Many thanks for all your help.

happy_bunny_2

While highly likely your issues were due to this default, its pretty much impossible to prove, as none of the companies that rejected you are likely to tell you teh specific reason. Same for higher rates on th cards you have.

Options are:
1. Just be happy they removed it and look to teh future.
2. Complain about them adding it unfairly and claim some compensation, referring to the FOS if needed.

O2 are terrible at closing accounts and my OH only escaped similar as we remembered to ring them to confirm the closing of the account and there was a £20 balance. Never bothered to write, email or call about it....

Safeguyz88

happy_bunny wrote: »

While highly likely your issues were due to this default, its pretty much impossible to prove, as none of the companies that rejected you are likely to tell you teh specific reason. Same for higher rates on th cards you have.

Options are:
1. Just be happy they removed it and look to teh future.
2. Complain about them adding it unfairly and claim some compensation, referring to the FOS if needed.

O2 are terrible at closing accounts and my OH only escaped similar as we remembered to ring them to confirm the closing of the account and there was a £20 balance. Never bothered to write, email or call about it....

Many thanks for your response and letting me know I am not on my own with O2 and not contacting me!

Do you think it would be worth compaining to them?

Has anyone else had this happen and complained (having a positive outcome)?

happy_bunny_2

You could complain, but think about the worst case scenario where they decide the default was correct and re-apply it.

I know its annoying, but I'd be tempted to move on and just never use the Muppets again

JuicyJesus

happy_bunny wrote: »

Options are:
1. Just be happy they removed it and look to teh future.
2. Complain about them adding it unfairly and claim some compensation, referring to the FOS if needed.

The FOS have no jurisdiction over O2. It would be the Communications Ombudsman Service that you would refer to.

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html

I would agree with the posts saying to leave it though.

happy_bunny_2

JuicyJesus wrote: »

The FOS have no jurisdiction over O2. It would be the Communications Ombudsman Service that you would refer to.

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html

I would agree with the posts saying to leave it though.

Ah yes, forgot about that