Defaulted debt

Cobweb18

Many years ago I took out a phone contract for a neighbours son, in 2007 I asked him to change it into his name, I assumed he had! In february this year I received a demand from a solictor for £521 for a phone bill, I assumed this was fraud reported it to the police and the solicitors. On Monday I went to the bank for a new mortgage and was turned down, when I checked out why it is because the solictors put the phone debt on there as a defaulted bill, when I called them they said the account was the one I had opened for the neighbours son, he hadn't changed the name and I was liable. I called the solictors and have paid the bill but they say it will stay on my history for six years. what can I do about this to get a mortgage? Can I take the neighbours son to the police to make a statement that it was him not me or get a signed letter witnessed by a solicitor saying that it was him not me at fault? I am worried because I think any bank is going to go on what a computer says which is probably 'No' rather than considering the facts of the case. I also think the solictors have been negligent because they didn't recontact me to say it was the account I had opened and I had called them several times since February to ask if it was sorted and they never had any information. All ideas appreciated, thank you.

Sparx

Sounds like your own negligence.. To transfer a contract you have to speak mobile network company, advise of the transfer, then the new owner takes the call and goes through all of his details etc.

Do you really think someone else could just go to a shop or ring up the network company, give them a mobile number (not in their name) and just transfer it without you being party? And you receive no final invoice, letter or email from them?

Can't see you being able to do much about that.

DCFC79

Cobweb18 wrote: »

Many years ago I took out a phone contract for a neighbours son, in 2007 I asked him to change it into his name, I assumed he had! In february this year I received a demand from a solictor for £521 for a phone bill, I assumed this was fraud reported it to the police and the solicitors. On Monday I went to the bank for a new mortgage and was turned down, when I checked out why it is because the solictors put the phone debt on there as a defaulted bill, when I called them they said the account was the one I had opened for the neighbours son, he hadn't changed the name and I was liable. I called the solictors and have paid the bill but they say it will stay on my history for six years. what can I do about this to get a mortgage? Can I take the neighbours son to the police to make a statement that it was him not me or get a signed letter witnessed by a solicitor saying that it was him not me at fault? I am worried because I think any bank is going to go on what a computer says which is probably 'No' rather than considering the facts of the case. I also think the solictors have been negligent because they didn't recontact me to say it was the account I had opened and I had called them several times since February to ask if it was sorted and they never had any information. All ideas appreciated, thank you.

Of all the things to do money related you take out a phne contract for a neighbours son, why oh why would you do that ?

Not sure what you do next except do not ever ever take out a phone contract (in your name) for anyones son, not even for a best friend.

Good luck getting the default removed as its a true reflection as far as the phone company and CRA (credit ref agency) are concerned.

Thrugelmir

Only negligence is on your part. While you did something in good faith originally. The responsibility lies with you for not cancelling the contract.

Cobweb18

I accept that I was negligent and that the default can't be removed but as soon as I knew it was mine I paid and the debt collection solicitors didn't follow anything up. My question now is that I really need some kind of document to use with my credit history to secure a mortgage, I have a large deposit, £150k and want to borrow about as much again with my partner. I know I can put a note of correction on just wondered what else I can I do?

Thrugelmir

Use a mortgage broker to assist rather than speculatively apply to lenders. Notice of correction may add little value given the nature of what you did. As raises as many questions as it attempts to answer.