Scottish Power have ruined my credit file - help!!

charitygirl

My husband and I are making a mortgage application through RBS Help To Buy. We went in to chat to them and we passed affordability and eligibility criteria with no worries.

My big concern is this - in 2011 I had an issue with Scottish Power - I switched supplier and for months asked for a final bill or to pay over the phone but they wouldn't give me one or accept my final reading. I finally managed to pay an amount of £286 over the phone to close the account.

When I started this process, I got our credit files and lo and behold there is a default (albeit marked as settled!) on my account from 2011 from Scottish Power. I phoned/wrote and emailed to them to get them to remove this as they have evidence of my calls (but not recorded!) but they say they sent the final bill which went unpaid. They didn't. They really didn't.

I have since added a Notice of Correction to my file.

Is there anything else I can do? I'm so concerned that their stupidity is now going to stop me getting a mortgage. Short of sending them tenners through the post I don't know what else I could have done.

Help!!

happy_bunny_2

If you have complained to them and their response is their final answer, then you can refer to the ombudsman. Energy one I think. Can take a while to get them to try and sort this, so you will need to be patient.

Can't see any other option

happy_bunny_2

Looks like their complaints process has a few hoops to jump through before you get to the ombudsman. Telling them you intend to refer to the ombudsman if its not sorted will likely get some attention the higher it goes as there will be a fee attached to that which they will have to pay:
http://www.scottishpower.co.uk/support-centre/service-and-standards/complaints/

rizla_king

Could always threaten them with going to court to remove the false information. Not something that you should do lightly, but has got results for some people when all other avenues have failed.

charitygirl

Thanks for your help guys! I have started the complaints procedure again and will refer to the Ombudsman. I don't think this will help my mortgage application but it is worth a shot!