Defaulting on 'debt' from Orange

PersonOfInterest

Dear all

I recently became a proper member of the Lost Generation and moved back with the parents after completing my university studies. Waiting for me was a large stack of mail and working my way through it, it became apparent that Orange thought I owed them some money. There were a number of letters, dating back a year or so, with the amount of money owed increasing with each one, jumping from around £50 to £150 to £250, but in the most recent letters seems to have reduced to just under £200.

Eventually my debt is passed to "Moorcroft Debt Recovery" who "may be able to offer a significant discount" and then, after a gap of six months or so with no new correspondence, a letter from Lowell Group, who have bought my debt and informed me that Orange have registered me as defaulting and demanding immediate payment.

All this has come as quite a shock; I cancelled my Orange contract in April last year, giving the required one month's notice and then moved to a different provider, thinking no more of it. I have no idea how that could possibly cost me so much and why the figure owed seems to change and, especially, go down at one point. The fact that I was offered a discount also makes me suspect that the figure has been inflated somewhat - if I owe £200 then surely I owe £200 and there's little wiggle room?

Obviously I want to get this dealt with as quickly as possible and make sure my credit rating stays decent, but I have no idea how to proceed. I contest the debt completely - I don't even know what the breakdown of this debt is meant to be! - but I don't want to accidently become liable for it by somehow saying the wrong thing on the phone or in a letter.

Any advice you could give me would be great. Thanks in advance.

reehsetin

How did you move to the other network? did you move your number across?

If the number moved with you they haven't a leg to stand on, they've continued to bill when they shouldn't have, complain to the exec office

If you got a new number then there's a couple of things that might have happened, e.g. they offered you a PAC (port authorisation code) to move your number across (retention teams seem like they're being helpful by doing this but don't always make it clear that if you don't use the code the contract remains active.
This may come to a 'your word v theirs' situation but if you've got details around how and when you cancelled with them again it may be worth putting in a complaint as they didn't follow through with your request.

Sorry can't help with the debt collection agencies etc but I'm sure someone else can

chanz4

i i bet its an iphone tariff and the bill is the last months rental

happy_bunny_2

Have you checked your credit file?

Write to Moorcroft, stating you do not believe you owe any money as you paid the contract. Request proof of the alleged debt including a breakdown of the balance.

PersonOfInterest

Thank you for your replies.

I used a PAC code, but there was some issue with it. It was a pretty hectic time as I was finishing exams and leaving for an extended trip to Europe a few days later and so I just went with the new number. I took the Orange SIM out my phone and it hasn't been used since.

I don't remember the person on the phone saying anything about the contract renewing if I didn't use it, but then I don't remember any of the conversation...

It's not an iPhone tariff. I had gone through a 24 month contract on an HTC and it had just started renewing itself on a monthly basis. I cancelled because I found a better deal elsewhere.

I'm not sure how to check my credit file. The debt has been sold on to Lowell Group now. Should I just write the same to them?

chanz4

so you didn't actually term the contract by not using the pac

National_Debtline

chanz4 wrote: »

so you didn't actually term the contract by not using the pac

As far as I understand it, the OP went on to serve a month's notice instead. That's how I read it anyway.

Was the notice served in writing or via e-mail?

- David.