British Gas late payments HELP!!!

Kay0992

Im new on here so thought id say hi!
I need some help!!!!

So basically me and my boyfriend have been refused a mortgage because of 2 late payments on my credit file from British Gas .. this is what has happened ...

In 2011 I moved into a flat and had my gas and electric with British Gas, I always made my payments on time and never had a problem with them. I moved out exactly a year later in 2012, I called them up and advised them I was moving back in with my parents, I then entered my metre readings online and paid my final bill just as I had done any other month before that. As far as I was aware the whole account had been closed and this was the end of it.

It was only when we applied for a mortgage in April this year and it got turned down that I decided to check my credit score online, this is where I saw the account from 2011 was still open with late payments next to months Feb and March 2014 (Nothing between the months of September 2012 and Jan 2014 :S) I called British Gas in confusion and hoped it had been a fault their end. I spoke to a man who could not understand a word I was saying and was getting increasingly frustrated with me. I eventually got out of him that there was a final bill I had not paid from 2012 for £90, however he could not tell me why I wasnt advised of this even though there were 2 new addresses on my british gas file, my telephone number and email address. He couldnt understand why I was so cross so I ended up just paying the £90.00 and he assured me the late payments would be taken off my account.

I have just had another look online as we are going to be applying for another mortgage soon, and the 2 late payments are still on the account.

Is there anything I can do here or am I just going to have to face it that I wont be able to get a mortgage for the next 6 years till they are cleared off? I have tried calling them again but I end up sitting on hold an hour and then getting through to someone who just doesnt understand what I'm saying. Im getting so frustrated :@

Any help would be greatly appreciated

StuC75

If you were closing the account the final readings should have been given over the phone at the time and then sort confirmation that the account was closed off - by then submitting readings it was likely that the account was left open as a result of this.

You should really by writing to them \ escalating complaint so it can be seen if the dates and readings are consistent with what you gave over the phone - since there could have been mis-readings? or daily standing charge making up what the extra balance was?...

Kay0992

Thanks for your reply ... Im going to write a letter next and see if there is anything they can do!
I would have paid the bill straight away had I known about it back in 2012! Its frustrating that they had all my contact details yet left it 2 years till I got in contact with them! And iv had numerous different accounts with them for different addresses iv lived at since!
Can they really turn down a mortgage application over 2 late gas payments?!

Buzby

They can select whatever reason decline - what makes you think it had anything to do with BG? The the mortgage company say so? Late payments are not defaults, so this may be a side issue - paying it off removes nothing, gage historical data will remain unless you negotiated its removal as part of the negotiation?

Tixy

A mortgage lender can turn down your application for late payments yes, although you will probably find a different mortgage lender who will be willing to lend to you.

Definitely write to them and complain and ask them why you were never chased for the debt if they had the correct address for you and ask them to consider removing the entries from your credit file.
I would also in the letter that this is holding up a mortgage application and so needs their immediate attention.

In the meantime you may want to go back to your mortgage broker or mortgage lender to explain that there has been a mix up and that you now have proof of payment and will that be sufficient for them to approve the mortgage.

Just as a side note to anyone else reading and I know it won't help you now, but this is another example of why it is sensible to get copies of your credit files from all 3 agencies at least 3months before applying for a mortgage.