o2 have given me a default with no warning

graniteedge

Hi guys,

Apologies that my first post is one asking for help straight away.

I've received a letter today from a debt collection agency informing me that because I owe o2 £15 they have defaulted me.

This is the first that I have ever heard about this.

I phoned the debt collectors regarding the matter and it supposedly relates to an amount I owe o2 from back in 2011.

As mentioned I never even knew about this outstanding amount until now, and received absolutely no warning of a default.

The debt collection agency have disputed the matter on my behalf, but really I have no faith in them.

I was wondering where I stand on this matter and if there is anyway to dispute it. For the sake of £15 I would never have let a matter get so serious had I known that I owed o2 money. Like I said not even a letter from them regarding it.

I've spent a fair amount of time googling and there seems to be quite a number of cases of o2 doing this to other people. Some have phoned o2 and eventually got a resolution. But there is also advice that I should only contact them via post, recorded delivery.

What do you think I should do?

I'm not rich by any shot, but £15 isn't a huge amount for me and I would have settled that straight away if I knew I owed the money.

I am looking to apply for a mortgage soon and I know that I can kiss that dream goodbye with this on my credit file, so any help on how best to dispute this will really help.

Thank you all in advance, also just to let you all know that I don't intent to be a poster who gets advice and doesn't bother to update the thread. I promise to keep this thread in the loop with any updates.

Graniteedge

19lottie82

have you checked your actual credit report?

what did o2 say when you asked them about it?

graniteedge

Hi 19lottie82,

I have checked and it has now been recorded on there. Weirdly it's not had that much of an effect on my score.

I haven't actually spoken to o2 only the debt collection agency. I think the debt has been passed onto them.

I'm really not sure how to go about this.

Thanks,

Graniteedge

graniteedge

Hi 19lottie82,

Apologies, I have double checked, and thoroughly checked my credit file and there is no mention of a default.

What is interesting is that on my credit report using Experian, it states that the o2 account as settled and closed with the balance as £0. I have just checked the recent searches and it seems the debt collection agency have done a search on me.

The debt collection agency have told me that I have a default so could this just be that it hasn't updated?

Thanks,

Graniteedge.

Buzby

Being 'in default' and having a default flag on your file are not the same things. DCA's are not your friends so I would treat with suspicion anything they tell you. They may be recovering a purchased debt (real or imagined).

If you had a bill from 02 that you did not pay, then it is fair game they will automatically flag a default AT THE TIME. Some three years later is unreasonable, which files did you check just Experian? There's no requirement for a 'default notice'. This is only required for CCA regulated agreements.

graniteedge

Hi Buzby,

Thanks for the response. The letter from the debt collector informs me that they have been sold the debt.

It also says that they have registered details on my credit file in the form of a default, but I see nothing on there.

I will have a look at the other CRAs just to be sure.

Do I have a leg to stand on to contest this? I read somewhere that the OFT are now treating mobile phone agreements as a form a credit agreement.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!showthread.php?10362-Incorrect-Default-Notice

Not sure if this is worth anything.

I just find it strange that 3 years later I'm suddenly being sent all this.

The debt collection guy seemed like a very nice chap and agreed with me that this was not on. He said he will contest this on my behalf, but I'm worried that o2 might now doctor some paperwork to enforce this.

Am i basically now screwed in getting a mortgage?

Thanks,

Graniteedge

antonymp

graniteedge wrote: »

Hi guys,

Apologies that my first post is one asking for help straight away.

I've received a letter today from a debt collection agency informing me that because I owe o2 £15 they have defaulted me.

This is the first that I have ever heard about this.

I phoned the debt collectors regarding the matter and it supposedly relates to an amount I owe o2 from back in 2011.

As mentioned I never even knew about this outstanding amount until now, and received absolutely no warning of a default.

The debt collection agency have disputed the matter on my behalf, but really I have no faith in them.

I was wondering where I stand on this matter and if there is anyway to dispute it. For the sake of £15 I would never have let a matter get so serious had I known that I owed o2 money. Like I said not even a letter from them regarding it.

I've spent a fair amount of time googling and there seems to be quite a number of cases of o2 doing this to other people. Some have phoned o2 and eventually got a resolution. But there is also advice that I should only contact them via post, recorded delivery.

What do you think I should do?

I'm not rich by any shot, but £15 isn't a huge amount for me and I would have settled that straight away if I knew I owed the money.

I am looking to apply for a mortgage soon and I know that I can kiss that dream goodbye with this on my credit file, so any help on how best to dispute this will really help.

Thank you all in advance, also just to let you all know that I don't intent to be a poster who gets advice and doesn't bother to update the thread. I promise to keep this thread in the loop with any updates.

Graniteedge

I once had O2 try to place a default on my credit file for £6.50, it was left owing from an account I closed which they failed to notify me of, after several emails back and forth I ended up disputing it with IDaware, who successfully got O2 to remove the late payment markers and default.

graniteedge

antonymp wrote: »

I once had O2 try to place a default on my credit file for £6.50, it was left owing from an account I closed which they failed to notify me of, after several emails back and forth I ended up disputing it with IDaware, who successfully got O2 to remove the late payment markers and default.

Hi,

Thanks for this info, how can I get in contact with these people?

Thanks,

Graniteedge

mcmaze

I once had the same issue with O2, they defaulted me without warning for £24. I didn't know about it and lowell traced me to my new address and sent me a letter. I emailed their credit file department creditfilereferrals@o2.com, it was obvious that I had no issue about the outstanding balance, and they smoothly handled my issue and simply removed the default and late payment marks from my file.

kingstreet

Obtain the other versions of your credit file too.

Just because it isn't on Experian doesn't mean it isn't on one, or both, of the others.