Unfair Black Mark: How to proceed?

BovineBrother

Hi there,

Recently my credit rating was black marked by Vodafone. This has prevented me from taking out a loan. Here's a run down of how it happened:

1) I cancel a Vodafone contract.
2) They continue to attempt to charge me, although the account does not exist
3) I stop the direct debit. (I think this is the problem, perhaps I should have let them do it.)
4) They charge me again, and it bounces back.
5) They black mark my account without my knowledge, and claim I owe them money.
6) I apply for a loan with Barclays and it gets rejected.
7) Calling Vodafone, they waive the fact that I owed them money, yet they don't remove the black mark.

How can there still be a black mark if they now admit that I didn't owe them money in the first place? I've had a hell of a time getting anyone on the phone to cancel the black mark.

I'm unsure if this is my mistake, and the black mark is legitimate; or whether Vodafone are in the wrong here. Should I involve Experian here? Or do I have to hope that the folks at Vodafone sort this out?

I should mention that my credit score is otherwise flawless.

Savedotmoney

I'd put all of what you've said about in writing and send it to Vodafone customer services. That way they have in writing the full circumstances and you have contacted them formally. Then await their response. In any scenario I would not cancel the direct debit as they can be more hassle than it's worth if they decide to place a black mark on your file. It would have been easier to seek the refund. Are you sure there was no balance outstanding on the Vodafone account? Did Vodafone send you one final bill saying the amount owed was £0?

Thrugelmir

BovineBrother wrote: »

1) I cancel a Vodafone contract.
2) They continue to attempt to charge me, although the account does not exist

You cannot simply cancel a contract. The contract will not allow you to do so.

DCFC79

Why did you not follow the protocol for cancelling the contract ?

BovineBrother

Vodafone has confirmed multiple times that they are owed no money, but I do not believe that I have been sent an official document or bill.

The contract ended, through protocol, as I was upgrading to another phone. However, they continued to charge me, wrongly, for the old contract as well as the new. I was advised by Vodafone, that the situation was sorted out, and therefore cancelled the direct debit. However, it turns out that it wasn't, and they continued pinging my account for their £10 or whatever.

As they did not receive it, and did not let me know in any way, they black marked me.

MJP43

Thrugelmir wrote: »

You cannot simply cancel a contract. The contract will not allow you to do so.

Semantics. If the OP gave notice of termination in line with the terms of the contract after minimum term then of course he can otherwise he would be tied in for life.

rizla_king

Complain and take them to the Communications Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner if they still leave a false default on your file.

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html
https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/

Thrugelmir

MJP43 wrote: »

Semantics. If the OP gave notice of termination in line with the terms of the contract after minimum term then of course he can otherwise he would be tied in for life.

Maybe. Whatever the reason though one cannot simply walk away from a dispute. The other party will obviously use whatever means it has at it's disposal to retaliate. That's the nature business. Nothing personal. More times the business will be right rather than wrong.

rizla_king

They didn't walk away. They cancelled as they can and should have, and it was only later that vodafone started demanding money they were not entitled to and trashing their credit record. They then re-engaged and got one part of that sorted but not the part about the default. So are asking for advice here.

MJP43 wrote: »

Semantics.

Nor bothered in the slightest by facts when they make snide comments.

Anoneemoose

This doesn't add up.

Usually, when you upgrade, your account details remain the same, you just take your new phone and plan and extend the minimum term you stay with the company.

Why did you have an old and a new contract OP? Did you take the new one through a different retailer (e.g. Carphone Warehouse). Whichever though, it sounds like this £10 is a final bill for the old account which is not beyond the bounds of possibility.

Have you got written confirmation they have previously advised you you owe nothing? If not, I think you will be hard pushed to dispute this.

PaulW922

One of my parents has been having grief with Vodafone owing entirely to their ineptitude. We wrote to the CEO in Newbury and that got us a result. including an assurance that any adverse credit data would be removed. Don't bother calling them - it is a waste of time.