Default on Credit Report - Advice if possible

Stoney_G

Hi All,

Sorry to ask this as I know there are many threads about this, however my situation is a little different. I understand that the advice may be that I need to wait it out but I thought I would ask anyway!

At the end of 2009 I moved out of the home I shared with my now ex. We had broadband with Virgin Media that was in my name. When I left I called them to put the account into the exes name as he was remaining in the house. They told me that this was fine, but a payment of £20 was needed. Ex said he would pay this when he got paid and they agreed that he could call back as they had my permission to speak to him and pay the money and change the name.

Fast forward to the end of 2011 when I had just registered on the electoral roll of my new and current home and I receive a letter from a debt collection agency regarding the account.

Long story short, ex had remained in the house until the end of 2010, moved out without closing the account which had then defaulted in July of 2011. When I registered on the electoral roll this obviously flagged this up to them. I paid the balance immediately (£178) and the debt collection company said that was the end of it.

I contacted my ex and he said he was positive he had changed the name.

Obviously, the blame lies with me as I should have followed this up and made sure etc.

3 and a bit years later and I am 5 months away from becoming debt free after paying off the large debt ex left me with (another story), and am looking at buying a car on finance and buying a house with my husband.

I have no paperwork for Virgin Media or the debt collection letter (although I know their name and have their reference letter).

Does anyone think I might have a chance at getting this removed or is it a case of waiting this out until 2017? I have read that a default is regarded the same as a CCJ and aside from that my credit report is good.

Thank you for your time.

Stoney_G

Also, just to add, I obtained my credit report from Experian last week (I am nearly debt free and wanted to see where I was with everything). I completed the addresses etc and got my credit score and full report. I noticed that the address history they had asked for didn't cover 6 years and they recommended putting a full 6 years on. I updated the addresses to incude the address talked about above and waited for it to update. When I checked today to see if there was a difference, my credit score had gone down and the default was showing up. When I checked last week I had a 'good' rating and the default wasn't showing.

Stoney_G

Just wondering if anyone had any words of advice on this?

Thanks.

nottoolate

will later. slow at weekends

happy_bunny_2

The score isn't really relevent. It's a made up number. Each company that offers finance have their own criteria.

Is the default shown as settled/satisfied?

A small settled default over 3 years old isn't the end of the world. CCJs are seen worse.

Stoney_G

Thank you for that.

The default is showing up as a 'default' in red but says satisfied next to it. The other accounts show settled.

I thought CCJ's and defaults were treated the same, hence the worry.

Thanks.

happy_bunny_2

That's ok then.

Still not great and you won't get the best rates til it's gone. But it is possible to get credit with it.

HB

lisajane12345

I think the best course of action is for you to raise it with Virgin Media customer services, explain the circumstances and the implications it is having, and with a bit of luck you may get it removed. If they don't remove it the first time, it may be worth trying again - I speak from experience in having default payment successfully removed.

chanz4

Virgin when in the wrong don't sort data, so be honest don't expect much from them

Stoney_G

I was thinking about raising it with them, but as I have no paperwork or the account number it might be very difficult as they won't have much to go on. I may do though, it would be nice not to have to wait another 3 years until it's removed!

kirstybum

Hi there,
I had the same issue with an ex and only found my Virginia account on a credit report. Since the balance hadn't been satisfied I suppose I had a bit more bargaining power but I emailed and asked if they'd remove it if I paid off the balance given the circumstances. A nice man from customer services rang back saying that they were happy to do so and it has since been removed from my credit file mine wasn't at debt collections though but definitely worth an ask, I didn't have any paperwork or anything either. Hope this helps x