Trying to pay a defaulted sum... HELP please

speedy9764

Background: Apologies for the long post

In 2010 I was an Orange PAYG customer and switched to Orange contract and moved my old PAYG number to the new contract as the contract offered unlimited texts and something like 300 any network minutes. Was somewhat shocked to get a bill in excess of £800 at the end of the month. Paid the minutes over the limit and international calls I had made for work but refused to pay the text charges as they should be unlimited and was told I should have waited 30 days before the unlimited texts started although the minutes started immediately.

Orange registered this as a default in March 2011 and passed the debt off to "collections" who came up with numbers around £1000

I had letters and phone calls and told them as above and refused to pay unfair text charges as they were unlimited and was threatened with court to which I said yes please, I have my receipts which show the service and date I took it out. Strangely everything went silent after that, then I took a job opportunity abroad. Now I am looking to return to UK I have done a check with the CRA's and have the default registered against me which is not doing my credit file any good.

The registered debt is around £730 registered by Orange which is now EE, I don't have the account number so cannot access anything online (I have email and internet but no phone access offshore) and for some reason they will not correspond by email.

Real questions:
Do I have to pay any more than the registered debt ?
Who do I pay it to ?

So the big bully companies have won again, I could not get my day in court, so they file a default and I suffer for them getting it wrong.

Is there anyone or a company representative from EE/Orange that can advise me how to settle the default or have it removed, as I will be looking for credit when I get back to UK for things like home furnishings and appliances etc.

Thank you very much in advance

PaulW922

Firstly - you cant just blame Orange of this - if you knew there was a debt, which you disputed, and that it was outstanding when you went abroad, you are going to have problems. The lesson is even if you dispute a debt don't just try and walk away from it. Of course that doesn't help here.

On this occasion I think you will need to carry on disputing the debt - if you still have the original agreement that should tell you about the text messages - if not you can get one from Orange. As this would be a regulated agreement you can send them £1 and ask for the agreement (search here for CCA requests). If that backs up your understanding then you have grounds to take the matter further. If not, you will need to reconsider your position.

Whatever you do there is no reason not to take your complaint to the regulator (OffCom) which will cost you nothing.

On a more general note are you sure that the debt relates to text messages? Even when charged these cost between 5p and 10p each so you must have really been going some to run up £730 worth in just a month. Even at 10p each that is over seven thousand messages!

rizla_king

PaulW922 wrote: »

if you still have the original agreement that should tell you about the text messages - if not you can get one from Orange. As this would be a regulated agreement you can send them £1 and ask for the agreement (search here for CCA requests).

Phone contracts are not CCA regulated agreements so you cant make a CCA request.

speedy9764

They charged 17.3p per text and yes I was texting A LOT. back then a text was only 168 characters.

I did not run away from it, I knew it was there but having been thru the debt collection letters and calls and threats i WANTED to go to court.

As I probably do not still have all the paperwork, what I had went into a skip or storage, I now just want to get it cleared.

So who do I try and pay ?

Do I just pay the registered defaulted amount ?

thanks:T:T:T:T

speedy9764

Thanks

Again, any advice on who I contact now ?

Do I just pay the defaulted amount on the credit register ?

cheers

rizla_king

What the default date? Paying it wont remove the default.

speedy9764

Hi,

Default was 03/11

I understand that it will not remove it until 04/17 but it would show the default as settled with a £0 balance, which I understand will also help my credit history

rizla_king

Pay it or dispute it to have it removed completely. Choice is yours.

speedy9764

I just want to pay it.... but cannot find anyone to pay !

rizla_king

Complain to Orange then saying that if refuse to let you pay it and get it marked as satisfied on your report, youll be taking them to the ICO and ombudsman and seeking compensation.