Vodafone applied default to my credit file and now I can't get a mortgage

Hayezy90

Hello everyone,
And hopefully Vodafone web relations team,

After finally having control over my physical finances and the birth of my first child with a second on the way me and the wife made the decision to apply for a mortgage. I pulled up my credit file to check everything was tickety-boo when I notice a Vodafone account I haven't used for 4 years after running into a bit of a problem with it. Out of the blue they hit me over £1000 bill, clearly not being able to pay all at once I set up a payment plan. After finishing paying this, 4 years previously I wiped my hands off Vodafone only to find now in 2016 that, according to Vodafone I owe them £232 even though I have had zero communications asking for the payment which I would have payed in line with the payment plan.

So the account has stayed open as far as my credit file see, £232 in the red and in default for almost 4 years!!! So even if I was to pay the money owed the default would be on the file for a further 6 years!!

My life is now on hold. I can't move forward without getting this sorted. Worst of all Vodafone don't know if I owe them the money, the debt collection agency I contacted on their behalf seems to think it was settled 4 years ago.

Please please please someone help. Especially web relations team as your the only people in Vodafone who actually seem to get things done.

Tom

fermi

Hayezy90 wrote: »

So even if I was to pay the money owed the default would be on the file for a further 6 years!!

The account, default, and all history of D/8 will be removed completely from your report 6 years from the initial recorded 'default date', not the settlement date or last D or 8 in status history. So from your description, a couple of years at most.

Hayezy90

Thanks. That's a slight relief but really need to get to the bottom of this.

The default was only added after £232 wasn't paid as the very last payment but I was not aware of this money and wasn't contacted at all. I already finished the payment plan so it would have been a extra payment and I would have happily paid it to avoid all this.

What's the chances of having this default removed on those grounds, I didn't know about it to put it right?

macman

If you failed to make the final agreed payment to clear the debt then the default is valid. The creditor doesn't have to contact you if you don't pay, and in this case they sold the debt on at some point. Perhaps you changed address and failed to notify them, or letters went astray?
Not 'being aware' of the debt does not void it.

[Deleted User]

macman wrote: »

Not 'being aware' of the debt does not void it.

Therein lies the problem.

It was up to the OP to ensure the debt was fully paid, not receiving a bill or "reminder" does not make the debt go away nor make it possible to clear a subsequent default.

I doubt any "web relations team" will involve themselves either