Late Payment (not my fault) how badly will it affect me?

Nade164

I had an incorrect £100 charge on my Vodafone bill, which was taken off but the advisor also cancelled my direct debit just in case it didn't come off in time, and advised me to pay my bill manually.
I have never ever missed any sort of payment in my life and was not intending on starting now, so: (bill was due 15 April)

11 April - I log in to my account online and pay with my card. A confirmation comes up on screen 'Thanks we've taken your payment' (stupidly did not screenshot).

12 April - I call 191 to check payment has gone through. Advisor confirms I have no balance to pay and sends a text.

Today - Text from Vodafone - that I have not paid my bill and it is outstanding.

Call Vodafone. After a lengthy discussion with a manager, she states that the advisor must have thought I meant whether or not I had any overdue balances and he advised me about this rather than what I was actually asking. She told me there was no record of payment from 11th. I check my bank and oddly enough there are no payments out. Strange.
I then ask to pay my bill there and then, manager states she cant accept payment due to an upgrade affecting the system - Light bulb moment!

I ask when the upgrade started, she said some time ago and advised me to pay in the bank. I asked whether the online payment is affected by this, eventually got an answer of 'Yes it might be'.

While on the phone to her I put my card details in to pay my bill on my account. I talk her through what is happening, exactly the same as last time get the message 'Thanks we've received your payment' (Screenshot this time). Manager tells me there should be a payment reference. There isn't. Manager agrees it must be the upgrade (so this surely is not my fault?).

The manager has agreed to speak to the credit team at Vodafone about the big black mark that will be heading onto my credit file now, but states that without proof from the bank that payment was sent they probably won't be able to do this.

I am off to the bank this afternoon, but am not holding my breath.

If this does get on my credit file, how bad will the implications be?

fermi

Depends on how any lender regards late payments. Some will not be overly bothered as these things happen, while others with stricter criteria may regard any as a big negative.

I would make it clear to Vodafone that if they record this as a late payment when it was not your fault, then you will be taking the matter as a formal compliant to their ombudsman

Vodafone

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