OMG is this Good Old Britain gone mad.

colettecurragh

I returned from a period in Spain on 23rd November 2015. Waiting for me was a letter from a debt collector. It would appear that I had gone to Spain and not finished paying for a dongle! I paid the £38 and asked that it be recorded that it had been paid. However, then realised I could not get credit and began the search for the reason. Went to the shop where we got the dongle and explained that we had gone to the store and cancelled and then stopped the DD before we left. Explained that I had no idea/had no correspondence that I needed to pay more and suggested that with a very good previous credit rating I was certainly more astute than to risk what subsequently happened for the sake of £38 The Manager there was very reasonable and said it would be sorted out. Throughout the rest of November, December and into January was being given different bits of information. I contacted the Ombudsman and probably in Feb/March this year they told me that they did not uphold my complaint - there was nothing about it my visits to the shop or even anything on my file to explain what I had spent a long time in the Shop explaining., I am now left with a terrible credit rating with Experian. (Yesterday had a look at Noddle and that's even worse). How on earth do you lose a great credit rating when (a) I didn't know I had defaulted, I cannot find any reference to letters from the shop in my emails or phone and they would not agree to let me have copies and (2) you owe nothing in this world but still could not get credit. Even my bank - I have been with them for about 30 years put a stop to any borrowing etc. Kind regards.

DCFC79

colettecurragh wrote: »

I returned from a period in Spain on 23rd November 2015. Waiting for me was a letter from a debt collector. It would appear that I had gone to Spain and not finished paying for a dongle! I paid the £38 and asked that it be recorded that it had been paid. However, then realised I could not get credit and began the search for the reason. Went to the shop where we got the dongle and explained that we had gone to the store and cancelled and then stopped the DD before we left. Explained that I had no idea/had no correspondence that I needed to pay more and suggested that with a very good previous credit rating I was certainly more astute than to risk what subsequently happened for the sake of £38 The Manager there was very reasonable and said it would be sorted out. Throughout the rest of November, December and into January was being given different bits of information. I contacted the Ombudsman and probably in Feb/March this year they told me that they did not uphold my complaint - there was nothing about it my visits to the shop or even anything on my file to explain what I had spent a long time in the Shop explaining., I am now left with a terrible credit rating with Experian. (Yesterday had a look at Noddle and that's even worse). How on earth do you lose a great credit rating when (a) I didn't know I had defaulted, I cannot find any reference to letters from the shop in my emails or phone and they would not agree to let me have copies and (2) you owe nothing in this world but still could not get credit. Even my bank - I have been with them for about 30 years put a stop to any borrowing etc. Kind regards.

Your credit score or rating is of no use, lenders don't even see it, they go by the history.

Is the entry on your credit file correct ?

If it is then the entry stays, if not it can be removed.

Your credit history is what you need to improve, look at a credit history building credit card or 1 of similar name and pay it off monthly in full.

Thrugelmir

colettecurragh wrote: »

I returned from a period in Spain on 23rd November 2015.

How long were you out of the country?

colettecurragh

6 Months. Sorry first responder your answer seems rather brusque to a newbie. Never had any problems with debt/default at all in my life so not sure what you mean. I don't know what you mean by establishing a better credit history. Anyone looking at my credit history will find a very good history. Why would I build a history when I have a good one. What I am asking is why should one mistake which was rectified once I knew there were problems decimate my credit rating?

fromtheshires

colettecurragh wrote: »

6 Months. Sorry first responder your answer seems rather brusque to a newbie. Never had any problems with debt/default at all in my life so not sure what you mean. I don't know what you mean by establishing a better credit history. Anyone looking at my credit history will find a very good history. Why would I build a history when I have a good one. What I am asking is why should one mistake which was rectified once I knew there were problems decimate my credit rating?

The problem you have is you had a default (aware or not) so your history is now correct as far as lenders are concerned when looking at your file. A mistake is a mistake but the ombudsman hasn't upheld your complaint as the default is factually correct and the lender did the correct thing by putting a default marker on your file. As a result you now have a poorer history than you did before and if lenders won't lend to you, the only thing to do is to use a credit builder type card and wait it out for 6 years until it comes off your report.
The good news is, if it's the only one and the older it gets, some lenders may be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt about your credit worthiness

DCFC79

colettecurragh wrote: »

6 Months. Sorry first responder your answer seems rather brusque to a newbie. Never had any problems with debt/default at all in my life so not sure what you mean. I don't know what you mean by establishing a better credit history. Anyone looking at my credit history will find a very good history. Why would I build a history when I have a good one. What I am asking is why should one mistake which was rectified once I knew there were problems decimate my credit rating?

Well what's in your credit history ?

I suggested a credit card for building your history (or rebuild) as I assumed the default or whatever the effect of not paying for the dongle meant your history was now ruined.

Is it all correct ?

As for my brusque post, that's your view.

Ben8282

Firstly, WHY DID YOU CANCEL THE DIRECT DEBIT? Do you have any idea of how many people post here about problems caused by their having cancelled a direct debit. I can't recall ever having cancelled a direct debit other than perhaps long unused ones. It really is not necessary to immediately cancel the direct debit when you close an account.
You state that you believe you have a very good credit history. In such circumctances an isolated default for £38 to a mobile phone company should not be having the devastating effect of making it impossible for you to get credit and causing your bank to withdraw credit facilities on a 30 year old current account as you claim.

Tiddlywinks

You defaulted - the credit file will reflect that default.

Why didn't you arrange for your mail to be forwarded? then you would have known exactly what was happening.

Why didn't you check to ensure your cancellation instructions were acted upon?

colettecurragh

Thank you all for your replies.

beansy

Hi

As a Newbie of MSE and whilst unfortunately the replies you have received are correct, someone is normally able to pop up with some positive advice. And although it may not be the answers you were hoping for, don't give up, even if only to try going back to the store where you had the dongle from to explain your dilema and see if you are able to obtain copies of the necessary documents to support your case that might enable you to sort things out.

I have to say that I too have learnt a very important lesson from your experience about why NOT TO cancel a DD even if advised to by a retailer (which I have on a couple of occasions but fortunately not taken this advice), as we are protected by the DD scheme and despite the fact that if things should go wrong it may be an inconvenience, it certainly wouldn't be as bad as the consequences you have experienced.

Good luck.

Beansy

colettecurragh

Thank you Beansy for your reply. Yes, gotta say I am pretty naïve about DDs - comes from dealing well with this sort of thing for years and not having to cancel them etc. People seem to get very hard about other peoples' money problems. What has happened to me has been awful - I repeat having a great credit rating ruined for something that really wasn't something I had control of (sons living in my house did not let me know). I have no intention of taking out silly credit cards to 'rebuild' a credit rating - don't really need to.. Suppose its just my ego playing up - having supported a family when times were very hard and now finding - after spending a lifetime doing this II am not longer worthy of credit, even from my own bank. But I will be writing to them. Thanks at least for making me feel less of a debtor!!!!