Wescott chasing me for £250 O2 phone bill?

Anoneemoose

fusionx212 wrote: »

it's not always the case, mistakes happen it billing systems.

I agree and that's why I said it's highly unlikely - rather than impossible - that it's a mistake. Usually if there are any known billing issues then the networks will credit the account accordingly, but it doesn't seem to be the case in this instance. Having knowledge of the way some of the network billing systems work, I know that they will usually be able to pinpoint the details of each transaction, for example cell site that the customer was connected to at the time of the texts/calls/whatever. This is the kind of thing they may have investigated when OP first raised the issue with them.

Obviously there is still the possibility the charges are incorrect, but OP hasn't really helped themselves by ignoring it all. And I don't mean that harshly, I just know if someone told me I owed over £200 I didn't think I should, I would be like a dog with a bone until I had written confirmation either a)nthe company were wrong or b) the full details of how the debt came about. They should have queried it in detail at the time instead of assuming it would go away. I imagine they will have been sent reminders and things as well.

It isn't too late for them to go back to O2 and request a detailed breakdown of the charges - and then dispute them should they still disagree after they have received this.

treefiddy350

Anoneemoose wrote: »

O2 have already told you that you owe the money. You say they haven't given you a complete breakdown of the bill and then you say that there was a bunch of numbers you didn't recognise for less than £1 - so it sounds to me like you have seen the itemisation. You really should have queried it more at the time.

It is highly unlikely that it is some kind of error, those calls (or whatever they were), will have been made from your SIM, therefore you are liable.

If you really think you have a good reason not to pay, you need to write to O2 and dispute it properly, possibly taking it to Ofcom.

I am not sure why you would think if you would ignore it, it would just go away?

1) i have actually already disputed it with Wescott, at the time I bought up talking to O2, however both O2 and them said that it is now wescott dealing with it

2) i did recieve the breakdown earlier on when I was still in contact with O2 about it (before it was passed onto wescott) however when i disputed it with wescott around January i've been told it is too long ago and stuff like that gets deleted off records after x amount of time.

treefiddy350

Anoneemoose wrote: »

I agree and that's why I said it's highly unlikely - rather than impossible - that it's a mistake. Usually if there are any known billing issues then the networks will credit the account accordingly, but it doesn't seem to be the case in this instance. Having knowledge of the way some of the network billing systems work, I know that they will usually be able to pinpoint the details of each transaction, for example cell site that the customer was connected to at the time of the texts/calls/whatever. This is the kind of thing they may have investigated when OP first raised the issue with them.

Obviously there is still the possibility the charges are incorrect, but OP hasn't really helped themselves by ignoring it all. And I don't mean that harshly, I just know if someone told me I owed over £200 I didn't think I should, I would be like a dog with a bone until I had written confirmation either a)nthe company were wrong or b) the full details of how the debt came about. They should have queried it in detail at the time instead of assuming it would go away. I imagine they will have been sent reminders and things as well.

It isn't too late for them to go back to O2 and request a detailed breakdown of the charges - and then dispute them should they still disagree after they have received this.

Sure you are correct, I should have been more active at the time. But realistically that is the past now and I can't do much about it.

I have actually seen a breakdown of the charges a while ago and while i didnt look at it in detail I can say it definately doesnt look right -the fact that it's 10x my normal bill in itself doesnt make sense. Now at the time they said they did an investigation and confirmed it is correct, but I'm still certain it's not.

anyway as it's now been passed over to wescott since last Nov/Dec I have disputed it since then, and they have only recently gotten back to me saying they checked with O2 and it's correct. However i'm not just going to take their word for it. Im not sure what the next step should be for me.

treefiddy350

So far from doing my research the options i have are:
1) ignore and hope they won't take me to court over this amount (less than £250)
2) email or call wescott to say that im not willing to pay unless they provide proof i actually owe them something and the complete breakdown of the bill
3) email to suggest we settle the bill at 50% of the current amount to sort it

Anoneemoose

treefiddy350 wrote: »

Sure you are correct, I should have been more active at the time. But realistically that is the past now and I can't do much about it.

I have actually seen a breakdown of the charges a while ago and while i didnt look at it in detail I can say it definately doesnt look right -the fact that it's 10x my normal bill in itself doesnt make sense. Now at the time they said they did an investigation and confirmed it is correct, but I'm still certain it's not.

anyway as it's now been passed over to wescott since last Nov/Dec I have disputed it since then, and they have only recently gotten back to me saying they checked with O2 and it's correct. However i'm not just going to take their word for it. Im not sure what the next step should be for me.

Have you got it in writing from Wescot and/or O2 that it's correct and how the charges were incurred? I agree about not paying something you don't believe is correct and as you say, you can't change the past. I would put everything in writing, saying you dispute the charges and you would like everything written. I appreciate you have already contacted them, but if you have things in writing, it will work better for you. You could send the letter to Wescot and advise them you have also sent a copy to O2. I would also advise them in the letter that should you not get a satisfactory response, you will contact the Ombudsman..I think someone else posted a link to that.

Once you get the re

treefiddy350

Anoneemoose wrote: »

Have you got it in writing from Wescot and/or O2 that it's correct and how the charges were incurred? I agree about not paying something you don't believe is correct and as you say, you can't change the past. I would put everything in writing, saying you dispute the charges and you would like everything written. I appreciate you have already contacted them, but if you have things in writing, it will work better for you. You could send the letter to Wescot and advise them you have also sent a copy to O2. I would also advise them in the letter that should you not get a satisfactory response, you will contact the Ombudsman..I think someone else posted a link to that.

Once you get the re

Thank you for the advice.
I have actually disputed it with wescott as mentioned, their letter in reply was
'they have advised that you previosuly exceeded your allowance on voice calls consequently ran up a high outstanding balance'
'we believe the dispute has now been resolved'

(and then gave me instructions on how to pay)

So you mean i should once again dispute it ask for more proof and mention if unsatisfactory i will contact the Ombudsman?

Anoneemoose

treefiddy350 wrote: »

Thank you for the advice.
I have actually disputed it with wescott as mentioned, their letter in reply was
'they have advised that you previosuly exceeded your allowance on voice calls consequently ran up a high outstanding balance'
'we believe the dispute has now been resolved'

(and then gave me instructions on how to pay)

So you mean i should once again dispute it ask for more proof and mention if unsatisfactory i will contact the Ombudsman?

Well, I think if you have it in writing like that, then it might be worth going straight to the Ombudsman. Obviously, this is assuming you really feel the charges are incorrect. They say you have exceeded your allowances - it is quite easy to run up a large bill if you go over your minutes or ring chargeable numbers, for example. Have you still got the itemisation they sent? Just to double check.

treefiddy350

Anoneemoose wrote: »

Well, I think if you have it in writing like that, then it might be worth going straight to the Ombudsman. Obviously, this is assuming you really feel the charges are incorrect. They say you have exceeded your allowances - it is quite easy to run up a large bill if you go over your minutes or ring chargeable numbers, for example. Have you still got the itemisation they sent? Just to double check.

Last time I asked for the complete breakdown they said that information wasn't available anymore, and when i checked online i could no longer access it. In any case i remember when i DID have access to it I added it all up and it was nowhere even near £100 let alone 200. I might have a record of it saved somewhere on my laptop.. will it work strongly my favour if i had it? if so maybe worth digging around on my laptop before i bring it to Ombudsman?