Three Refusing To Remove Default For £20

geordiestory

My credit file shows that the payments on the two credits cards I've ever owned, plus the phone contracts I've had, had always been on time.

Not a single payment missed, no money worries, always a comfortable amount of cash to hand.

The only outlier: a £5-a-month data dongle I signed up for in 2008. I didn't use it but paid monthly for years. Called up to cancel it in 2011, and thought no more of it.

Little did I realise that they had continued to charge me, sending letters to my (parents) address because they hadn't changed it.

When I discovered this, I paid the outstanding sum, and asked them to cancel the account.

Same thing happened a second time. Letters to the old address. I paid up.

At the same time I had another, far more expensive phone contract, with Three registered to my new address and the same bank details which was being paid in full, and has been for the past five years.

I've just discovered, by ordering my credit file, that they put a default on my file.

I've contacted Three and they're refusing to remove it. In fact, the guy sounded like he revelled in refusing it.

I know they're under no obligation to do so, but it seems genuinely appalling that they'd stand by this for such a small amount, given I'd provided my entire credit history to them showing that this was clearly an admin error on Three's part rather than me being skint or a chancer who didn't want to pay.

(As a side note I still can't believe that politicians haven't taken a closer look at the laws surrounding the reporting of defaults. It seems that most lenders treat a default for £20 in the same way they would for £20,000 - how can this be right?)

Is it worth my going to the ombudsman? This was five years ago on an old number, so don't have record of dates I called. And if my request wasn't properly recorded on the system, I guess it's my word against theirs.

hoops77

First off doesn't surprise me, shocking company!!
Ask experian to write them and put a note on your file .
That fails write to every director/manager at three.
That fails then it drops off in a year anyway

Hutch100uk

It is disgusting. Make sure Experian put a note on your file allowing you to explain the default. Thankfully you don't have long to wait for it to drop off. NEVER use Three again!

yoshiyella

If what you is saying is correct, log a formal complaint with 3 asking to refund the charges as you had given notice to cancel and remove the default. Explain that you had cancelled and given a change of address. My only concern for you is that this was then repeated and you still paid up!

Show them in the letter all the evidence you have. Make sure you ask for compensation - I don't mean you'll get thousands of pounds but you may get £50! If not resolved within the timescales go to the FO.