BT incorrectly billed me, now being hassled by a debt collection agency

blizeH

Hi,

I cancelled our contract with BT a few months ago, I was told on the phone that there would be no cancellation charges, and a subsequent email confirming the cancellation also stated there would be no charges.

Jump forwards a few weeks, and I received a very similar email with one key difference - the cancellation charges were now £85. I called BT and they told me that it was just an error, and to ignore it, which I did.

A few weeks after that, and I received a strongly worded letter asking for the money - I called BT, the advisor assured me that there were no charges to pay, and they had removed the payment from the system.

On Christmas eve, I was bombarded with phone calls, answer phone messages, texts and a letter from a debt collection agency 'Fredrickson', I called them and after being on hold for 30 minutes, the lady confirmed with BT that there was no outstanding debt to pay. The caveat being she thinks that a default has been placed on my credit rating (which I can't see on Noddle), and she advised me to call BT - after being on hold for almost 45 minutes, I was told to just call back another time.

Anyway, jump forward to now, and I possibly have a default on my credit rating with no easy way to remove it, and I've just received a supposedly 'urgent' text from Fredrickson telling me to contact them again

Can anyone please tell me the best course of action now? And is there any way to check (preferably for free) whether or not I have a default on my credit rating? Thanks!

[Deleted User]

I'd start by calling Fredrickson back first as you can't proceed without seeing what they have to say.

[Deleted User]

blizeH wrote: »

the cancellation charges were now £85. I called BT and they told me that it was just an error, and to ignore it, which I did.

A few weeks after that, and I received a strongly worded letter asking for the money - I called BT, the advisor assured me that there were no charges to pay, and they had removed the payment from the system.

Since it's BT who has sold this "debt" on to a collection agency, it's only BT who can remove this default.

Do you have any proof that BT operators told you to ignore final warning debt letters?

blizeH

Thanks guys, and no I don't have any proof beyond taking down the person's name and a reference number for the call.

Will speak with Fredrickson again today and try to sort it out, then speak to BT about the credit rating. I've probably wasted over 10 hours on this now, plus many more hours worrying about it

Can anyone please advise how to check if there is a charge on my credit rating? Thanks!

[Deleted User]

blizeH wrote: »

Thanks guys, and no I don't have any proof beyond taking down the person's name and a reference number for the call.

Will speak with Fredrickson again today and try to sort it out, then speak to BT about the credit rating. I've probably wasted over 10 hours on this now, plus many more hours worrying about it

Can anyone please advise how to check if there is a charge on my credit rating? Thanks!

If the call you're talking about was with BT then their calls should be recorded?

blizeH

Perfect in that case, thank you! I'll call both them and Fredrickson as soon as I get home from work later to hopefully get this sorted once and for all.

Edit: Another 30 minutes on the phone with them, apparently it's sorted (again) now but time will tell I guess. Need to call BT again about the credit check.