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BY Default

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Hi,
Hoping someone can let me know the process for disputing a Default. I was planning on moving house this year and I have just obtained by credit report. It has a default from around 3 years ago for an unpaid bt internet bill. Rationale for dispute:

I took out BT broadband and phone in December 2012, at that stage the internet would not work and I phoned BT. They went through the standard checks on the phone and said an engineer was required - no update to this in January, called February same checks, struggled with communication with the BT rep and hung up. Called back same checks again & was told would call me back. Then advised I needed an engineer. This went on for months. Still no internet. In the meantime when my daughter was off sick with chicken pox and required the internet I bought a mobile dial up from 3. Still no progress with BT despite my need for internet to work from home!!! Needless to say my work was slow using this form of internet and unproductive.

In 2014 I changed to sky, nothing 12 hours an engineer came fixed the line & hey Presto I have the internet. Why BT could not do this I have no idea! I phoned BT about the default and they say it was for my last direct debit notice period and I can't pay it as it's been passed over. I was appalled with this answer - how can I be in breach of a contract for which they NEVER PROVIDED THE REQUIRED SERVICE FOR?? If anyone is in breach of contract it is them for taking approx £500 for a phone line and broadband that NEVER worked from day 1 despite numerous calls!

Advise please this is the only bad on my file and completely ridiculous that I'm being penalised by BT for this!

Comments

  • robber2
    robber2 Posts: 559 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Lyng82 wrote: »
    ..............and I phoned BT. !


    Sorry to have to say this but at least some of the service you were paying for was working, so not paying what you owed was unfortunately not the way to solve your BT issues.

    The debt was owed so you've got no grounds to ask for the default to be removed from your history.
    Rob
  • I phoned them on my mobile phone. NOT THE LANDLINE as it did not work for the 18 months I paid it!
  • & the only amount that was not paid was the last direct debit. It was cancelled when I took out sky. Surely the contract I singed with BT for providing a landline & broadband was breached by them due to non provision of service?
  • ukamber1
    ukamber1 Posts: 129 Forumite
    edited 28 March 2017 at 10:54PM
    Lyng82 wrote: »
    & the only amount that was not paid was the last direct debit. It was cancelled when I took out sky. Surely the contract I singed with BT for providing a landline & broadband was breached by them due to non provision of service?

    Hi Lyng82,

    Sadly poor service and the agreed contract terms would have been 2 separate issues. I had a very poor time with EE and had issues with them for months. I made a complaint to EE and we came to an agreement that I could move to another provider earlier and they agreed to end contract terms and at the same time, they refunded me for the months of poor service. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing, think we'd all agree with that but making an internal official complaint with BT first, likely would have allowed you to move without any charges. By not paying that last direct debit, without the prior agreement of the provider, means you canceled the contract early and would have still been liable for that last payment....I agree it seems very unfair and still worth making official complaint to BT and ask for them to remove default but think it will be difficult to get them to agree...If you cant come to an agreement with BT after 8 weeks, you could try the Ombudsman but the first thing they might ask is what the contract terms were and its difficult one to argue.....worth a try tho!

    Best wishes
  • sivs
    sivs Posts: 247 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    I would write a formal complaint to BT explain what you have put here... I had a similar issue a few years ago.

    Had broadband but when I was on the internet it made my phone line engaged. (Like dial up)

    Took months and month but BT agreed to cancel the contract..

    Best Of luck.. I would never go with BT for personal or work as I have had two years worth of problems with them at my company..
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