BT selling debt to debt collection agency

mappt02

3 years and 2 house-moves after my divorce, I discovered that BT had sold a “debt” in my name to debt collection agencies for an apparent order placed on my account (without my consent) by my ex-husband at our former martial home. The order for phone and broadband services relates to well after I lived at the address and were initially paid for by my ex-husband, however BT later refunded his payments at his banks request.

I have now been contacted by 3 different debt collection agencies chasing the balance (£303.98). I have had some communication with BT who confirmed that these charges were for home phone and broadband and no data or phone calls were ever made / used. I am no longer in contact with my ex-husband. However 2 years ago, he contacted me advising that BT had taken money from his account without his consent, which I presume are these charges.

I wish to dispute the charges on the grounds that I did not give consent to the orders placed on the account by my ex-husband for BT phone and broadband, and throughout the period of the charges, no data or phone calls were made, so the service was not actually used at all.

I have emailed and phoned BT numerous times, and they have not responded. This has now been going on for around 18 months and once again I received a letter from BT this morning telling me that they have sold my debt to yet another debt collection agency.

I have emailed the debt collection agency to advise I am awaiting a deadlock letter, and have tried contacting BT again, this time through their online forums.

I'm worried as I'm in the middle of trying to re-mortgage my house and really don't want this to affect my re-mortgage.

sourcrates

Have you followed BT's correct complaints procedure ?

Link here :

https://www.bt.com/help/home/complaints.html

Are you positive they have sold the debt ?

Who's been chasing you ?

National_Debtline

Hi mappt02 and welcome to MSE,


If your ex did this without your consent and that is the reason you wish to dispute it, then that is an issue of fraud. You will be expected to have a reference number from Action Fraud. Without this, you are unlikely to get very far with this argument. And, of course, you must bear in mind that there are other implications in accusing someone of fraud.


If BT have sold the debt on then I would suggest you complain to both the new debt collector as well as copying in BT. Raise your concerns about the fraud with your reference number and make it clear how you want them to resolve this and that this matter has dragged on long enough. If their final response is not satisfactory then you can go to the Telecommunications Ombudsman.

I am afraid that only incorrect data can be removed from your credit file and this complaint may take seven more time to resolve, especially if it goes to the Ombudsman. If your complaint is successful you can get the incorrect data removed. However, if the debt is deemed to be yours, not only can it not be removed, you will need to repay it or fight the matter at court (which can be costly). Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

poppasmurf_bewdley

Did you actually close your account with BT when you moved out, and did you provide BT with your new address?