Vodafone Old Debt

fullandfinals

Hello all, I wonder if you can help. My parents died a little over a year ago and I was a bit consumed dealing with it.

I'd forgotten about my debt with vodafone until I checked my credit record this month. A default for 800 pounds.

The rest of my credit record looks okay, so I looked through my emails and dug up a notice from past due credit that they wanted to talk to me about my phone debt.

I called the debt collection agency and they said 'We're not dealing with this anymore, go and speak to vodafone'. I think this is due to the time that has passed, I haven't heard from them for months and months.

When I called vodafone they weren't very helpful... I just wanted to know if I could negotiate a full and final settlement and the guy on the end of the phone (I couldn't understand him very well) kept asking me if I wanted my line back and that I shouldn't expect it. He said I could pay the full amount any time I wanted to.

I told him I don't want my line back, I just want to make an offer to close the account.

I told him I wanted to make an offer of settlement as my credit record has already been hit by the default, I think I might be able to give a lump sum with some help from family of a bit less than the full price. Who do I need to email or speak to in order to offer a settlement?

Thank you,

EDIT: Paid Off, no outstanding balance.

sourcrates

Hi,

I wouldn't bother wasting my time to be honest.

Wait until the next debt collector/purchaser writes to you, then deal with it.

It's likely in limbo between debt collectors at the moment, no point wasting energy on it yet.

fullandfinals

Should I update my address with vodafone maybe? They have an old one. They have a correct email though.

sourcrates

Vodaphone won't take any "offers" to close the account, only once the debts sold on can you negotiate that.

If they don't have your current address, it's best to update, then you lower the risk of possible CCJ by default.

fullandfinals

Thank you sourcrates, you seem to be quite the guru.

I don't know if it helps explain that the representative on the phone said that the 'matter had been returned to vodafone' (this was in broken English, I cannot verify its accuracy). They told me that the debt was at too-higher level to be considered for another debt collector. The phrased used was *too high to be serviceable by an agency*.

I'm unsure of the validity of this, eight hundred doesn't seem like enough for that.

Thank you.

sourcrates

fullandfinals wrote: »

I don't know if it helps explain that the representative on the phone said that the 'matter had been returned to vodafone' (this was in broken English, I cannot verify its accuracy). They told me that the debt was at too-higher level to be considered for another debt collector. The phrased used was *too high to be serviceable by an agency*.

I'm unsure of the validity of this, eight hundred doesn't seem like enough for that.

Thank you.

Complete gobbledygook in my opinion.

Thats what the call handlers say when they don t know the answer to your question.

Usual scenario is this, original creditor passes account to debt collector, debt collector fails to recoup debt, debt passed back to creditor, this may be repeated with different DCA`s a good few times, or, the debt might be sold on to a specialist debt purchaser.

Either way, someone will write to you, eventually, these things can go quiet for years, then suddenly pop back up again.

fullandfinals

Thank you Sour. You've been most helpful.

fullandfinals

Hello All, I just wanted to follow up:

The debt has been paid after much discussion and negotiation on the phone with them, I made the guy on the phone go back to his manager and repeat the promise that they'd mark the account on my credit report as 'closed'. I've been given a confirmation number and a promise they'll mark the account as paid off (fully satisfied or settled maybe?) and that they've closed the account. They say this happens automatically.

I've been told to call back if it doesn't.

glentoran99

fullandfinals wrote: »

Hello All, I just wanted to follow up:

The debt has been paid after much discussion and negotiation on the phone with them, I made the guy on the phone go back to his manager and repeat the promise that they'd mark the account on my credit report as 'closed'. I've been given a confirmation number and a promise they'll mark the account as paid off (fully satisfied or settled maybe?) and that they've closed the account. They say this happens automatically.

I've been told to call back if it doesn't.

So you have paid the full amount? Marking as satisfied is what they should be doing anyway

fullandfinals

Thank you, it should be automatic shouldn't it? I'm thinking it should be there by the time my credit report updated for noddle and check my file next month (15th/16th is when noddle comes in)?

glentoran99

fullandfinals wrote: »

Thank you, it should be automatic shouldn't it? I'm thinking it should be there by the time my credit report updated for noddle and check my file next month (15th/16th is when noddle comes in)?

Not necessarily can take a bit longer sometimes