Who's right - Credit Report or Credit Collection Agency?

Sara4

Hey


Hoping to get clarification on the balances shown in Credit Reference Agency files.


I'm on a DMP with Stepchange and all ticking along nicely until Uncle Buck passed their account to Credit Resource Solutions.


I'm uncertain if anyone at CRS is able to answer a question with any kind of independent thought.


However, the problem is this: CRS insist that my balance still owing is £166. I have politely informed them that they are incorrect and have been passed the wrong information from Uncle Buck and they should contact the client to confirm.


They insist they are correct and I need to prove otherwise.


I get the free credit reference reports from Noddle and ClearScore and both of them show the balance I owe Uncle Buck is now £95.00. Which is the balance that is showing on my StepChange account.


So my question is: Are the credit reference agency reports correct? The reports are obviously being updated each month with the payments made to them and correspond to what I believe is correct.


I have emailed copies showing the Uncle Buck account to CRS and have repeatedly asked them why the balances differ. They just keeping emailing that the balance is £166. My replies have now become somewhat facetious.


Am I safe to assume that 1) it is illegal to falsely report information to the credit reference agencies and 2) that the report will hold up in court as proof of payment and indeed settlement of the account?


Thank you for reading. Hope you can help.

[Deleted User]

The CRA reports may not always be up to date, even though they seem to be in this case.

Use your Stepchange statements as the most accurate source.

It's not illegal for incorrect data to be recorded, but it breaches regulations.

Benalibob

The credit reports are not 100% accurate in terms of your balance and neither is your step change statement. The statements from your debt management companies provide an estimated balance which is basically the balance you or the creditor give them in the beginning minus the payments you have made. It does not however take into account any interest or charges which may have been added.
The company now dealing with the debt whether as a the new legal owners of the debt or acting on behalf of the original creditor are required to provide you with any information you need in regards to this debt and should give you a full breakdown of the account.
In many cases they will try and pass the buck back to the original creditor, do not let them it is their responsibility to deal with this even if they have to go back to the original creditor on your behalf.
In most cases the people you speak to on the phone do not know their a**e from their elbow so it is best to put your requests or complaints in writing and call it a complaint so that it is passed to someone to deal with who is more capable of answering your concerns. It also allows you to escalate the complaint to the ombudsman later should the company continue to be uncooperative. I would suggest that you write saying you are disputing the balance owed and require a full breakdown of the account from its inception including details of all payments received and any interest or charges which have been added. Make sure you state at the beginning i would like to make an official complaint so that they know to deal with this through their companies official complaints procedure. Continue making payments as normal in the meantime but do not amend the balance to the increased amount they are quoting

Good luck with sorting it all out

Sara4

Many thanks for the replies. Very useful information.


I will keep plugging away at CRS until we've reached a conclusion.