Mobile Phone Contract and bad credit marks

TheButler45

On 31st October went into Carphone Warehouse to buy a new phone.After discussions with the assistant I went for a 2 year contract on O2 and Huawei P10 handset. When I got home I realised that I needed a larger handset. Opened the box and put straight back. Didn't touch the phone as I could see it was too small. I went back 10am the following morning and asked to upgrade it to the P10 plus. The assistant informed ,me that it was out of stock, at which point the manager intervened and said the Huawei Mate 10 pro was about to be released which is a better phone, all be it more expensive. However it was not realised until the 17th November and could not pre-order for another 2 days. I said that's fine, cancel this contract and I will come in and pre-order 2 days later, which I did. When I got there and tried, the assistant tried to order but was informed by O2 that I couldn't as I had cancelled a contract. I said fine, if they don't want my business I'll go elsewhere, but didn't realise that O2 have put a mark on my credit rating and now I can't take out a mobile contract with anyone. I have a high credit rating 942/999 with Experian and 587/700 with Clearscore,though this has now dropped to 550/700. Can anyone give me suggestions how to get this off my record. It's a disgrace that this could even happen. I have e-mailed O2 on 3 occasions but just get ignored. Thanks for any help.

marliepanda

Firstly ignore your credit score. Nobody cares about that except you.

What matters is your credit history. You have applied for two phone contracts in quick succession. Clearly the phone companies don’t like that. That’s up to them.

What ‘bad mark’ is on your actual credit history (NOT score)

If it’s just a credit application for a phone contract, and then another hard search for the second phone contract, that’s fine for them to ‘put that’ on your credit report. It happened

Basically you now have two hard searches for credit in a short period, a rejection, and now other companies are wary of giving you a contract.

None of this is o2s fault. There is no black mark on your history, just two applications that you did make and are an accurate reflection.

IAmWales

I fail to see what is a disgrace.

Your credit record is a record of financial transactions and checks. You allowed O2 to credit check you, so the mark is a record of fact and should not be removed. One check alone would not stop you getting another phone.

You credit score is just a made up number, each provider will have their own criteria.

TheButler45

I have an exemplary credit record. Never missed a payment in 25 years. Have mortgages and bank loans etc. Just about every credit reference agency would like. As I said in my post I don't have a problem with O2 not wanting my custom, but to prevent me from getting a contract with an alternative supplier is a disgrace. If I was warned that it would affect my ability to take out a contract elsewhere then that would be different, but I wasn't. Plus after checking the T&Cs of both O2 and Carphone Warehouse they both have a 14 day change of mind policy, which I checked before taking back, not a 14 day return policy but a mark against your credit record. Where is the "peace of mind" that these companies are so keep to advertise.

marliepanda

You don’t understand credit history.

You applied for credit. You got credit because of your amazing credit record.

Then you cancelled it and applied for another. Your credit score doesn’t take one off because you cancelled it. So now you have two applications within a few days, that looks ‘bad’ people who are desperate may make multiple applications, so it can look ‘bad’

O2 rejected your new application probably because they’re looking and thinking ‘he has a credit application only a few days ago, so no’

There is no black mark. There is nothing ‘stopping you getting credit’ simply am accurate representation of your credit activity

It has NOTHING to do with o2 or carphone warehouse and their ‘peace of mind’ no ones preventing you doing anything.

You applied for credit. Of course you have a mark on your credit score. But it’s not a black mark. Your score is irrelevant until Experian and clearscore start offering you credit...

Also I’m 100% willing to bet you signed something giving them permission to do a credit check which mentioned affecting the ability to take out credit. I have an o2 contract, and mine certainly says that...

IAmWales

It is not a mark against your credit record, it is a record of a search, a record of fact.

O2 are not preventing you from getting a contract elsewhere, you applying for multiple contracts is.

TheButler45

Yeah, thanks, I have got and amazing credit record..
Let me try and make things clear. Oh and I do understand credit history. Another thing, I did not say I had a black mark on my history, just a mark, which I know will come off in 30 days. Yes,, you are 100% right, I would have signed an agreement allowing O2 to do a credit search and yes I am 100% right when I say, no one would stand in front of a counter and read pages of T&Cs before signing. You insinuate that the agreement I signed was legally binding, about it effecting my credit history, but then say that their "14 day change of mind policy" isn't. What is it?
I could go on and on about the legal terminology, but the long and short of it was, that I was mislead or at the very least not informed of the consequences of cancelling a contract with O2. (don't know if you heard of PPI where the banks mislead their customers). I have no problem with credit reference agencies, they just collect data. I do have problems with companies that can abuse their position, either deliberately or by negligence.
I DID NOTHING WRONG END OF.

LABMAN

TheButler45 wrote: »

Yeah, thanks I have got and amazing credit record. Let me try and make things clear. Oh and I do understand credit history. Another thing I did not say I had a black mark on my history just a mark, which I know this will come off in 30 days. Yes, you are 100% right, I would have signed and agreement allowing O2 to do a credit search and yes I am 100% right when I say no would stand in front of a counter and read pages of T&Cs before signing. You insinuate that the agreement I signed was legally binding about it effecting my credit history, but then say that their "14 day change of mind policy" isn't. What is it
I could go on and on about the legal terminology, but the long and short of it was that I was mislead or at the very least not informed of the consequences of cancelling a contract with O2. (don't know if you heard of PPI where the banks mislead their customers). I have no problem with credit reference agencies, they just collect data. I do have problems with companies that can abuse their position either deliberately or by negligence. I DID NOTHING WRONG END OF.

Read what you've typed, correct it and paragraph it, please.

DCFC79

You cancelled the contract which is fine, sounds like O2 just dont want you as a customer which they are entitled to do.

Get a sim free phone and a pay monthly sim.

LABMAN

TheButler45 wrote: »

... I DID NOTHING WRONG END OF.

Who, given a free choice chose a phone which didn't meet their needs? BTW shouting makes you look...?

boo_star

DCFC79 wrote: »

You cancelled the contract which is fine, sounds like O2 just dont want you as a customer which they are entitled to do.

Get a sim free phone and a pay monthly sim.

o2 are fine with him being a customer, it’s the other providers that are a little wary of the OP after having two credit checks in a short period of time.