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Default query - utility account
Nickw86
Posts: 1 Newbie
Hi Experts!
I have a question about default dates relating to a utility (water) account held in 2013, in particular the date of default notice and whether I have valid grounds to mount a challenge here.
I'm not trying to dispute that the debt existed (when I found out about it in March 2018, I settled it immediately), rather the circumstances in which the default was raised.
The utility company are still collating information so to date I haven't seen the default notice, however my understanding of the timeline is as follows;
- account created Feb 2013
- last payment made June 2013
- moved out of property August 2013
- default registered May 2014
From conversations with the company, I have established that the default notice was sent to the property despite my having moved out almost 9 months prior to this. Due to the timings, mail forwarding had stopped and the notices weren't received, and I was blissfully unaware of the default notice until this year, when I was turned down for a job due to my credit history. The default is the only blemish on my file.
Secondly, the default is registered for an amount significantly higher than the actual debt. I'm not sure if this has any relevance, as I paid the actual amount and the default is marked as settled.
Having read ICO guidelines, they suggest a default should be 3-6 months from the initial debt, which leads to my questions.
Can a default be registered 11 months after the debt was initially incurred? It seems an unfair penalty that a default can remain on file for 11 months after a debt becoming statute barred.
Does the default notice being sent to an address the company were fully aware I no longer occupied make any difference? The company had my contact details but made no effort to contact me through any other means.
It would be a lot easier to accept a blemish on my credit file for 1 year rather than 2, I'm trying to establish whether it's worth the time and effort to pursue, or whether the company are perfectly within their rights to act as they have.
Thanks in advance for the help!
I have a question about default dates relating to a utility (water) account held in 2013, in particular the date of default notice and whether I have valid grounds to mount a challenge here.
I'm not trying to dispute that the debt existed (when I found out about it in March 2018, I settled it immediately), rather the circumstances in which the default was raised.
The utility company are still collating information so to date I haven't seen the default notice, however my understanding of the timeline is as follows;
- account created Feb 2013
- last payment made June 2013
- moved out of property August 2013
- default registered May 2014
From conversations with the company, I have established that the default notice was sent to the property despite my having moved out almost 9 months prior to this. Due to the timings, mail forwarding had stopped and the notices weren't received, and I was blissfully unaware of the default notice until this year, when I was turned down for a job due to my credit history. The default is the only blemish on my file.
Secondly, the default is registered for an amount significantly higher than the actual debt. I'm not sure if this has any relevance, as I paid the actual amount and the default is marked as settled.
Having read ICO guidelines, they suggest a default should be 3-6 months from the initial debt, which leads to my questions.
Can a default be registered 11 months after the debt was initially incurred? It seems an unfair penalty that a default can remain on file for 11 months after a debt becoming statute barred.
Does the default notice being sent to an address the company were fully aware I no longer occupied make any difference? The company had my contact details but made no effort to contact me through any other means.
It would be a lot easier to accept a blemish on my credit file for 1 year rather than 2, I'm trying to establish whether it's worth the time and effort to pursue, or whether the company are perfectly within their rights to act as they have.
Thanks in advance for the help!
0
Comments
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They don!!!8217;t need to supply a default notice.
Did you provide a forwarding address?
Debts aren!!!8217;t stature barred until after 6 years so not sure why you!!!8217;re saying 11 months after being stature barred?0
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