Removing arrangement to pay (British Gas)

darroch

I signed up to check my file out of interest to see how my credit score is faring and saw it was sitting at 683 out of 1000. Two things are being called which are two adverse accounts being reported. This relates to an arrangement to pay for both my historic British Gas electric and gas account in 2015.

An arrangement to pay was applied to my British Gas (Gas) account on November 2015.

An arrangement to pay was applied to my British Gas electric account on November and December 2015.

I switched gas and electricity supplier in October 2015. The direct debit was cancelled in October as I was awaiting the settlement of the final bill (rather than an estimation).

I’ve sent a formal complaint to them as to the basis on which I wish to appeal is that I received no communication of the impact of having an arrangement to pay setup. I was not informed by not paying off the gas account in full within one month was an arrangement to pay, nor paying it off the electric account over two months.

I phoned the arrangement to pay team on Thursday 4th October to request all relevant historical communication to be sent to me. Despite being told I will receive this, I have not.

The way my personal data was processed was unfair, lacked transparency and is against the principles set out on the data protection act 1998 (which applied at the time).

Has anyone been dealt with this before? What are my chances of having this removed?

Thanks

sourcrates

darroch wrote: »

The way my personal data was processed was unfair, lacked transparency and is against the principles set out on the data protection act 1998 (which applied at the time).

Has anyone been dealt with this before? What are my chances of having this removed?

Thanks

Hi,


If you’re paying less than the required monthly payment your credit file will be affected and you’ll find it much harder to get further credit.

The only way to avoid a poor credit rating is to pay all your bills on time and clear any arrears you have immediately.

However, you should also consider how important your credit score really is.

Do you need to take out any further credit ? Are you planning to borrow more money, and if so why ?

The creditor agreed to a payment plan when you were in financial trouble, they will record such a plan as an AP. (arrangement to pay) you have had your cake, now you want to eat it again ?


They were under no obligation to agree terms with you, they could of taken the matter straight to court.

[Deleted User]

Nothing to do with the DPA or GDPR so don’t bother trying to play those cards with BG - they will just laugh you out the door.

You cancelled the DD - did you manually pay the bill when you received it afterwards?

Ignore your made up credit scores

darroch

!!! wrote: »

Nothing to do with the DPA or GDPR so don’t bother trying to play those cards with BG - they will just laugh you out the door.

You cancelled the DD - did you manually pay the bill when you received it afterwards?

Ignore your made up credit scores

Yes the gas account was paid in full (which indicates to me there was no arrangement to pay) and the electric account over two instalments. It’s impossible for me to remember the communication received by British Gas in 2015. They said they sent two emails. I’m still waiting on it being forwarded to me. However I don’t recall email being a way of issuing legal notification?

I know it is what it is but I’m trying to do something about removing it.

It’s not been detrimental getting credit (I’ve since got a Halifax & barclaycard credit card & car on pcp). I did however get rejected by first direct recently for a current account but I know they are selective.

Over the next two years I will be moving property. Hopefully the 4 or 5 years since it happened will have little impact?

sourcrates

Its very unlikely you will get it removed, however the good news is that most lenders only look at your most recent credit history, so the further back in time negative information is, the less impact it will have on you, and before you know it, it will be gone from your flies.

[Deleted User]

If you paid over installments then that’s as.... arrangement to pay

darroch

!!! wrote: »

If you paid over installments then that’s as.... arrangement to pay

If only it was clearly communicated the impact it would have on my credit profile, I would never have agreed to it and paid it in full. To the best of my knowledge it was not (unless they prove me wrong).

[Deleted User]

Common knowledge?

sourcrates

darroch wrote: »

If only it was clearly communicated the impact it would have on my credit profile, I would never have agreed to it and paid it in full. To the best of my knowledge it was not (unless they prove me wrong).

!!! wrote: »

Common knowledge?

It is something, that at the time, could of easily slipped your mind, but in the end, it is up to us to make sure we are aware of certain consequences that could occur from the things we agree too.


The internet is a wealth of information, not all of it accurate unfortunately, but a quick Google would of got you the answers you were seeking.


Lesson for next time perhaps.

Thrugelmir

darroch wrote: »

I would never have agreed to it and paid it in full.

Something must have happened for an ARP to be offered.

System

darroch wrote: »

If only it was clearly communicated the impact it would have on my credit profile, I would never have agreed to it and paid it in full. To the best of my knowledge it was not (unless they prove me wrong).

They're not required to.