How To Dispute Default On Credit Report

SimonLanes

Hi Everyone,

I have a default listed on my credit report from a shared house I lived in years ago.

I moved out in 2011 (nearly 8 years ago) and as far as I knew I owed nothing for utility bills.

I learned some time later, that the tenant responsible for the gas bill hadn't been paying it (we all paid him in cash while we lived there).

He did a 'runner' from the property a few years after I moved out (not sure when, 2014 maybe), owing nearly £3000 to the gas company.

My name was never on the bill, but somehow it's appeared on my credit report as my debt, it's showing 'gone away' and was last updated in 2015.

Can I call the gas company and challenge this?

I'm concerned they may make me liable for the debt and perhaps I'd be better off waiting until it eventually disappears.

Any advice appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Send a prove it letter to get them to confirm that you were (or not) the named account holder.

What date was the default applied?

SimonLanes

Thanks Gary.

On Equifax it says the default is from September 2014.

I moved out in early 2011, and my name was not on the gas bill (this tenant had lived there for years before I moved in, and the gas was in his name).

I don't know how long this tenant was in arrears for either, some of that debt may date back to when I lived there (in which case he took our money and didn't pay the gas bill).

You think writing to them is better than calling?

And should I not be worried that once I get in touch with them, they'll try and make me liable for the debt?

Cheers

[Deleted User]

No you’re not liable for it unless you say you are.

Asking them to prove it’s yours isn’t admintting liability

SimonLanes

Thanks again Gary.

I guess I'm just concerned that if they have my contact details, and if they know I lived at that address, they might try and make me liable instead of the problem tenant.

I never entered into a contract with them to pay for gas at that address so hopefully, legally they have no right to change the liability.

[Deleted User]

Unless they have a signed agreement from you or a contract then you’re not liable.

This is what the prove-it letter will prove

SimonLanes

Thanks Gary. I'm going to contact them tomorrow. Fingers crossed I can get this removed from my credit report.

SimonLanes

Hi again.

I've heard back from the gas supplier.

Intially they said I wasn't liable, now they're saying they opened an account for all the tenants at the property (including me), starting in 2009.

This account wasn't opened while I was a tenant there, and has been done retrospectively.

I've asked them to prove liability as I never signed a contract and the gas bill was never in my name.

Is it legal for them to retrospectively set up an account with my name on it?

I already paid another tenant for that gas bill while I was a tenant.

If he didn't pay that money to the gas supplier that shouldn't be my responsibility.

Confused.

Anthorn

The first step in disputing an entry in a CRA credit history is to complain to the CRA. You can do this by letter or online: Try the dispute link in the Credit Report section of MSE Credit Club for example.

The CRA should then ask the lender to clarify the reason for the entry and they will add a note to your credit history stating that the entry is being disputed.

https://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames308.html
https://disputeuk.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

But uSwitch differs and states that the first action should be with the lender and the CRA secondly:
https://www.uswitch.com/credit-reports/dispute-your-credit-report/

welly_59

Pointless going to the CRA first and the creditor will usually tell them that it's correct

chanz4

Your tenancy agreement would likely to of been provided by the landlord, it says your liable for utilities. When you move in its whats called a deemed contract