Vodafone Default on my Credit Report

BettySwollock

Hello,
I am hoping the vodafone rep picks this thread up as I have struggled to contact them.
A bit of background:
I had a Vodafone contract from 2008 pay monthly. In 2015 I rang up to cancel my contract and paid off my outstanding balance. At which point I thought was the end of the matter and I cancelled my direct debit (I know this now is a dumb move but I was younger and less educated on the world). It was not until I logged onto Vodafone again months later did I realise they thought I owed them some money. I rang them again and explained that I had already cancelled but they said to me there was no record of this and the debt had been passed on to Lowell Portfolio. Now at this point I was pretty angry as you can imagine but after speaking to my parents they said I could either fight it or pay it off to protect my credit rating which I would need in later life when lending money etc. So I bit my lip and paid the amount in full from borrowed money from my parents and paid monthly until it was gone. Again at this point I felt was the end of the story. Not until I tried to get a mortgage earlier this year I found it incredibly difficult which baffled me. I have always paid debts off in a timely manner. At this point I joined the Credit club to view my credit score, at which point I noticed a default placed on my account in 2016 by Lowell from Vodafone. At this point I had managed to get a mortgage quote although I am paying a large amount to service it,

I have read many things about default removal and feel I have a case although am worried how I handled it my have damaged any chance of fighting it correctly. Although on the other hand I have incurred massive charges over the last year for something which is not my fault. This has basically been a mark against my name for 3 years and will be for the next 3 years.

I contacted Lowell portfolio who were very quick to respond but sent me around the house only to be told its is vodafone who can control if it is removed or not. now unfrotunately I have struggled to contact vodafone via the web chat which seems to be constantly not working or available.


Any help on this matter is greatly appreciated

System

You didn't pay therefore you defaulted. It is an accurate reflection of the facts. The only thing you can do is have the status updated to settled. Even if you get it removed it won't alter anything with your current mortgage, it isn't likely to have much of an impact when you remortgage due to its age.

[Deleted User]

Tarambor wrote: »

You didn't pay therefore you defaulted. It is an accurate reflection of the facts. The only thing you can do is have the status updated to settled. Even if you get it removed it won't alter anything with your current mortgage, it isn't likely to have much of an impact when you remortgage due to its age.

No it isn't. According to the OP she rang up Vodafone, cancelled the contract and paid off the outstanding balance. Why should she be blacklisted as a result?

spadoosh

Its possible to get defaults removed but logistically youre going to struggle with it.

Theres vaguely two methods to have a default removed. One is the default being incorrect. Either the amount isnt owed or the default hasnt been applied correctly in line with that. Or the process of applying the default wasnt done correctly.

I think the first method youre going to struggle with, for all intents and purposes youve accepted the debt by making payment.

The second method is difficult because most companies, particularly those the size of vodafone typically have got the procedure spot on. So they need to make you aware of the debt. From that they need to inform you that if you dont pay they will issue a default and give you a last opportunity to pay. If these dont happen, the default has been incorrectly applied and you can have it removed. The problem most people have is that its simply down to a communication issue why they havent recieved correspondence. Ie the customer changed address and didnt inform the supplier and thus making it impossible for the supplier to contact the customer. If thats the case, you will not get the default removed. If your details with vodafone are still correct and current id suggest this is the avenue you go down.

BettySwollock

Hello thank you for the reply. I feel the affect of it has dropped now after 3 years as I have just done a soft search on myself and the rates are much more favourable. Although something affecting me for 3 years no matter if it is smaller just does not sit right with me

BettySwollock

Also I would love to go down that route but I can not get in contact with them via email or web chat which is my only way of contacting in these circumstances as I have a stammer.

spadoosh

BettySwollock wrote: »

Also I would love to go down that route but I can not get in contact with them via email or web chat which is my only way of contacting in these circumstances as I have a stammer.

Youre certainly not going to get this resolved with a web chat. Dont waste your time with that. Ive found vodafones web chat to be hosted by people i couldnt begin to say the name of and who are overly zealous in wishing you a happy joyous day whilst promising everything to make it happy joyous until you have to repeat everything again the following month because they didnt do what they said they would.

Email or letter.

Theres an online complaints form which should lead to an email conversation. Alternatively do it in writing.

Dont expect this to get resolved quickly. Mine was as straight forwards as they come (i got a default from fraud) and it took nearly 6 months before it actually was removed from my credit file.

BettySwollock

I am prepared for it to be a long haul however if it is email based I will be fine processing it.

spadoosh

BettySwollock wrote: »

I am prepared for it to be a long haul however if it is email based I will be fine processing it.

No i appreciate the difficulties, and thats from someone who just doesnt like being on the phone.

Good luck with it. Patience and perseverance will do you well.

BettySwollock

Thank you very much for everyone time to reply.

I assume Vodafone will have recorded all my conversations so proving this issue should not be a problem. If I can just get in contact with them. I sent a complaints form 2 weeks ago. It says 5 business days but I have not had an email back. I have just sent another claim form stating that fact, hopefully they get back to me. This was why I was hoping the rep may pick this thread up.

[Deleted User]

When you cancel there is always a final invoice that comes at a later date.

You shouldn't have cancelled the DD until after that was issued and taken.