United Utilities have destroyed my credit score

lukesharry

Hello all, long time reader first time poster here. 

I have a dispute with United Utilities over a missed payment of £85.59 back in December 2016. The dispute is not that I owed the money, but that they have failed to communciate with me that my account has been in arrears this whole time, even though they have been happily sharing this information with Equifax.

The only reason this has been brought to my attention now is that I am nearing the point in my life where I am almost ready to buy my first home, which I fear is now in danger. Upon checking my report in a bit more detail recently my score had stuck at around the 320 mark since then. The only negative mark being the "missed payment", which is displayed almost every month (see below).



Since finding out about the missed payment, I offered to pay it immediately to clear the arrears and clear my name (March 2020). I requested that they investigate the account and find out why I was never notified that I was in arrears. They told me that the account was closed in April 2017, however there was a remaining balance to pay, which was communicated by phone and letter. 

At this stage I was pretty much happy to take the hit on my credit score as now the payment had been made it will be a steady climb for me to get up to a respectable level. However, this months credit report has come through and I am now 80 points down to 240! 

I have pleaded with United Utilities as I feel that the outcome of this scenario does not feel right, my credit score is not even close to a true reflection of the situation. How can one letter (which I do not recall receiving) and a phonecall (which was made whilst I was driving) suffice in this situation? Surely if they are sharing my information it must be within their remit to communciate with me that this is being done? 

Also why did they stop sharing my information once the account had been closed, only to start sharing it again in 2018? 

I understand I should have handled this situation a lot better, but if anyone can offer any advice on the matter and whether or not I have a case at all it would be greatly appreciated. I am currently furloughed so I have the time to fight them if there is even a smidge of hope of getting the marks removed or at least toned down.

DCFC79

Your score hasn't been ruined since only you can see it, your credit history is what lenders can see.

lukesharry

DCFC79 said:

Your score hasn't been ruined since only you can see it, your credit history is what lenders can see.

Interesting, thanks for the info. I guess this doesn't help much as wouldn't a mortgage lender look at over two years of missed payments and think, I don't want to give that person money...? Whereas in reality, I missed one payment of around £80 over two years ago.

[Deleted User]

Ask them to back date a default.  That way, the account will drop off faster.

They didn't need to communicate to you that your data was being shared as you had already agreed to that happening in the contract. 

D3xt3r5L4b

Your score isn’t a true reflection of anything.You can ask them to backdate the late payments and apply a default but that’s about it. 

lukesharry

Deleted_User said:

Ask them to back date a default.  That way, the account will drop off faster.

They didn't need to communicate to you that your data was being shared as you had already agreed to that happening in the contract. 

Thanks for the advice, I am not too certain on what the implications of a default would be. You are basically saying that if I ask it to be defaulted and backdated then the arrears would be wiped off my reports sooner, aka 7 years from 2016 rather than 2020, correct? 

Funnily enough I have just started a free trial of Experian and they have returned no negative marks and a score of 863. Would you still recommend the above based on that info?

[Deleted User]

No - 6 years from 2016.

It doesn't matter what pretend score Experian have given you.  You can't exchange Experian points for anything.  You're better off collecting Nectar points.

The important thing is to clear up your files at the earliest opportunity and a default would give you a four year headstart.

RelievedSheff

Stop looking at credit scores. They mean nothing. No one cares about your imaginary score.

Potential lenders look at all of the information on your credit file. An account with persistent late/none payments will not look good on your file.

Willing2Learn

There is definitely a lesson to be learned here.  Whilst trying my best not to sound preachy...you need to be keeping a regular eye on your statements, so that unknown transactions are identified nice and early...

lukesharry

Deleted_User said:

No - 6 years from 2016.

It doesn't matter what pretend score Experian have given you.  You can't exchange Experian points for anything.  You're better off collecting Nectar points.

The important thing is to clear up your files at the earliest opportunity and a default would give you a four year headstart.

Sure, understood. And I am within my rights to request a default from United Utilities? Or is this ultimately down to them to decide?

[Deleted User]

They can object, but you'd have a good case to go FOS if they do.