Argos card not updated my credit record since January 2020.

pinkandpurplehazeysky

Hello, I am new here, and hope I have posted on the correct part of the forum.

I have an Argos card, and have had it since October 2018. I have had a few items on it, including a camera, a TV, and a couple of bits of furniture. I paid them off within 5 or 6 months.

So anyway, I have had no problems with the Argos card, until this year.  I bought an electrical item back in January, that cost £200.  I paid one £25 payment in mid February, so there was £175 left.  In early March the item broke, so I took it back and they refunded the card.  So it was £25 in credit.

The credit went onto my Argos account within 3 days, but it was not updated on 'Clearscore.' I know it can take 7-8 weeks, so gave it a couple of months.  But even by June/July, it had not updated on Clearscore.  And now as I sit typing this it's still not been updated.  The last update is January, and it shows as £200 still owing.  So Argos have not updated my Clearscore since January 2020.

I contacted Argos card last week, and the guy I spoke to said I need to contact Clearscore.  I did so and they said 'nope, it's Argos's responsibly to contact us. They give us details of peoples accounts, and we update their credit file...'

So I rang back Argos card and spoke to another man, and told him what they said.  He said 'yeah sorry, we are a couple of months behind because of staff shortages due to covid19.'  I said 'umm ok then.'

I put the phone down,and a couple of minutes later I thought 'hang on! They have not updated my file since mid January.  I made a payment in mid February, and even that is not on there. So they haven't updated my clearscore file for some seven months!  So covid19 can't be the reason.

So I rang a third time, and got a woman this time who said 'I don't know if you have heard but there is a global pandemic, and it's affecting everything. You MUST have seen it on the news.' A really shirty, sarcastic response.  I said, 'yeah but the guy I spoke to yesterday said you were a couple of months behind, not seven months.' She said 'be patient we are working as hard as we can.  Your clearscore account will probably be updated by mid September!'

Has anyone else had similar issues with Argos card? Has anyone else not had their credit file updated for seven months? I find it hard to believe staff shortages due to covid19 has caused this.  Especially when all my other clearscore accounts have been updated monthly all the way through the pandemic (and lockdown...) I am also concerned about being given 3 different answers from 3 different people.

Any advice would be welcome.  I am worried about my credit file saying I still own £200, when it was cleared five months ago, in March!

Thank you.

[Deleted User]

As long as the last update was in Feb when the information was accurate, then there's nothing more you can do. 

However, you also saying that your credit file says you still owe £200 - ie they have continued to provide updates saying you owe £200.  If that is true, then you need to escalate a complaint.

But work out which one it is first.

pinkandpurplehazeysky

Thanks for answering zx81.

No, Argos card haven't updated Clearscore to say I still owe ££200.  They haven't updated the file at all.   Not since January when the £200 first went on.   And (as I said earlier,) on Clearscore it says I still owe £200.

As I say, even the £25 I paid in mid February hasn't been acknowledged, and it says last updated January 2020.

I think I am just trying to find out if anyone else has had a similar problem with Argos card not updating the credit file companies, for 6 or 7 months, and also if I need to worry about anything, with the £200 still showing.

It also does seem bizarre that Argos card are making an excuse that covid19 has made them way behind. (Especially when everyone else is up to date.) Also, one person I spoke to at Argos card said they were a couple of months behind, yet the one I spoke to after said because of covid19 they are seven months behind. So the information wasn't even consistent.

dunstonh

A number of companies have not been providing data to some of the credit agencies since lockdown.

It also does seem bizarre that Argos card are making an excuse that covid19 has made them way behind.

Not at all bizarre.  Call centres closed and firms went into triage mode focusing on the important things.  Minor things got put to the end of the queue.

[Deleted User]

pinkandpurplehazeysky said:

I think I am just trying to find out if anyone else has had a similar problem with Argos card not updating the credit file companies, for 6 or 7 months, and also if I need to worry about anything, with the £200 still showing.

I'm sure they have, but that doesn't matter.

It's not a particular cause for concern.  Lenders are aware of the impact of Covid-19, and no one is treating is as a made up excuse for lack of reporting.

pinkandpurplehazeysky

dunstonh said:

A number of companies have not been providing data to some of the credit agencies since lockdown.

It also does seem bizarre that Argos card are making an excuse that covid19 has made them way behind.

Not at all bizarre.  Call centres closed and firms went into triage mode focusing on the important things.  Minor things got put to the end of the queue.

Do you think I am worrying for nothing then?

Do you know anyone else who has had a similar issue with Argos card?

Thanks for replying. 

pinkandpurplehazeysky

Deleted_User said:

pinkandpurplehazeysky said:

I think I am just trying to find out if anyone else has had a similar problem with Argos card not updating the credit file companies, for 6 or 7 months, and also if I need to worry about anything, with the £200 still showing.

I'm sure they have, but that doesn't matter.

It's not a particular cause for concern.  Lenders are aware of the impact of Covid-19, and no one is treating is as a made up excuse for lack of reporting.

Thanks again for replying.    I think I was more concerned about the lack of consistency in the answers from the people on the phone, rather than saying 'they're making up excuses.'  

Thanks for the reassurance.   Hopefully it will be updated in a few weeks, now I have rang them (3 times!)

dunstonh

Thanks again for replying.    I think I was more concerned about the lack of consistency in the answers from the people on the phone, rather than saying 'they're making up excuses.'  

The people answering the phone were probably told something about it months ago and nothing beyond a few words.   Call centre staff are not told everything about every issue.    

For reference, my John Lewis card hasn't updated either.

Thrugelmir

Have you checked other CRA's besides Clearscore? 

pinkandpurplehazeysky

dunstonh said:

Thanks again for replying.    I think I was more concerned about the lack of consistency in the answers from the people on the phone, rather than saying 'they're making up excuses.'  

The people answering the phone were probably told something about it months ago and nothing beyond a few words.   Call centre staff are not told everything about every issue.    

For reference, my John Lewis card hasn't updated either.

That's very helpful to know.  Thank you!!! 

pinkandpurplehazeysky

Thrugelmir said:

Have you checked other CRA's besides Clearscore? 

No I haven't actually. I will do so though, if Clearscore don't update within a week or so.

Thank you for replying.