Missed Payments on credit report ut never received a bill

JC_96

I was wandering if I could get some advice.

I lived in a property from Feb 2019 - August 2020 with one housemate.

When we moved in my letting agent set up the gas account in our name and sent in the initial meter reading. 

We never received a bill throughout our 18 months there. We assumed that was fine and assumed the letting agent would just let us know the final payment / send us the bill for the 18 months when we moved out.

The letting agent took the final gas reading and updated the account after we left.

The bill for the 18 months was issued shortly after but it never reached us and we were never notified about it.

The letting agent also weren't notified that a bill was issued.

(I didn't even get told by the letting agent our gas supplier was British Gas until recently.)

I only found out that a bill was issued due to missed payment flags appearing on a credit check.

I have just contacted BG and the address on the bill is for the whole building rather than my flat and has my housemates middle name as the surname so any mail forwarding wouldn't have reached us.

My name isn't even on the header of the bill (it's just addressed to my housemate's first and middle name "and others")

I now have several late payment flags on my credit file.

However I have never seen a bill from British Gas until now - if I had I would have paid instantly!

Essentially what's happened here is that there has been a mistake in the details of the account (presumably by the letting agent). BG have then not notified the person who set up the account and there was not a way of me receiving the bill either.

I don't think it's fair that I'm caught in the middle with these late payments on my credit file when I'd never even seen a bill or had one correctly addressed to me.

Is there anyway that I can get these late flags removed from my credit file?

Thanks for any help!

[Deleted User]

Short answer: No

Long answer: No, because you didn't pay your debts on time. You knew the account was set-up in your name, you knew that you should give meter readings and pay a bill at the end but didn't. The mix-up on names is annoying but doesn't change the fact that you used the utilities for 18 months and could have contacted the agent at any time to ask who the provider was to check the details and ensure payments were made. Bills are sent by email these days as commonly as by paper so you could have asked for those. they're normally paid annually, if not a monthly direct debit. It's 7 months after you moved out and you are querying it now - BG will be unlikely to remove these markers which are, after all, a factual statement of what happened, they are there so other credit providers know your payment history.

TurningANewLeaf

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

2021BJ

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

TurningANewLeaf

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

I also got a CCJ set aside (on a technicality) when everyone told me it's impossible and I'll be wasting my time.  I used a very different strategy in this instance, as I needed the help of the creditor...  but luckily I had some leverage over them; I owed them money!  It took time, but they eventually agreed to sign my consent order under the condition I repaid the debt in full, and with that letter the courts agreed to remove the CCJ.  The creditor in this instance actually originally said 'no' to signing the consent order as they thought it might be looked upon by the courts as 'credit washing', but they didn't need much convincing in the end to sign it (although they did umm and err for a while, but I didn't badger them to nearly the same extent as I did the water company).

So the headline here is never give up on the first hurdle.  

You never know till you try.  I mean I bet everyone here has heard a story where maybe an actor or pop star or writer has faced rejection many, many times, but they kept knocking on the door till one opened.  You hear that story so many times that it almost becomes a cliché, but it sooo true, you have to keep going and not take 'no' for an answer.  If you are determined enough you can achieve almost anything.

2021BJ

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

I also got a CCJ set aside (on a technicality) when everyone told me it's impossible and I'll be wasting my time.  I used a very different strategy in this instance, as I needed the help of the creditor...  but luckily I had some leverage over them; I owed them money!  It took time, but they eventually agreed to sign my consent order under the condition I repaid the debt in full, and with that letter the courts agreed to remove the CCJ.  The creditor in this instance actually originally said 'no' to signing the consent order as they thought it might be looked upon by the courts as 'credit washing', but they didn't need much convincing in the end to sign it (although they did umm and err for a while, but I didn't badger them to nearly the same extent as I did the water company).

We were talking about a default, not a CCJ.

If you are determined enough you can achieve almost anything.

A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true.

TurningANewLeaf

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

I also got a CCJ set aside (on a technicality) when everyone told me it's impossible and I'll be wasting my time.  I used a very different strategy in this instance, as I needed the help of the creditor...  but luckily I had some leverage over them; I owed them money!  It took time, but they eventually agreed to sign my consent order under the condition I repaid the debt in full, and with that letter the courts agreed to remove the CCJ.  The creditor in this instance actually originally said 'no' to signing the consent order as they thought it might be looked upon by the courts as 'credit washing', but they didn't need much convincing in the end to sign it (although they did umm and err for a while, but I didn't badger them to nearly the same extent as I did the water company).

We were talking about a default, not a CCJ.

If you are determined enough you can achieve almost anything.

A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true.

I know we were talking about a default, but the CCJ is another example of not giving up on the first hurdle or listening to people who say "it can't be done".  

"A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true."
It is so true.  Most people don't get to where they want to be because they don't push themselves hard enough or don't even try.  Every time I've failed in life (which is many times btw), I know in my heart without exception that I failed because I didn't try hard enough, I didn't work hard enough, or I took my eye off the ball (which amounts to the same thing as not trying).  Yes, everyone has hard luck stories, me as well, everyone has unique obstacles, everyone has different starting positions, but luck is only short term, in the end you can overcome and bounce back from almost anything if you put in the effort.

Slips36

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

I also got a CCJ set aside (on a technicality) when everyone told me it's impossible and I'll be wasting my time.  I used a very different strategy in this instance, as I needed the help of the creditor...  but luckily I had some leverage over them; I owed them money!  It took time, but they eventually agreed to sign my consent order under the condition I repaid the debt in full, and with that letter the courts agreed to remove the CCJ.  The creditor in this instance actually originally said 'no' to signing the consent order as they thought it might be looked upon by the courts as 'credit washing', but they didn't need much convincing in the end to sign it (although they did umm and err for a while, but I didn't badger them to nearly the same extent as I did the water company).

We were talking about a default, not a CCJ.

If you are determined enough you can achieve almost anything.

A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true.

I know we were talking about a default, but the CCJ is another example of not giving up on the first hurdle or listening to people who say "it can't be done".  

"A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true."
It is so true.  Most people don't get to where they want to be because they don't push themselves hard enough or don't even try.  Every time I've failed in life (which is many times btw), I know in my heart without exception that I failed because I didn't try hard enough, I didn't work hard enough, or I took my eye off the ball (which amounts to the same thing as not trying).  Yes, everyone has hard luck stories, me as well, everyone has unique obstacles, everyone has different starting positions, but luck is only short term, in the end you can overcome and bounce back from almost anything if you put in the effort.

I admire your courage and tenacity to not give up and get justice. BG clearly made mistakes by not even getting the op name right. 

mjm3346

"We never received a bill throughout our 18 months there. We assumed that was fine"
It was not - You really thought the letting agent was going to pay your bill for you for 18 months and then try to get the money from you as a lump sum at the end, they wouldn't last long as a letting agent. 

FaceHead

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

2021BJ said:

TurningANewLeaf said:

Short answer: Yes! 

Long answer: Yes!  If you have time on your hands, badger them on the phone EVERY single day outlining why this is unfair.  Don't give in.  
I had a similar issue with Anglian Water where they put a default on my file as well as a bunch of late payments.  I called them every day, kept their agents on the phone for as long as possible, I was calm, even jovial at times (don't start shouting and swearing at them), they kept telling me they won't remove the default because they didn't feel they made a mistake, but I didn't give in, I kept going, I kept calling them, and they eventually buckled and removed ALL negative markers.

Everyone online told me it's impossible to get this particular default removed as I was in the wrong, but actually, they were wrong, if I had listened to their advice I never would have got the default removed and would not have been in a position where I could apply for a mortgage for at least another 2 or 3 years.  

I'm not sure people were telling you it was impossible, more than likely that you didn't have a leg to stand on getting the default removed, and you didn't.

Whilst harassing a creditor to the point they remove the default might work occasionally there's just as much if not more chance that you'll just be wasting your time.

I also got a CCJ set aside (on a technicality) when everyone told me it's impossible and I'll be wasting my time.  I used a very different strategy in this instance, as I needed the help of the creditor...  but luckily I had some leverage over them; I owed them money!  It took time, but they eventually agreed to sign my consent order under the condition I repaid the debt in full, and with that letter the courts agreed to remove the CCJ.  The creditor in this instance actually originally said 'no' to signing the consent order as they thought it might be looked upon by the courts as 'credit washing', but they didn't need much convincing in the end to sign it (although they did umm and err for a while, but I didn't badger them to nearly the same extent as I did the water company).

We were talking about a default, not a CCJ.

If you are determined enough you can achieve almost anything.

A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true.

I know we were talking about a default, but the CCJ is another example of not giving up on the first hurdle or listening to people who say "it can't be done".  

"A nice thing to tell kids in school perhaps, but not true."
It is so true.  Most people don't get to where they want to be because they don't push themselves hard enough or don't even try.  Every time I've failed in life (which is many times btw), I know in my heart without exception that I failed because I didn't try hard enough, I didn't work hard enough, or I took my eye off the ball (which amounts to the same thing as not trying).  Yes, everyone has hard luck stories, me as well, everyone has unique obstacles, everyone has different starting positions, but luck is only short term, in the end you can overcome and bounce back from almost anything if you put in the effort.

Whilst this isn't always true, this is the best way to look at failure - what did I do wrong, and what can I do better.

In this case, the OP should ask BG to remove the markers, hassle them, consider use of the ombudsman. 

BG are very stubborn when it comes to these markers, and I can't see an agent going against policy and removing the markers because they're being hassled. It might happen, and if you don't ask you don't get. Or the OP might be able to convince BG they have made a mistake

Bills should be issued quarterly if you're paying on receipt of the bill - were no bills delivered to the house in 18 months? Were you signed up for paperless billing? How does the housemate fit in - if they have been receiving the bills paperless-ly and ignoring them, you could try to convince BG you didn't give consent to be billed paperless-ly. 

TurningANewLeaf

FaceHead said:

Whilst this isn't always true, this is the best way to look at failure - what did I do wrong, and what can I do better.

In this case, the OP should ask BG to remove the markers, hassle them, consider use of the ombudsman. 

BG are very stubborn when it comes to these markers, and I can't see an agent going against policy and removing the markers because they're being hassled. It might happen, and if you don't ask you don't get. Or the OP might be able to convince BG they have made a mistake

Bills should be issued quarterly if you're paying on receipt of the bill - were no bills delivered to the house in 18 months? Were you signed up for paperless billing? How does the housemate fit in - if they have been receiving the bills paperless-ly and ignoring them, you could try to convince BG you didn't give consent to be billed paperless-ly. 

I almost forgot, when I had my issue with Anglian Water I contacted the ICO (Information Commission Office) as I wanted to get guidance on whether Anglian Water had used and shared my data improperly with the credit reference agencies.  A nice man from the ICO called me back several weeks after I wrote to them, but as it turned out Anglian Water had already caved into me before the ICO got back to me.  But could be worth going down this route and using it as leverage.

I know with most contracts you enter into with creditors, it is in the terms and conditions that you give permission for the creditor to share your data with the credit referencing agencies, which is why they are allowed to share your data, but in this instance I think it is a grey area if the OP is actually in a contract with British Gas.  British Gas will almost certainly *try* to claim that the OP entered into a contract with them as soon as he started using their services, but I think this could potentially be disputed, and if so, then Briish Gas have acted unlawfully by sharing the OP's data.