Default on credit file

teddyinwonderland

Hello I’m in a bit of a confusion with welsh water, I rented  a property and always paid the bills there no problem but when I moved out in august 2021 it was a bit hectic for me. Apparently I did view the last bill online but I never paid it, they showed proof I viewed it in mid august 2021 and I get paid end of the month so I must’ve forgotten( my fault) however they claim they sent text messages but haven’t seen them and after I said they sent emails to me about drainage they added they sent me email remainders which isn’t true because I keep all my bills emails to be safe. Only when I applied for a mortgage I checked my credit report and I saw the default (got mortgage anyway) but I was shocked to see the default I was never notified about. Now both CCB and WATRs are saying that welsh water acted right etc, the default was registered on 21sr December 2021. They claim they sent a letter with notice of default and email that the letter was available to view online as well but such email wasn’t received. They claim the debt collector they gave my details to tried calling me on 11th and 25th November 2021 as well, which is also not true. And since that default was registered the debt collector advantis hasn’t tried getting in touch with me at all…the bill is for £131 which I don’t mind paying it’s the default notice I dont think was registered right and I want removed..any advice?

sourcrates

You can`t get defaults removed I`m afraid, no matter the circumstances, the bill was not paid and the default was therefore correctly registered.

Water debts are not covered by the consumer credit act, so there is no requirement to send a default notice, however I would agree there version of events, re- the collection activity, is likely to be fiction.

The fact is, whether you forgot or not, it doesn't matter, the bill was not paid on time, so the account went into default, and that default has been recorded on your credit file, where it will stay until December 2027.

You don`t deny the way events unfolded, so you don`t have much of a case unfortunately, however you can try the complaints route, and ask them to remove it as a gesture of goodwill, but its extremely unlikely they will do so.

teddyinwonderland

Aren’t they supposed to try and get in touch with me verbally if a bill isn’t paid? Have a set payment with eon and they still call me for additional payments, but seems like water companies don’t bother. 

I’ve went through the complaints procedure and I know the last one is WATRs, can I ask them for such a thing?  

Isn’t the default removed 6 years after being paid? So if I pay on 1st august 2023, being removed on 1st of august 2029?

RAS

Not quite, the default was registered in December 2021, so it will be removed around December 2027. May not affect your credit record until  early 2028, given the "festive season".

sourcrates

As above, defaults stay on file for 6 years regardless of whether they are paid or ignored completely.

Water companies have a terrible reputation in general for very bad customer service, so always take what they say with a pinch of salt.

mogsy1975lfc

Sorry this mis information on this thread .. Water companies have to give you over 6 months after last payment made to them , then you can offer  to set up a payment plan or pay the bill in full . Then they have to keep in contact with yourselves by phone calls which are recorded , or letters/emails . If the water companies have not followed this then they cant apply for a CCJ or a default . If they do add any of these you can write to them and ask for a SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST . They have 30 days to send this information to you about your full account details. If they don't in the time frame you can complain to your local mp and they will assign you with your own caseworker , or contact the ICO and send them all the details you have about your account and they will investigate it . 

sourcrates

mogsy1975lfc said:

Sorry this mis information on this thread .. Water companies have to give you over 6 months after last payment made to them , then you can offer  to set up a payment plan or pay the bill in full . Then they have to keep in contact with yourselves by phone calls which are recorded , or letters/emails . If the water companies have not followed this then they cant apply for a CCJ or a default . If they do add any of these you can write to them and ask for a SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST . They have 30 days to send this information to you about your full account details. If they don't in the time frame you can complain to your local mp and they will assign you with your own caseworker , or contact the ICO and send them all the details you have about your account and they will investigate it . 

These are very old threads you are resurrecting, the OP was last active in July 23 !!

We usually deal with defaults which are governed by the consumer credit act, we acknowledge utility companies do not follow the same guidance as banks do, therefore the information given may not always be applicable to water debts, there is a specific board for utility company issues, which ideally the post should have been moved too..