Old debt reappearing as new debt on my credit file

shenry25

I had an old debt with Vodafone which defaulted in January 2018. It was removed from my file January this year. My score had increased quite a bit as a result.

I received a notification from Experian this morning that my score has dropped due to a missed payment. When I checked, it was showing my old debt with Vodafone as 6 months late payment.

I've contacted Experian to dispute it but surely this can't be allowed if 6 years had passed and it was removed? Can they re-add an old debt as new?

I've used checkmyfile too and I have no CCJ's 

This hasn't happened with any other default I've had that's dropped off.

Nasqueron

If the default was registered in January 2018, it cannot be put back on (assuming it wasn't a second one) - complain to Vodafone and refer them to the ICO if no help

Do note your score is a gimmick that lenders never see and ensure you are not paying Experian anything for a "service" to tell you the fake score has changed

shenry25

Nasqueron said:

If the default was registered in January 2018, it cannot be put back on (assuming it wasn't a second one) - complain to Vodafone and refer them to the ICO if no help

Do note your score is a gimmick that lenders never see and ensure you are not paying Experian anything for a "service" to tell you the fake score has changed

Definitely wasn't a second one. Just that one which was removed from the credit file in January this year.

I was worried that if I contacted Vodafone, it would reset the default timer as such and I'd have another 6 years. Thing is, it's not even showing that it was defaulted, just that I've missed the last 6 payments?

Who is ICO? 

I've been working hard to pay off all my debts which is why I have Experian at the mo. I'm glad otherwise would never have known about this but I know what you mean about credit scores. 

eskbanker

shenry25 said:

Nasqueron said:

If the default was registered in January 2018, it cannot be put back on (assuming it wasn't a second one) - complain to Vodafone and refer them to the ICO if no help

Who is ICO?

Information Commissioner's Office, i.e. the body responsible for policing data protection.  If Vodafone are misusing your personal data then that's likely to be a breach of the Data Protection Act, for which they can be held accountable....

https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/data-protection-complaints/data-protection-complaints/

shenry25

Thank-you so much! I never knew about this. I'll definitely try that 

Nasqueron

shenry25 said:

Thank-you so much! I never knew about this. I'll definitely try that 

Note you should complain to Vodafone first as they may be able to resolve it immediately

shenry25 said:

Nasqueron said:

If the default was registered in January 2018, it cannot be put back on (assuming it wasn't a second one) - complain to Vodafone and refer them to the ICO if no help

Do note your score is a gimmick that lenders never see and ensure you are not paying Experian anything for a "service" to tell you the fake score has changed

Definitely wasn't a second one. Just that one which was removed from the credit file in January this year.

I was worried that if I contacted Vodafone, it would reset the default timer as such and I'd have another 6 years. Thing is, it's not even showing that it was defaulted, just that I've missed the last 6 payments?

Who is ICO? 

I've been working hard to pay off all my debts which is why I have Experian at the mo. I'm glad otherwise would never have known about this but I know what you mean about credit scores. 

You do not need to pay Experian for debt management help, it's a waste of £10-£15 a month to do nothing, you can get the report for free by law (google statutory credit report) and see your Equifax record with ClearScore and Trans Union one with Credit Karma or the MSE Credit Club

shenry25

I will try Vodafone first. I did raise a dispute with Experian but I know that could take a while.

If I talk to Vodafone about it, are they likely to restart the clock on the default even though the 6 years has passed? I've heard that if you make contact, they can do that? 
(Excuse my ignorance if I'm completely wrong. Google has told me so many different things hence being here and asking actual humans) 

sourcrates

shenry25 said:

I will try Vodafone first. I did raise a dispute with Experian but I know that could take a while.

If I talk to Vodafone about it, are they likely to restart the clock on the default even though the 6 years has passed? I've heard that if you make contact, they can do that? 
(Excuse my ignorance if I'm completely wrong. Google has told me so many different things hence being here and asking actual humans) 

You have heard incorrectly.

Accounts default only once, it is the moment in time a creditor decided non payment has gone on long enough and a line in the sand is drawn, the debt defaults, the date is recorded and your balance is frozen.

Nothing can change the date of default, it remains on record for 6 years.

Obviously something has gone wrong, you should send a written complaint to Vodafone, detailing events to date.

Inform them the data concerned is now barred by time, 6 years has already expired, quote the correct date of default in your letter, and ask that it should be removed immediately.

Vodafone are the data handlers, the CRA only show the data that is provided to them, they cannot alter that data.

shenry25

sourcrates said:

shenry25 said:

I will try Vodafone first. I did raise a dispute with Experian but I know that could take a while.

If I talk to Vodafone about it, are they likely to restart the clock on the default even though the 6 years has passed? I've heard that if you make contact, they can do that? 
(Excuse my ignorance if I'm completely wrong. Google has told me so many different things hence being here and asking actual humans) 

You have heard incorrectly.

Accounts default only once, it is the moment in time a creditor decided non payment has gone on long enough and a line in the sand is drawn, the debt defaults, the date is recorded and your balance is frozen.

Nothing can change the date of default, it remains on record for 6 years.

Obviously something has gone wrong, you should send a written complaint to Vodafone, detailing events to date.

Inform them the data concerned is now barred by time, 6 years has already expired, quote the correct date of default in your letter, and ask that it should be removed immediately.

Vodafone are the data handlers, the CRA only show the data that is provided to them, they cannot alter that data.

Thankyou for confirming this. I will send Vodafone an email asking this be removed. I was just so shocked to see it back and incorrectly reported too.

Really appreciate everyone's advice 

PixelPound

shenry25 said:

sourcrates said:

shenry25 said:

I will try Vodafone first. I did raise a dispute with Experian but I know that could take a while.

If I talk to Vodafone about it, are they likely to restart the clock on the default even though the 6 years has passed? I've heard that if you make contact, they can do that? 
(Excuse my ignorance if I'm completely wrong. Google has told me so many different things hence being here and asking actual humans) 

You have heard incorrectly.

Accounts default only once, it is the moment in time a creditor decided non payment has gone on long enough and a line in the sand is drawn, the debt defaults, the date is recorded and your balance is frozen.

Nothing can change the date of default, it remains on record for 6 years.

Obviously something has gone wrong, you should send a written complaint to Vodafone, detailing events to date.

Inform them the data concerned is now barred by time, 6 years has already expired, quote the correct date of default in your letter, and ask that it should be removed immediately.

Vodafone are the data handlers, the CRA only show the data that is provided to them, they cannot alter that data.

Thankyou for confirming this. I will send Vodafone an email asking this be removed. I was just so shocked to see it back and incorrectly reported too.

Really appreciate everyone's advice 

Though it's hard to know what's happened, it could be that Vodafone have sold the debt and given a wrong date as the default date. The debt company has then put that date on.

However if this is the case still contact Vodafone as it's them who have to correct it. You also need to follow the correct complaint procedure and complain to Vodafone before you can escalate it to an ombudsman. 

shenry25

I was thinking that it had maybe been sold on but can they do that after the 6 years has passed? Also, it's showing on my credit report like it's a current account just with missed payments. No default date but showing the account was opened in 2014.