Old debt reappearing as new debt on my credit file

sourcrates

6 years is the time it shows on your credit file, it has nothing to do with enforceability, that is a separate issue.

Debts can be bought and sold at any time regardless of age, or status.

PixelPound

shenry25 said:

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. 

Are you Sure it's the same? I don't mean we'll you only had one. Could be a separate one that never defaulted. Is the account details the same. 

shenry25

nic_c said:

shenry25 said:

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. 

Are you Sure it's the same? I don't mean we'll you only had one. Could be a separate one that never defaulted. Is the account details the same. 

Yep it's definitely just the one. Only ever had that account with Vodafone 

shenry25

sourcrates said:

6 years is the time it shows on your credit file, it has nothing to do with enforceability, that is a separate issue.

Debts can be bought and sold at any time regardless of age, or status.

Ah okay
I was under the impression that after 6 years, the statue of limitations kicked in and they could no longer chase you for it? (Again, apologies if I have the wrong info)

PixelPound

shenry25 said:

nic_c said:

shenry25 said:

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. 

Are you Sure it's the same? I don't mean we'll you only had one. Could be a separate one that never defaulted. Is the account details the same. 

Yep it's definitely just the one. Only ever had that account with Vodafone 

Not what I was getting at. It has been known for a second account to be opened, e.g. when an upgrade happens and it not be closed unused, or somewhere someone else's account stated as yours. Do the details match. 

As it is once defaulted that date cannot change to a later date, so you need to write stating the account has defaulted and the default date needs correcting to when it did (don't start saying remove etc because you are not wanting it removed just corrected. Then as it will be over 6 years it will not show on your credit file). Bear in mind below in any correspondence. 

shenry25 said:

sourcrates said:

6 years is the time it shows on your credit file, it has nothing to do with enforceability, that is a separate issue.

Debts can be bought and sold at any time regardless of age, or status.

Ah okay
I was under the impression that after 6 years, the statue of limitations kicked in and they could no longer chase you for it? (Again, apologies if I have the wrong info)

They can always chase, the statute of limitations does not stop it being a debt owed. If you have not paid anything for 6 years after default and have not acknowledged the debt is yours then it becomes Statute Barred. Any payment or acknowledgement resets the 6 year countdown. Once StB  it cannot become un-STB even if you then make a payment. 

All Statute Barred means is they cannot enforce the debt by seeking a CCJ, they can still chase you, just can't make you pay or take you to court. There is a template letter you can send after it is STB to tell them to stop contacting you, but please be sure of your timescales.

However if a CCJ is granted before it is STB then it becoming STB is irrelevant as there is a court order. 

shenry25

You have explained this so well thankyou!

I have nothing to check the details against aside from I know the account was opened in 2014 and defaulted in 2018. It's also got my old address on it from nearly 8 years ago. 

I've checked my credit reports and there is no sign of a CCJ thankfully. I never fully understood what statue barred etc meant so appreciate the explanation. I haven't made any contact nor have I received anything from them in all this time. 
Best bet at this point is send them a letter/email asking them to correct the details? Where is the best place for this template? 

Nasqueron

shenry25 said:

You have explained this so well thankyou!

I have nothing to check the details against aside from I know the account was opened in 2014 and defaulted in 2018. It's also got my old address on it from nearly 8 years ago. 

I've checked my credit reports and there is no sign of a CCJ thankfully. I never fully understood what statue barred etc meant so appreciate the explanation. I haven't made any contact nor have I received anything from them in all this time. 
Best bet at this point is send them a letter/email asking them to correct the details? Where is the best place for this template? 

You don't need a template, indeed, it may harm your complaint by including nonsense

Write to vodafone (email, letter, even ring and ask to open a complaint and get a ref and use that for communication) and detail the facts

Default date x/y/z
Default must be removed by x/y/z+6 years
Default has reappeared on the file in breach of ICO rules
They must remove it

Probably worth being cheeky and asking for compensation for this mess around though you would have to prove losses if you wanted to claim for anything material

The old address is likely immaterial unless you told them of the new address, they can, though often don't, and don't need to per se, trace you - debt collectors might but if vodafone decided the debt isn't going anywhere they could well not bother 

Sambrown196

Hey,

I’ve had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me this morning. Saw the email from Experian, went on to look and horrified to see a late payment recorded for a defaulted Vodafone account from June 2015! I was 18, the phone software failed after a few months and Apple refused to repair it, Vodafone refused to help so I stopped paying (silly, I’m aware). It defaulted and disappeared off my report around 2022. It has randomly appeared on Experian but nowhere else. Clearscore doesn’t even have it as a closed account anymore and Credit Karma have it as a closed one. My Experian score has dropped from just short of 900 to 440! 

Wonder if it’s a mistake on Vodafone’s part if it’s happened to more than one person, who knows how many? This thread has some great advice that I’ll follow too. 

shenry25

Just a quick update especially for the above poster who has had the same thing happen

I contacted Vodafone via social media (only contact I could find)
They contacted the credit file team who have agreed that it should no longer be showing on my credit file as it's been more than 6 years. They can't explain why it happened but it will be removed within 30 working days. 

shenry25

Sambrown196 said:

Hey,

I’ve had EXACTLY the same thing happen to me this morning. Saw the email from Experian, went on to look and horrified to see a late payment recorded for a defaulted Vodafone account from June 2015! I was 18, the phone software failed after a few months and Apple refused to repair it, Vodafone refused to help so I stopped paying (silly, I’m aware). It defaulted and disappeared off my report around 2022. It has randomly appeared on Experian but nowhere else. Clearscore doesn’t even have it as a closed account anymore and Credit Karma have it as a closed one. My Experian score has dropped from just short of 900 to 440! 

Wonder if it’s a mistake on Vodafone’s part if it’s happened to more than one person, who knows how many? This thread has some great advice that I’ll follow too. 

Clearscore wasn't showing it either, only Experian. I was gutted to see my score drop so much! 
Hopefully you manage to get sorted too.
Must be a serious issue going on with vodafones reporting at the minute