JC International Aquisitions

Lulubelle64

Late October 2024 I received a letter addressed to me in my previous married name (I re-married in 2021) from BW Legal, advising me I owed £368 and that they had been instructed by JC International Acquiisitions.  I used their contact us on their website and asked them to provide further information because I was unware of any outstanding debt with anyone.  I have an excellent credit score with everything being paid on time and no defaults ever.  BW Legal came back ansd confirmed the 'debt' was from SKY in 2020.  I wrote back and advised them I had not had a Sky account since I separated from my ex-husband in 2017 and had not been contacted every by Sky either by letter, email of telephone to advise that there was any outstanding monies owed.  They told me the debt was in my name and it needed to be settled but they were unable to provide me with any documentation.

Before I could do anything further, BW Legal emailed me to advised that they were offering me a 65% discount on the debt if it was paid by a certain date.  Rather than have this turn into anything more, I made the payment and received a confirmation that the debt had been paid and the account was now closed.  I thought that was the end of it until I applied for a mortgage last week!

On Friday afternoon I discovered that BW Legal/JC Internation Acquiisitions have put a default on my credit report going back two years and stating that not only is it defaulted, but it remains outstanding despite having been paid in November 2024.  So I now had a very poor credit score when it has always been excellent.

I saw on this forum this morning, an entry from TazzieG who has described exactly the same scenario.  I am completely devastated by what has happened.  I am 60 years old and this was my last chance to get a mortgage and buy a home and now that is in ruins because of this.  Is this a scam?  Where do I go to resolve this?  Surely something can be done about these companies?  It can't be a coincidence that we haven't been contacted by Sky at the time if it was out debt which I don't think it is.

I'm so sorry for the long post but I just don't know what to do now. 

fatbelly

It's a fraction higher than an outright scam. The problem is that by paying it you have acknowledged the debt as yours.

Did you not think it odd that on one hand they said this was your debt and on the other gave a 65% discount?

The correct mark would be a partially settled default. You should ask for that, and query the default date. As they appear to have made this one up, it would be helpful if they could make up an earlier one.

It should not be fatal to you getting a mortgage but will stay until 6 years after the default date and so will impact the deals you can get for maybe another 4 years.

There is no downside to making a complaint and escalating it to FOS* but I don't think you will get anywhere.

You would start here

https://www.jcia.co.uk/complaints/

*As they allege this is a Sky debt, it would fall outside the Consumer Credit Act and FOS may be unable to consider it. You could maybe use the telecom ombudsman

Nasqueron

Ignore the fake score

A default from 2020 will stay on until 2026 but I suspect they didn't have proof of the debt being yours, or perhaps they didn't have the CCA or something hence chancing their arm with an offer.