"Late Payment" on Credit File due to Ombudsman investigation

pinknsparkly · 19 July 2018 at 5:09PM

Hi all,

I have been having an ongoing issue with British Gas since October last year. I believed (and still do) that the final bill they issued me with when I left for another provider was overestimated due to a broken electricity meter (it was recording all electricity usage as day usage rather than split between day and night(, to the tune of around £100.

After getting absolutely nowhere with them, I referred my complaint to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman ruled in my favour, but in issuing a revised bill B.G. added further electricity units to my total usage. I therefore referred the case back to the Ombudsman, keeping B.G. informed of this throughout the process (copying them in on all emails sent to the Ombudsman). During this process, B.G. referred my account to a debt collection agency and marked my credit file with a "late payment" marker. The Ombudsman ruled in favour of B.G. this time, and so at this point (though I believe it was still a gross overcharge of the electricity actually used) I could no longer face fighting with them. The letter from the Ombudsman said I would hear from B.G. within 30 days. Having not heard anything from B.G. after three weeks (and worrying that if I didn't pay within the 30 days I would be further penalised), I paid what I believed was the outstanding balance. I then got a £5 refund from B.G. as I had overpaid. B.G marked my credit file with another late payment for this month. As you can imagine, my credit rating has been completely obliterated as a result and B.G. have said that they cannot, and will not, reverse the credit file. My husband and I are hoping to buy a house in the next 6 months and this seriously jeopardises our hopes. My question is - is there anything I can do? Can I go to the Ombudsman and ask them to get B.G. to remove the late payments from my file? Or should I put a note on my file myself? Are notes put on your file viewed negatively by mortgage providers?

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can make!

[Deleted User] · 19 July 2018 at 5:16PM

You can email the BG complaints team and ask them to remove the late payment marker.

If they don't, then go back to the FO again.

Your credit rating isn't ruined, since it doesn't exist, but your credit history at the moment is tainted.

pinknsparkly · 19 July 2018 at 5:18PM

!!! wrote: »

You can email the BG complaints team and ask them to remove the late payment marker.

If they don't, then go back to the FO again.

Your credit rating isn't ruined, since it doesn't exist, but your credit history at the moment is tainted.

Thanks Gary. I've gone back to the BG complaints team and they've said they won't change it. I'll go back to the Ombudsman again. They're going to be sick of the sight of my emails! :rotfl:

pinknsparkly · 19 July 2018 at 5:20PM

!!! wrote: »

You can email the BG complaints team and ask them to remove the late payment marker.

If they don't, then go back to the FO again.

Your credit rating isn't ruined, since it doesn't exist, but your credit history at the moment is tainted.

And is there anything you would suggest that I can do to improve my rating? It's so frustrating because I've been so careful to do everything "right" in terms of my rating over the years as I knew I'd want to buy a house at some point!!

[Deleted User] · 19 July 2018 at 5:48PM

Nothing.

The scores and ratings are made up.

You can improve your credit files and history - get a phone contract, use a credit card and pay back in full each month.

pinknsparkly · 19 July 2018 at 5:53PM

thanks. I already have a phone contract but I use my credit card a bit sporadically so I'll start making sure I use it each month!

"Late Payment" on Credit File due to Ombudsman investigation

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