Unwarranted Cat 6 Cifas Marker from Sky

Hi all,

Sorry for the long post! Really need some advice.

I recently applied for a mortgage which was declined and the Bank was unable to provide a reason despite having had a mortgage a couple of years ago and no issues with my credit reports from all 3 agencies. Around the same time, I had a call from my credit card provider to say they were closing my account and again, couldn't provide a reason.

I put a SAR in to Cifas which I got back today. It shows that Sky has registered a Cat 6 marker on my name! :mad:

I'm trying to upload an image of the letter but as I'm a noob, I can't do it

So, back in March 2016, I took up an offer through Hughes Direct for Sky Installation at £15. I was told that I'd get TV services free for 12 months and to call them at the end of the 12 months if I wanted to continue. I never did want the services (just the installation as I was having the house refurbished) so had no reason to call especially as I hadn't signed up to any agreement or contract and I hadn't provided any direct debit details. I just had to pay the £15 with a debit card.

I never heard anything until September 2018 when a payment went out from my bank account to "Sky Subscription" for £39.50. As far as I knew I didn't have any subscriptions so genuinely believed someone had used my details. I called the bank who refunded the payment and sent me a new card. All was fine.

I then started getting letters from Sky saying I owed them money, I called them up and explained the situation and they agreed to credit the amount back to the account and close it. I even told them that I'd realised the payment that went out of my bank account must have been relating to this but I'd got my money back from the bank anyway.

As far as I can tell, I have not committed any sort of fraud in the slightest and I cannot understand how they have stated to Cifas "Compromised card used to make payment" when it was my own card that was used.

I've explained everything to Sky today who agree with me but nobody understands really what Cifas is. I got through to a senior manager (who was actually pretty helpful) in the end who spent 1 hour speaking with the Finance and Legal teams in their Head Office, they insisted they hadn't filed the Cifas, it's impossible for them to do so as they're not a credit provider and as such they don't even know how they'd remove it. They're blaming the bank for the marker. The chap is willing to write me a Final Response Letter stating the above but I need this sorting as soon as possible really as my house purchase is about to fall through.

I called Cifas to explain who confirmed it was definitely Sky that added the marker but if they couldn't remove it I should get in touch with the Ombudsman.

Now, given how adamant Sky are that they haven't added the marker, is there a chance it wasn't them and it was my bank despite the SAR stating issuer as Sky? (Sky's explanation is that their name is only on the report because that's who the transaction relates to).

Also, surely if I send the letter from Sky (when I receive it) to Cifas explaining that the marker is unwarranted but Sky don't know how to remove it, they should be able to remove it? Why are they telling me to go directly to the Ombudsman?

I'm worried all my credit cards and bank accounts will soon start getting closed if I don't get this sorted ASAP. Any help would be really appreciated!

Thanks
Oz

EDIT: Added the letter at the following link: https://imgur.com/a/hTJ7Xk9