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A contract which is no longer mine is ruining my credit score

Lisa_Foy
2: Seeker
2: Seeker

Hello All,

 

An old boyfriend and I moved into a joint property in Feb 2019 and set up a 12-month broadband account, paying £30 per month. The broadband contract was in my name. When we broke up in August 2019 and I moved out we phoned vodafone and got the contract transferred into his name, as he was remaining in the property.

 

My credit score has always been excellent, I'm oddly proud of that and make sure everything is paid on time to keep it that way. This morning I thought I'd take a cursory glace at my score to make sure everything was okay, only to find that it had dropped over 125 points due to an outstanding vodafone bill of £145 which has been accrued since I moved out.

 

I now cannot call vodafone unless I first pay the £145 outstanding on the account, which I do not want to do as the charge isn't mine. I'm very panicked and do not know what to do next. I do not have an email confirmation of the name change as we did it over the phone.

 

Please help if you can. 

 

 

6 REPLIES 6

BandOfBrothers
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

Hi @Lisa_Foy 

 

That's a conundrum if Vodafone agreed to transfer ownership of the contract to another person, and the other person agreed.

I would suggest to contact the Vodafone Social Media Teams via Contact-us-for-account-specific-queries and they'll be able to check the current status of the account i.e ownership and if necessary get their dedicated Credit File Specialist Team to investigate your Credit File issue.

Unfortunately there is no account access via this forum anymore.

Please link back to your thread here including your forum username so your not having to repeat yourself.

I'd suggest using Twitter.

I wish you all the best with this situation. 

 

🌈 Stay Safe  🌈 

Current Phone  >

Samsung Galaxy s²³ Ultra 512gb Phantom Black.

 

 

AnnS
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

Hi @Lisa_Foy 

 

 

There is some confusion here, and I wondering if your ex accepted the contract into his name, when the change of ownership was done, you would have needed to give your authorisation and your ex would have needed to accept the contact into his name and this would have been subject to meeting the credit checking criteria, when completed you would  have received a letter from Vodafone to let you know you have no further responsibility towards the contract and payments with a 0.00 bill as your confirmation.

 

Understandably difficult, if you are able to speak to your ex, you may get some answers.  However, the golden rule in any dispute is to pay what is owed and sort it out afterwards.  This will save your credit rating and may even prove cheaper in the long run.

Thank you both so much for your responses.

 

In regard to the message from AnnS; my ex phoned vodafone first and explained that he wanted the contract changed into his name. I then received a text from vodafone containing a code so that I could call later and - with him present - confirm that the change was all okay with me. 

 

I did not receive anything in the post but I believe that's because they will have sent it to the address which I moved out from. 

AnnS
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

That's strange @Lisa_Foy .  

 

However, if there were unpaid bills you would have have received  billing notifications and been able to log on

 

You would have definitely received some confirmation from Vodafone, though understandable you changed address but your ex should have forwarded on any communication in your name.

 

If I was in your situation, I would pay what could be your debt, credit rating is important and you could well already have a late payment marker, if the transfer was never completed, you are within your rights to cancel the broadband.

 

Youcan speak to the Broadband Team on the link below, they will be able to give all the necessary information for you to move forward with this.  Broadband and Home Phone FAQs 

 

edited to add: @Lisa_Foy  with GDPR data protection and your ex not being the account holder Vodafone would not have even been able speak to your ex or take any instructions from him.

BandOfBrothers
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

Hi @Lisa_Foy 

 

Yes that sounds like the process to change account ownership.

I assume your not able to speak with your Ex ?

I would get in touch with the Vodafone Social Media Teams to get some help as I mentioned.

If the Transfer of Ownership completed as it appears to have done then it's not fair that you should have to pay anything for a bill not racked up by you.

Please be aware paying the amount also wouldn't remove any late payment markers or defaults.

Paying changes the status from Outstanding to Settled if there is a default.

A Credit Rating and Credit File are important so I hope your looked after.

 

🌈Stay Safe  🌈 

Current Phone  >

Samsung Galaxy s²³ Ultra 512gb Phantom Black.

 

 

AnnS
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

Hi @Lisa_Foy 

 

The usual process to change ownership is by completing this form.  Transferring number agreement 

As you can see you would have needed to complete the form and your ex would have needed to complete his part in agreement to the transfer.

Alternatively, you give your authorisation to the Change of Ownership Team, you are given a password and it's then up to the new owner to contact Vodafone with the password and pass the credit check.

Make the payment and sort it out afterwards, we have seen too many cases on this forum where people have had their credit rating ruined.