Defaulted Vodafone Account on my credit file

[Ashakespeare]

I have recently applied for a credit card and to my suprise and embarassment my application was declined. The reason was for a defaulted and oustanding amount on my credit file. Having checked my credit file I can see an outstanding balance of £38 which shouldn't be allocated to me as I have never missed a bill for anything in my lifetime.

The only thing I can think it could be is :- In early 2015 I split with my partner and as the phone was hers I called Vodafone to switch the account over to her (something which Vodafone told me I could do). It seems that my ex-partner later cancelled her contract and perhaps missed her final payment (specualtion only). I have tried to call, live chat and go into store to pay this balanced even though it isn't mine but every time I do I am told that there is nothing owed. I then disputed this on my credit file only to be told that Vodafone say this balance is outstanding. My ex-partner has advised me that she had to make a payment to "Fredrickson" (who may or may not be related to this) for £86.36 which was paid.  The defaults and outstanding balance are still showing on my credit file and are starting to ruin my life.

I have not missed any payments whatsoever. The payment history on my credit report say's payments were going through every month from Jan-17 to May-17, payments were missed from June-17 to Sept-17 and a final payment in Oct-17. Not from any of my bank accounts. This clearly isn't mine. Can someone please help me get this removed from my credit file?

[BandOfBrothers]

If the amount paid to the debt collection agency is connected to the Vodafone account then Vodafone may uphold this as a Default which lasts 6 years. 

Dud you perform a Transfer of Ownership to pass the contract or just add your partner as an authorised person. 

The Vodafone Social Media Team here who read all posts will catch up with your thread and they'll help you with this situation if they can.

Some info in Default-on-your-Credit-File-And-How-to-add-a-Notice-of-correction.

A Notice of Correction is only applicable if the Default is incorrect. 

[Ashakespeare]

Thanks for your posts, it's great to have some other points of view to consider.

It was a long time ago but my ex-partner did have to take the phone and go through things with Vodafone to get it switched so I'm adamant this happened. My ex-partner said she paid but it's very hard to match up any detials to such an old account that I can't now access because it was my Ex partners before she closed it. 

Putting aside any potenital errors in switching my account correctly to my ex, If I knew there was an outstanding balance that could affect me I would have paid it regardless, however I can't pay a bill that didn't know was there. So frustrating! especially when I've called and used webchat so many times and been assured I don't owe anything, I have tried.

I have been contacted now and I've submitted my request so hopefully they can help. 

[TJ]

@Ashakespeare Please keep us updated once you've spoke to our credit file specialist and don't hesitate to pop back to us with any further questions.

[Ashakespeare]

Hi TJ

I was contacted very promptly and they have half resolved this for me.

They have removed the recent defaults following me contacting Vodafone and being told I did not owe anything, however I have requested the entire default to be removed from my credit file as I was not made aware of any bill, otherwise I would have paid it.

Being honest, dealing with this has been really stressful and frustrating due to the error and lack of clarity but there is progress and hopefully this will be resolved and my faith restored!

[AnnS]

Hi @Ashakespeare

If you contacted Vodafone to authorise a change of ownership, your partner would have needed to contact Vodafone to accept the contract into her name.  From what you have written, it's not quite clear if the contact was accepted by your partner and the change of ownership completed.   When the contract was changed to your partners name, and this would have been subject to your partner meeting the credit check criteria, Vodafone would have sent a letter to let you know you have no further responsibility towards the contract and repayments with a final bill showing a 0.00 balance.

If it was left that your partner was paying the bill with the direct debit coming from your partners account but with the contract still in your name, Vodafone would have tried to make contact by calling the number in default, but you would still have had access to the online account.

The best way forward is to wait for contact from the Team on the forum, they will be able to find out exactly what happened.

[Gemma]

@Ashakespeare - I’m sorry to hear the impact that this is now having on your credit file.

We have credit specialists in our team and they can investigate what’s happened.

Please send us your details by following the instructions in this private message.