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VF Still Reporting My Closed Account To Credit Agency

b86
3: Seeker
3: Seeker

I canceled my vodafone account after many years, a few months ago - due to poor customr service. However, recently I was applying for a mortgage, but was declined because of too many open 'accounts'. I didn't know what they were refering to.

 

So, I ended up buying a subscription to a credit checking service, and noticed that Vodafone are still reporting that I have an account open with them, but paying £0 a month. This is as good as having an unused credit card/store card on your account - because lenders will see the 0 and expect that it could rise to anything.

 

I rang up to explain this, and turns out they owed me £45 (or there abouts) - so Vodafone, was going to carry on keeping my account open, instead of just refunding me when my account was *closed* initally. Instead, my accounts been kept open, waiting for me the customer to ring asking for my refund and to close my account - even though I was unaware of this money owed to me, as Vodafone have made no contact to get in touch with me (my address and phone numbers are the same).

 

So, the girl on the phone has now issued the refund and *closed* my account, and told me they'll write to the credit agencies to fix the problem and should take around 30-45 days. I kind of explained that this has been a problem with Vodafone, unwillingly keeping me in a contract (what it looks like on my credit file), without my agreement, and as a result means my credit file will not be updated in 30-40 days, and therefore cannot apply for the mortgage up until that point. Not to mention, it now looking bad that lenders will see I am applying for what looks like lots of credit (due to re-applying). Unfortunatly, the girl on the phone didn't understand the issue....

 

The same thing has happend with Sainsbury's who actually went above and beyond in fixing the problem, and even went as far as compensating me as we've potentially miss out on a property we like, and to some degree tarnished my credit file.

 

I probably wouldn't of been as bothered as much as accidents do happen, it was when she was casually talking like it was just a simple refund and my credit score didn't matter....

173 REPLIES 173

Hi,

 

To add to the list I also have the issue of an open credit file with £0 being billed. I closed the account over two years ago. Please send me the details of how to get this resolved.

 

Chris

So I have found the same problem and I ended my account with Vodafone coming up 2 years ago! Why on earth is this still showing on my Credit Report?? The reason I left Vodafone was because of their incompetence and over charging and I had a complaint in with them for months and months that never got resolved and I was never compensated for that but just choose in the end to cancel my contract and go to a provider who actually care about its customers!.....However 2 year on Vodafone are STILL causing me problems as my Credit file is still showing that I have an Open account with Vodafone?? Can someone please explain this to me? I want this removed from my credit file ASAP!? Any help advice greatly appreciated

Colleen
Moderator (Retired)
Moderator (Retired)

@cjj105 I'm sorry you're having trouble contacting us on the link previously provided. I've re-sent your private message - please follow the steps after you've clicked on the red 'here' and it'll prompt you to send your email to us 😊

@Emmawatson I'm sorry to hear you're also experiencing problems with your credit file. Our teams dedicated Credit File Specialists will be happy to help. I've also sent you a private message with details on how to get in touch with us.

 

gmran84
2: Seeker
2: Seeker

Hi - could I please have the credit specialist team's details as well please? I cancelled a MiFi account within the first 30 days of service, but for some reason the account is still being reported to all the credit reference agencies as open, with £0 balance. I only needed it in the interim before my broadband was set up following a home move.

 

I'm in the process of trying to repair my credit, so this is very concerning and frustrating as well!!!

 

Alex
Moderator (Retired)
Moderator (Retired)

@gmran84 @cwhite I've sent a private message to you both individually. 

Once you've used this to contact our specialist team, they'll be in touch to assist further. 

Although I can understand people being annoyed at incorrect information being reported on their credit file it is perhaps worth mentioning that if Vodafone are reporting the balance as nil and the payments being up to date then this error will in many cases actually be improving peoples' credit scores rather than harming them! 


@Nick74wrote:

Although I can understand people being annoyed at incorrect information being reported on their credit file it is perhaps worth mentioning that if Vodafone are reporting the balance as nil and the payments being up to date then this error will in many cases actually be improving peoples' credit scores rather than harming them! 


I suppose that we should be thanking them eh?

 

It may well have a positive affect in some cases, and in others it will have a negative affect. Who’s to know what affect it will have in their individual circumstance?

 

There is an argument to say that the false positive affect may be just as damaging as the negative one. 

 

The point is, that regardless of this the information is incorrect, and should not be there.

I wouldn't go quite as far as thanking them! This is in no way intended to let Vodafone off the hook, mistakes like this shouldn't happen. 

 

My point is really that anyone who is about to apply for a mortgage for example and has just discovered a mistake such as this on their credit file needn't be too concerned as far as their application goes. Yes it is possible that some lenders may mark someone's score down due to an 'extra' telecoms account on their file but that is rare in my experience (20+ years in the finance industry) . It is more likely to either have no effect at all or even a slightly positive effect. 

I agree with what you’re saying but you could argue that the “slightly positive effect” could sway a lender into giving money to somebody who they ordinarily wouldn’t and probably shouldn’t. 

 

It’s also fair to assume that if Vodafone cannot even correctly update credit reference agencies when an account is settled, there Is likely other incorrect information out there (defaults etc). 

 

My main gripe was that it took over 6 weeks to rectify an issue which I see as relatively straightforward. This is in no small part due to Vodafone’s policy of offshoring their customer service function, while also not training them in more complex issues.

 

I firmly believe that if I had not stumbled upon this forum thread, my issue would probably still not be resolved. 

Hi,

 

I am also having this problem. My account with Vodafone was closed over 18 months ago with nothing but difficulties in getting my account closed. After closing Vodafone continued to send me bills and take money out of my account and when I contacted them they could not find my account details either with my name and address or with their own account number! Really extremely poor customer service.

 

Now 18 months on, thinking I was finally clear of them, I find that my account is still classed as open on my credit report with a value of £0.

 

Please could someone get in touch with me so I can get this resolved completely.