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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

URGENT: AIBU to panic?

60 replies

PeaceAndHope · 29/08/2013 23:13

Right.

I never knew that a mobile phone contract could make me so anxious.

I had a sim only contract with o2. Last year I went on holiday for about 4 months and I didn't cancel the contract because direct debit payments had been set and I was happy to pay even if I wasn't using the phone just to keep my contract going.

It seems that there was an issue with my account and I was they were unable to take the payment.

When I returned and tried to re-activate my account, they refused and said that my details were with a "third party" and since they had already disconnected my number, they didn't want the payment.

Fair enough! I was busy with other things and I simply switched to a new provider and never thought about it again.

Today I checked back into my o2 online account (because I wanted to see what my old number used to be) and I saw that I still have a payment outstanding. Confused

I am not comfortable with this because it just looks really bad.

My DH has now terrified me by telling me the third party was likely a debt collection agency and this stuff is now on my credit report.

My question is, if it was a debt collection agency, why haven't they contacted me in all these months?? Why haven't o2 contacted me??

And is this really serious or am I worrying over nothing?

OP posts:
AlyssB · 29/08/2013 23:43

I used to work in HR for a financial body and for one default on a small amount you'd be fine. If this is the only issue you'll be fine. If there is anything else however it could change the decision & also dependant on what role you are doing.

Binkyridesagain · 29/08/2013 23:44

from a quick google, checking your own credit score has no effect on the score.

www.experian.com/ask-experian/20060503-the-effect-on-credit-scores-when-you-check-your-own-credit-report.html

teacherandguideleader · 29/08/2013 23:46

I had a debt a few years ago that I didn't know I had (long story short - ex-bf said he'd paid £10 into my account - I trusted him but he hadn't so a payment bounced. It was an account I didn't use so I didn't check - the company had my address details wrong and only bothered to track me down when the debt had grown to over 1.5K in interest fees).

When I found out about it they offered me a variety of repayment schemes - the quickest one had the least consequence on my credit rating. I had to go with the middle one, but even then I didn't end up with a CCJ.

craftycottontail · 29/08/2013 23:47

No not harmful - go to experian and you can get it for free if you cancel your account within a month (put a reminder in your diary)

kali110 · 29/08/2013 23:51

If its gone to a debt collection it will affect your file. I worked within banking sector and anything like that would have been a straight no no from any employer in that area. As you've changed address and didn't contact them within those few months then when they sold your debt on the collection agency may not have your new contact details so possible they have been trying to contact you

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 29/08/2013 23:57

:(

OP posts:
WilsonFrickett · 30/08/2013 00:01

Tbh the biggest issue will be you not being on the electoral roll. I'd get that sorted tomorrow.

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 30/08/2013 00:05

Yanbu. I've just received a CCJ for the woman who owned our house before we bought it. This is despite me returning the claim form to court marked 'not known at this address'. They made fuck all attempt to locate her and proceeded anyway. The judgment is for less than £150. I will be serious fucked off if bailiffs come round looking for her.
Contact your mobile provider again and insist on sorting it out. These things do not go away.

Feckbloodypets · 30/08/2013 00:10

Credit check companies must have changed. Used to work in the banking industry then went to work in the public sector dealing with financials up until last year and at that time every time your credit rating is checked it is recorded and can effect your rating. This is because there is no such thing as a credit rating, different companies check your credit history and apply their own logic to the information that is available and the more checks some of these companies see the more they think you have applied for things like credit cards and may have been turned down.

kali110 · 30/08/2013 00:20

If it has gone to debt agency then it will have allready affected your credit. If your phone company writ off the debt and passed it to the agency then it can stay on credit file for up to 7 years. Find out who has taken your debt on as some if cant find you will sell your debt onto another agency.

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 00:34

FeckBloodyPets

I think it depends on who checks the rating. If a lender checks it repeatedly, it goes down. But everywhere I've read, it says that anyone can check their own report as many times as they want.

OP posts:
MollyBerry · 30/08/2013 03:11

Feckbloodypets

If you apply for something, yes, it does affect your rating but if you are just personally checking it then that doesn't count as a credit search.

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 05:19

I don't know. Some posters are saying that they know of people who were given a ccj without realising it because they moved.

Others are telling me that debt collectors will find any way to track someone down and that they can't really file ccj unless they can prove that they're being deliberately ignored.

Besides, they still have my email and social media sites? I wonder why they have't gotten in touch over so many months?

OP posts:
AntoinetteCosway · 30/08/2013 07:04

It's an honest mistake. As the others said, contact O2, check your credit files, contact the debt company and pay it off. Are you waiting for a job offer right now? Maybe you can get this sorted with a note on your file to say you moved and so weren't aware of the debt before you apply?

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 09:10

^That's what I am trying to do right now.

I am just crossing my fingers that there isn't a county court judgement.

OP posts:
kali110 · 30/08/2013 11:26

Do you need a completely clean file or just no defaults or ccjs? If a completely clean then you may need to speak to your employer and explain as even if they offer and then do a credit check they may let you go if your file isnt clean.

kali110 · 30/08/2013 11:34

Plus courts have to send forms to state that a creditor is applying for a ccj against you however if they dont reach you then sometimes they can be issued in your absence.

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 11:59

Update:

Contacted debt collection agency and paid off debt. They said it would show on my credit report as "debt satisfied" in a few days.

I asked and they said they hadn't been to court, or tried to obtain a ccj against me. Can I take their word for it?

I reckon that if the matter had been reported to a court, I couldn't have just paid them over the phone and they would have asked me to go via the court to make the payment.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 12:01

kali

Since it isn't a very fancy post, they haven't given me any details about it.

I asked around and it appears that a ccj or bankruptcy would be a deal breaker, but anything other than that is usually OK.

Since it was a very small amount which has now been paid off, I reckon that it should be OK as long as they haven't been to court without my knowledge.

OP posts:
kali110 · 30/08/2013 12:26

I hope so for you op its a terrible thing x

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 12:29

Do you reckon I can take their word for the fact that they haven't been to court? How would I double check if they are being truthful?

OP posts:
MollyBerry · 30/08/2013 12:35

Check your credit report

Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 12:37

I can't access it right now, that's why I can't be sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
PeaceAndHope · 30/08/2013 13:23

I've been told there's a website where you can pay a small fee to check court records.

Is it advisable for me to check my own records? I don't know if a self check counts against someone...

OP posts:
MollyBerry · 30/08/2013 13:31

Can you not use any of these?
Equifax's Credit Report
Experian's Credit Expert
Callcredit's Noddle

Have a read of this too as it's useful explaining about the credit rating
www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-credit-score

Also, as a quote from that page
What banks (or in this case it'll be your employer when they check your file) don't know about you...

"Whether you've checked your file. While this info is held, and appears when you check your file, it isn't passed on to lenders and doesn't play any role in any assessment of you."