OK, here is my update:

Spoken to O2 complaints again today. They say that the balance of £329 has been cleared and I don't owe that anymore. However they are unwilling to remove the default from my credit file as they feel they haven't done anything illegitimate when it comes to putting the default on.

I'm absolutely disgusted with them. If they have cleared the debt then surely that means they were in the wrong and accept this. If that's the case then why can't they remove the default?

Anyone else with these problems and has anyone actually got through to them? Can we all get this reported to watchdog? It's currently ruining my life. Me and my girlfriend were trying to get a mortgage, I have to pay loads of interest on my credit card now and I can't get a new one. Can't even buy a £500 sofa on credit!!!!! 

Joe Burns

I am amazed at the number of issues raised on the forum about O2 and their sharp practice! There is no excuse for any customers to be made 100% responsible for any outstanding debt, for whatever reason, especially for such small amounts. The network should handle these "unpaid" debts in the same way as other credit agreements - in other words you receive a letter through the post which advises the situation and allows you to clear any issues prior to them defaulting.....

I will be raising this issue regarding O2 at the first opportunity, both with the network and press. Thankyou for bringing these issues to our attention. I may need to contact you guys directly in the near future to discuss the issues in more detail

Rob

That's fantastic Rob.

 Just so you guys know I have submitted a case to Watchdog online. I suggest we all do this so that O2 can quickly get to the top of the pile when it comes to consumer complaints.

 Joe Burns

I think it's fairly similar.  I had an online account with BT Genie that was taken over by O2.  When O2 first took over the BT genie accounts they could not trace mine and eventually located it and then managed to duplicate the account.  It was all very haphazard. I had various problems along the way and in September 2003 my direct debit was not collected. As it was so long ago I cannot be 100% sure of what exactly happened, but according to O2 the phone was still being used from September 2003 and I was being billed online.  This apparently went on until April 2004 at which point I have recently been informed a bar was placed on the account. Due to payment not being received.Then in July 2004 the phone was disconnected and in October 2004 the default placed on my account.As it is so long ago O2 cannot give me a breakdown of the phone bills as there billing system does not allow them to go back that far.  They can only give me a total for each month which they are saying stands at £750.I have no idea if these calls are legitimate or not and in all honest I didn't really keep track of the O2 account as I had a Vodafone account as well. After O2 took over the BT Genie account I was always sceptical as to if they knew what was going on and only really used the phone to text as the original tariff through BT Genie was £10 a month line rental and unlimited free texts.I never received a default notice to my home address and until I applied for credit in the last year had no idea I had the default against me.

Thansk Rob thats great to hear.  What do you suggest we do in the mean time?

What are our rights? Is it actually possible for the defualts to be removed?

Thanks

Laura

Great tell me what i have to do!

Laura

Laura,

 Sounds very similar to me. I too had a BT genie account which was taken over by O2. According to O2 they say they have no record of me cancelling the contract but I cancelled the Direct Debits at the time I cancelled the contract and moved on to another better mobile phone company. I have only this week found out that a default has been put on my account following being declined credit for everything i've applied for. We can add notes to our credit record to explain the dispute but this isn't going to help with the majority of credit applications at it is automated and done by credit score. The default stays on file for 6 years so I have 3 years remaining. My most recent conversation with O2 has caused major frustration because they've told me the same thing they sent a letter to you regarding how they don't follow in line with the Consumer Credit Act.

I really need to remove the default as it is a complete contradiction to my otherwise perfect credit worthyness.

Laura and everyone on here can you please fill in the watchdog form on the following URL:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/contact_mobile_phones.shtml

 Cheers

Joe Burns

I would suggest initially filling out the form as above. I have a press meeting tomorrow - will find out the best way to progress this issue......I guess most of you would be happy to get involved if we need more info....

I will keep you posted

regards

Rob

Absolutely. I'll do anything to help!

I've just found some more info on my case. Looking at my credit report they've actually put that I'd missed payments about 8 months before I actually had based on their info.

I have left a message with complaints for the person I am dealing with to get back to me. If it is the case they've got it wrong on my credit file I will demand that they made a complete mess up of it and should withdraw the default based on incorrect info.

I have also requested copies of all statements sent out to me which they allegedly say have been sent to my home address. Funny I've never seen any of them!

Hi everyone with O2 online problems.

Just a quick note to mention I have brought this forum to the attention of O2 complaints department via email. Whether they choose to view it or not I am not sure. Just thought I'd try and pass on that these concerns aren't just from me but a large group of individuals who are happy to fight and publicise this to get the resolution which we deserve.

So we need more people on this forum with the same issues. I've already met 4 in 2 days outside of this forum so I think there's plenty more.

Joe Burns

UPDATE:

 Within less than 7 days from first discovering this issue, O2 have removed the default from both of my Equifax and Experian Credit reports.

As discussed above I informed them that the data did not seem accurate on their systems. They claimed that I'd missed payments when I hadn't and that letters were sent trying to collect the debt after the default was put on. However I never received any of these letters which were apparently sent. For this reason I asked them to send copies of all paper corrispondence that was sent to my home address.

I got this in their reply:

"With regards to letters, the system only logs when each letter (or each type of letter) is sent. The only thing I can give you is example templates used within standard practice."

As you can imagine this provides no evidence that these letters were ever sent.

Although I am pleased I have managed to get the Default removed I have spent a lot of time, money and suffered plenty of embarrasment because of O2 and their heavy handed tactics. I am likely to push further to gain additional compensation especially as I am suffering to get on the property ladder because of this.

Joe Burns

I am in exactly the same postition with "3". I had a defective handset, which I gave them a chance to fix but it was still defective. I terminated the contract and took out a new contract with "3" which I still have and which I pay direct debit.

I have written to them to get it removed but they haven't even responded. I've also written to all the Credit Reference Agencies. I've now written directly to the Legal Department at "3" and am currently awaiting a response from them.

 I am a practising solicitor so if they do not remove it I will go to court to get an Order but the really annoying thing is that this could cost me time and money over the amount of £69, which is what they allege I owe them.

Joe - I was wondering if you had managed to find a mortgage now.  I found myself in a similar position.  I have 2 defaults on my credit file, both credit cards which I struggled to pay while living in Australia.  I have now paid them both off but cannot get rid of them.  However, my partner and I have recently managed to get a joint mortgage (he also has a default) with First National.  They are happy to ignore our past credit history, and lend us 100%, in return for a higher than normal interest rate.  This interest rate is fixed for 3 years, and after that our credit will be fine because keeping up with mortgage repayments is one of the best things you can do to repair credit.

Its nice to know there are a few companies out there willing to help.

This  is all bad news. I left o2 with nothing owing and noticed an on-line payment for £8 go through my bank account.  No idea why as I never did anything on line with o2, but given expensive call charges, time wasted and stress involved I decided not to follow it up.

 Soon after bills started arriving at my house for enormous o2 phone bills in another name. Having been wrongly credit reported before and taking it to the top of Black Horse Agency to have our details successfully removed from experian (v. difficult to do) - I wrote to o2 with bill enclosed. There was no reply. The bills kept coming and I kept writing and returning them and phoned to complain. The bills kept coming.

In the meantime I sold the house and bought a new house - the next owner kept receiving  the bills and eventually the balliffs arrived on her (my old) doorstep)!

What else could we have done to help o2 fight there own fraud? I have not checked my credit reports -the £8 was paid by me - the bills were my old address but not my name and I have not been refused credit on anything. Sounds like I should check. 

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