Hi Claire, I really sympathise with you on this-have they told you what they reckon the default was for? I highly doubt that with it being so long ago they would be able to provide much evidence for you so am sure you have a great case for getting it removed. I would be more than happy to join u in doing something collective about this-although I now have my situation resolved the fact that I was treated so disgustingly by their company and that it took me so long to get it sorted makes me want to fight this further for all our sakes and for people that they will more than likely do this to in the future. I however have already posted my thoughts on watchdog's site-and that's all they will let u do-you don't hear back from them unless they get enough similar comments to make it worthy of putting on TV, but any other ideas of where we could write to would be greatly appreciated, or we could try posting on there again with a few different signatures as it may make more of a difference? It is also a huge issue for me that I feel the law needs changing whereby telecommunication co's MUST inform you of a default they are going to place on your file, and give you the chance to cough up/question it, before actually placing it on your file. At the moment as the law stands they have free reign to do more or less whatever they please, which frankly disgusts me as a consumer.
Hope to hear your further thoughts on this

Ruth

Hi,

I have written to Watchdog and another BBC consumer program, not sure of the name but its a daytime show, a chap called Dom presents it. I think a team effort would be great, the more people complain the more chance we have of success. I also read an article on The Guardian's webiste, we should also try to get them on board. I am more than happy to help, the more the merrier!

Hi Again,

I have been emailing a chap at o2, he will not budge but i guess if we all bug him it may make a difference! Sorry about the funny email address but I was not sure if it would be shown! I also searched google for the 'board of directors o2' and it gave a list of all the big wigs, I am going to write to them all!

Solidarity!

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I would seriously do what I did and write to the chairman recorded delivery marked urgent-seems to be the only way to get anything done - they are such a useless company and have no communication between departments-ironic considering they are a telecommunictaions co - so think the only way is to go right to the top. The fact that they don't communictate or keep proper records goes in our favour though as they are always completely unable to provide any evidence. Couldn't get your email address as it blocks it on here, but if we keep communication up on here perhaps we can organise something. I would be happy to do a joint effort to watchdog or something. The guardian article came about as a result of this thread so if any of the money supermarket people are reading this then maybe you could help us to organise something else as despite the negative publicity in the guardian this seems to still be a huge issue for people?
Ruth

I'm definitely going to write to the chairman! I'm waiting on the raw data that equifax hold on me to come through then if necessary I'll phone O2 (not looking forward to that phonecall!) to find out why they defaulted me - I have no idea why they did! The strange thing is that they've defaulted me in the June of 2004 then it's marked settled in July 2004 but the file also says it was updated in May 2005! All very strange seeing as I had no contact with them since I moved to Orange in May 2004. It just doesn't add up. Not sure how we can all get in contact with each other if we're not allowed to share contact details - MODERATOR - can you help?! Would be great if we could swap email addresses to allow us to collate our stories to send to watchdog! I think it's worth contacting the Guardian too and we should copy O2 in on all our communications to let them know that we're not taking this lying down!

They are the worst company I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. Although I can't recall any real problems with my account while I was with them, I did pay a bill for my boyfriend using my card and they charged me twice (it was something like £150!) and it took 3 months and hours on the phone to get it back! It was so stressful, I'd call up and they'd tell me they were refunding it that day and nothing would get done!

Claire

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Well I just decided to give O2 a call to see if they could enlighten me on the situation! Didn't really want to do this until I had the Equifax data so that I could question them knowing the full situation but I couldn't wait any longer.

Apparently O2 OWE ME £13.80!!!!!! Can you believe this?!!! I asked why on earth they would default me and the guy I spoke to said it was probably because the account was never closed because of this credit balance! He said he is going to call me tomorrow to get my bank details to refund the amount and also raise a 'credit amend form' that they send to Equifax to erase the default.

Now I'm not naive enough to think that this is the end of the story and I will keep you all updated with any developments! I'm still totally up for a mass complaint because we're not the first and certainly not the last to go through this!

Claire

When it comes to money you are largely considered guilty unless proved innocent. With all the correspondence on this matter, I wonder whether MoneySupermarket as an exercise may wish to contact O2, possibly the chairman of O2, with the data they now have. All organisations do wish to improve their, "service", given that bad publicity is bad for business. We do have to be careful here as we are clearly only getting 1 side of any arguments.

Hi, Here is a little thought... I pointed out to o2 they never sent me a default notice, they said they did not have to as they are not regulated by the Consumer Credit Act. If you look at Experian's website it states that a default indicates the credit agreement has broken down, how can o2 claim not to be covered by the CCA and then add credit information about us to our credit file, seems to me they want to have their cake and eat it.

I am a member of Experian and have asked them what do credit providers need [regulation wise] in order to have their information shared by Experian.

Please note however, that Mortgages are not regulated and Consumer Credit Act and it is clearly sensible to have any none-payments to Mortgage companies logged by credit reference organisations.

Ok I now have my email address on my profile so if you want to email me with an outline of your individual o2 problem I can collate with a covering letter and send to watchdog and O2. Anyone know of contact for the Guardian?

Claire

Hi,

I am not sure if I can display the name but the atricle is called 'How O2 put a customer's credit record on the line' if you google it you can find the article and the name of the chap that wrote it.

Cheers

Rob Barnes if you're reading this can you please help?!!!!

Just read the posts by Rob Barnes earlier in this thread talking about going to a press meeting where he would bring up the o2 issue back in May last year. Low and behold, 5 days later an article appeared in the article on the subject - http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/may/19/internetphonesbroadband.phones.

We need Rob Barnes on side!!!!

Only had one response to my earlier post about collating our complaints. Please please let me know your experiences (even if they're resolved) as I really believe we can stop this happening. This is clearly not going to stop until they are stopped by someone else, be that offcom, press pressure or bad publicity damaging their sales.

My address is on my profile and I'd be happy to push our story to anyone who would listen in the press and offcom.

Claire

Hi Clairesmith58,

I have been reading a lot of forums and articles about o2 defaults with great interest. I totally and utterly sympathise on your case i have been reading. I too discovered earlier this year I had a default in Dec 2004 with O2 in Equifax credit file for £519 with £399 outstanding! I crosschecked with my bank statements O2 have marked many late payments with series of 4444444 on my credit file leading to the default. I paid ALL bills on time with D/D apart from 3 months account not in used (UUU) before a default marker D was slapped (when account was in dispute over the size of bill).

I had a dispute with o2 back in 2004 over 1 month bill of £512! I contacted the customer services, and they looked into it which took a while to resolve and they said there has been an error over the size of the bill, as the tariff was not set up properly for free texts and internet use. They apologised and i agreed to pay £120 final bill to clear the balance and close the account. I requested the refund in writing but the letter never arrived. I closed the account after paying £120 and i thought it was the end of it! I discovered this is not to be the case when i looked at my equifax credit file that O2 put a default in my name and £399 outstanding!

I wrote a complaint letter to o2 customer services, explained the circumstances as above and pointed out payment history was wrong and offered copies of my bank statements if requested but they replied saying the payment history are correct and cannot be amended because they are true reflection of my payment history which is absolute nonsense! I wrote back to them and threaten to proceed legal action and seek damages if they do not remove the default as well remove the late payments markers. I have paid ALLthe bills on time but they just told me to write to the Information Commissioner if i want to take the complaint further as they said we have now reached a deadlock. I am so angry and furious that o2 can get away with this. When i asked for details of where the £399 debt is they said they sold the £399 debt to a DCA in 2005! I never had any contact from a DCA. It is outrageous. There are many people like myself and you getting stitched up with o2 for nothing!

I have now sent off subject access request by recorded delivery, so will wait until 40 days are up. I know i have to drag this to the court proceedings, but after reading other people's experiences dealing with o2, we got to get together and fight them all the way! Please feel free to contact me, you are not alone, i will do what i can to get the unlawful defaults removed! I am not going to let o2 get away scott free! Rob Barnes, if you are reading this, i appreciate if you make a comment on where we should proceed.

These stories just keeping worse and worse!

Good luck Tommy, I really hope you get it removed as quickly as possible!!!

If it's ok with you, I'll use your story in my letter to Watchdog etc. Can you email me your address and O2 account number to go along with it? My address is in my profile.

Keep them coming!!!

Thanks

Claire

Hi

Just a note to be careful in any letter. o2, even though they provide the service, have at least carphone warehouse who actually collect the money on their behalf. Any information in any letter, therefore must be about o2 themselves and not regarding any franchised organisation ... although a separate letter sent regarding those organisations as well may be required!

Also, I have asked the question of Experian, and am awaiting an answer, as to what 'status' do the credit card companies have to have before they will receive their information and make it available.

Good luck and I do hope that this will end with better inforcement rules regarding the placement of credit history informaton and possibly fines for incorrect treatment of customers.