Hi All,

I was hoping to get some advice on the best way to handle a dispute I have with Virgin Media,

which is probably something I should have done a long time ago.

About a year and a half ago I switched from Virgin to Sky and informed them in writing (as is their policy) but it they deny receiving this letter.

I wrote to the most local office to me and addressed it to Customer Services.

Two or three months went by and I noticed that Virgin were still charging me by Direct Debit.

I canceled it through my bank and called Virgin up, informing them of the situation.

This is when they told me they'd not received my letter and considered my cancellation date to be from that time.

Their policy is to be informed a month in advance so they told me they're going to charge me for another month.

I told them I wasn't going to pay that,

we had a little to and fro in writing and over the phone - I told them if they felt they had a case to take me to court.

I heard nothing from them since.

Over the last few days I have looked into my credit status using Experian (who have been great)

and it turns out that this has really damaged my credit rating.

Currently it is ranked as "poor" and I can't seem to get credit from anyone.

Experian tell me that this is one of the main reasons but there are a few other very old things that they are disputing on my behalf.

I made my point clear to Virgin at the time that I didn't feel this was owed and if they felt otherwise, to forward me some kind of legal case.

It turns out that they just decided to hurt my credit rating and never contact me again.

Am I in the wrong here?

I don't want to call Virgin up at this time because I will only be making the same points again

and as far as my credit rating goes, seems like they have all the power.

There's nothing new I can say to them aside from please stop hurting me.

Will I have to bite the bullet on this and make a repayment offer.

It's only over £88 but money's a really serious issue for me right now.

What do you think?

Am I going to have to pay them to improve my credit rating?

Any input would really be appreciated.

I don't think it will make any difference if you pay them now or not. Once they started to trash your credit file, then the information will stay for 6 years.

So paying won't affect my credit rating?

Experian tell me that once paid they'll put on my report that the issue is resolved and my rating will improve.

I really don't understand credit ratings.

So if I'm late paying a bill it'll stay on there for 6 years?

If they're hurting my rating over a dispute (rather than a debt)

is there no recourse for the consumer?

In the summary line of the debt

is there a defaulted date showing?

or is the info solely a 1,2,3 D marker in the monthly calendar area?

have you any kind of proof that you did indeed send the cancellation letter?

dx

I personally would pay them, making it clear that you do not accept the money is due and it is only being made to avoid further damage to your credit rating, and then issue a claim against them in order to get the money back. The default will still be there but at least it will be marked as 'satisfied'.

Issuing a claim yourself for a small amount of money is straightforward and does not require a lawyer, we can also help you with it. VM are unlikely to do anything in the near future - if you want to get this resolved, I think you would need to be the one starting court action.

How was the virgin service delivered? How is the sky service delivered?

Are they both fibre or ADSL?

Did you return the virgin equipment?

Thanks for all the responses guys.

DX:

The default date is showing as 17/02/14 and sadly no, I don't have any proof that I sent the letter.

Didn't think to send it recorded and I didn't even keep a copy. Guess I'll know better in the future.

steampowered: It didn't occur to me to start court action.

Something that I'll definately keep in mind and I am thinking that it may be best to just come up with some sort of payment plan to them.

If I have a case to sue to reclaim the money,

would I also have a case to take action against them for hurting my credit rating?

I have no evidence that I sent the letter but they also can't prove that they didn't lose it,

or perhaps ignored it to get more money out of me.

Until I checked out my credit rating I just assumed that they backed off because I heard nothing further from them. Naive

BankFodder: Both their equipment was brought to my house and installed by their engineers.

Virgin was fibre and Sky is ADSL.

Virgin's equipment was returned to them, they sent me a box and I handed it in to a local shop for them to pick-up.

Thanks again. I'll keep you posted and please, if you think of anything else that'd help let me know.

Virgin Bledia don't do customer service,

Get onto their CEO and demand his office sorts out their problem.....

[email protected]

http://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=9632&c=Virgin%20Media