Hi all, I could really do with some help. Being someone who once had 11 defaults on my credit file and only one remaining that falls off in November this year the last thing I want is something that's going to damage my credit file further! I have banked with Halifax for years and at my peak had a £1300 overdraft. I spoke with them as I wanted to pay it off. They said they would add control to my account for free so I wouldn't pay and fees and help me pay it off. I managed to reduce it from £1300 to £600 myself and then I got a letter stating that they would be removing my overdraft fully in a months time. This was annoying as they would not give me a reason and everything was managed perfectly, ie I had no missed payments or anything like that. I phoned them and they told me this would not affect my credit file as when they take the overdraft away they would give me a temporary overdraft and as I pay the balance off the overdraft comes down and will come off completely once my balance gets to £0. I was pleased with this as there would be no impact to my credit file. I checked and double checked this information with a couple of advisors and they told me this was correct. Now I have just checked my credit files with Equifax and Experian to find out that Halifax have marked the account as a arrangement to pay. I have read and some people seem to have mixed reviews on how harmfull a AP is on a credit file, some say its negative like a missed payment and others seem to suggest it can look as bad as a default. This has got me really worried and my credit file is nearly squeaky clean. I thought as Halifax had been a arse with me removing my overdraft I would just make a small payment every month to clear the account and pay off more expensive debts on the understanding they told me it would not affect my credit rating at all. If I knew it would of been reported as a AP I could of put more effort in or sold something to pay it off. Could anyone please advise me of how bad this is and if I can look at it being removed (in the sense of it being shown as my original overdraft and not a AP). Do I have any right to complain? I had a SAR with transcripts of all telephone calls for a seller ate issue but shredded them when I was finished with them before this issue came up. Should I request them all again? Many thanks James

Something very interesting from Orange!! I've just been on the phone to a lady from Orange re my cancelation and she just confirmed there are two methods to cancel a contract. A - pay off outstanding contract B - return handset and orange will cancel the contract there and then with no impact to your credit file Interestingly she said that the latter option is open to anyone and anyone can return there phone mid contract to get out of it with no issues. This does not seem right as surely everyone who was not happy would leave?? Any thoughts on this?

Just to be awkward I've just phoned EE posing as a new customer looking at a iPhone 5s which was £44.99 a month for 18 months and the device was a additional £69.99. I asked him who owns the phone once you pay the £69.99 and he said it would be mine regardless of what's happens with the contract..... Hhmmmmmm interesting!

Cheers peeps, yeah I think I'm onto a good one here to be fair, just could of been better. I thought about just putting a payg sim in the phone and that's that. Never thought they would ask for it back. I could get a new contract but I'm sick of mobile companies at the moment that was all. I've also bought into the Apple Eco system and all my apps are paid for etc... So kinda need to stick with apple.

Hi all, I have been with EE since January 13 on sim only and coverage was great! I upgraded to The iPhone 5 in May 13 on 3G only as 4G is not around where I live. I paid £29.99 for the phone and £36.00 per month on a 24 month contract. However that last 3 months I've had approximately 1/3 of incoming calls dropping or not coming through. Just a text message hours later stating that someone had tried to phone. To cut a massive story short after being on the phone nearly every day complaining I've had 2 months worth of credits added to my account and it's been lowered from £36pm to £22pm. I've had a new SIM card, new iPhone from Apple under warranty and still no fix. They said a mast is down in the area and this will be causing the issue but have no date to fix it. Today they have finally said they will end my contract now at no cost to me or credit file impact, however they said they want my phone back. Trouble is I really like the phone and just want to go back to my previous provider where I personally had no issues. Where do I stand on this as EE claim the £29.99 I paid for the phone is not actually for the phone and that the cost of the phone is made up in the contract. I asked them to point out to me where in my contract does it say that if they can not provide me with the service i was paying for I need to hand the phone back if they cancel the contract and they told me it does not say that anywhere. I also asked them where does it say in the contract that the cost of the phone is factored into the monthly price plan and they state that this is not mentioned. My theory is that they would not end a contract with out paying the remaining line rental for no reason, that just does not make good business sense. They are now saying that they will do it as a gesture of good will. I think they are using that term so they don't admit that they can't provide the service in my area. Any thoughts on where to go now. I really want to get out of this contract and take the phone with me. Is this possible, or should I just be happy that they will release me 18 months early and send them the phone back. Any feedback would be greatly received. James

Hi NCP, sadly for me nothing happened. I tried all avenues including the Ombudsman, trading standards and the advertising standards authority but they all came back stating they PDUK had done nothing wrong as the wording had been wrote in a way that suggested it will improve your credit report but doesn't actually say there loans will improve your credit report if that makes sense. I have since wrote to PDUK asking where they got the evidence from which allows them to make the claims they make and I just get a snotty letter back revering to the Ombudsman's decision and that they will not discuss it further. Im not sure if anything can be done to be honest, if you have any ideas please share them as I would love to get these wiped. James

Haha, cheers Kiki that's very helpful, I never thought of that. Yes they could offer me a refund however I would then try to negotiate as I really like the car, it's just a case of looking back at some of the things that attracted me to the car in the advert are not there. James

Thanks for the replies Conniff and BankFodder. I feel the car was miss sold by the fact it advertised premium features that it does not actually have, that to me is miss selling and weather it was by accident or not doesn't seem to be the issue. I read somewhere that items should be as described. So I think this was described inaccurate. I am very happy with the car, it's quite a rare one and has taken 6 months to find so I don't want a refund, along as they go ahead with the repairs. What attracted me to the car was the top spec on AutoTrader, i.e. sports seats, dual zone climate control, cruise control, multi function steering wheel etc... When I was on the test drive I was too busy checking there was no rattles, bangs and bits and pieces you look out for on a test drive. So now that I've had the car for a while and had a better look around I have now noticed the lack of the two items and checking the AutoTrader discription I see the discrepancies. Like I say I don't want to get rid of the car but feel if it was advertised, it should have it. Well that's my thinking anyway. James

Wow 46 views in 20 mins at 5am in the morning, guess alot of people work nights like me!

Hi all, Ive got a question! Ive seen a few threads on the subject but not about my exact issue so any advice would be greatly received please. I don't want to say too much as its not 100% sorted yet but you'll get the idea. Oh and im also dyslexic so hope this reads ok. I bought a car just over a week ago from one of the UK's biggest car dealerships and on my journey home the car wasn't preforming as it should. I contacted the garage immediately and after some back and forward conversations and my local garage carrying out a full diagnostic test and inspection the dealership have agreed to pay my local garage to carry out the repairs and some other small problems that Ive found in full so I'm very happy with that. However when Ive looked over the original advert on Auto Trader the description states that the car has a leather steering wheel, multifunction steering wheel and cruise control. The car does have a leather steering wheel but no multifunction buttons or cruise control. Ive priced up the parts from my local dealership and a new multifunction wheel, cruise control indicator stalk, wiring harness and factored in 3.5 hours labor- - new wheel £490 including VAT - new cruise control stalk £80 including VAT - wiring harness £27 including VAT - 3.5 hours labor at £175 Total = £772.00. What do you suggest I do now? I am thinking I will email and send a recorded delivery letter the dealer principal stating what I have just found out above and that the car is not as described i.e. miss sold and would like them to fit the parts that where advertised or pay me the money it would cost to buy and have them installed. I would give this a couple of attempts then off to the small claims court via there online service if I had no success. So here is my main question, do you think I have a chance? I have the original advert clearly stating what was on the car so is it just a case of miss selling? Or what is my best course of action, i.e if they agree to meet me half way should I just accept that? Many thanks in advance. Jim

So what do you think of the argument? I can't find any similar posts so I don't have a clue? James

Thanks for the advice guys. here is what I have done. This is my first letter for restitution after they reported three loans on my file instead of one, http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?343127-PayDay-UK-multiple-credit-records-for-one-loan 10/04/12 Formal Complaint. Dear Sir or Madam, I write in reference to my loan application made on 07/02/2012 on which PDUK made a number of error when transferring the loan to my account which has resulted in incorrect and damaging entries being made on Credit Reference Files. I did NOT make 3 applications so 2 of the searches are wrong and must be removed immediately as they have seriously affected my credit rating. As this is PDUK fault you are responsible for this damage to my financial reputation and I seek restitution to the sum of £300.00 and the removal of the entries. The claims from your staff that the entries cannot be changed is also totally wrong and retraining is needed. I will hold my complaints to the ICO an OFT regarding the errors and incompetence until I receive your reply which is required with in 10 days. A copy of this letter has been sent to both the ICO, FOS and the OFT. James then I got a reply that they are removing the two entries although its my fault, but no mention of the restitution. Then I raised the concern with the FOS who are writing to PDUK on my behalf and will take action when I get my final response. so then I sent them this letter. 23/04/2012 This is a official complaint. Dear Sir/Madam, Reference - xxxxxx, I am not happy as you have totally ignored my letter dated the 10/04/2012 that was sent using Royal Mail recoded delivery to claim for £300.00 in restitution for the damage caused to my credit file. It is for the time and stress caused to my self resulting from this. I feel this amount is appropriate due to the time and effort I have had to put in. Initially contacting your unhelpful customer services department and being lied too, then having to contacting the FOS because of your unwilling ness to resolve the problem and writing to Payday UK. It is also for the damage to my good name as you damaged my credit file by registering two extra applications in two days. If you decline to pay the £300.00 for restitution please do not hesitate to send me a final response so that I can escalate the matter to the FOS and/or start legal proceedings against MEM Consumer Finance trading as Payday UK. Registration Number: 04786727 Consumer Credit License: 539935 My new complaint comes after I have spoken to Experian, Credit Expert. You claim on your website that “Payday UK can help you Rebuild your Credit” and that payday loans from your company “may help to rebuild your credit rating”. I have taken a large majority of my payday loans from yourself under the impression that it would help rebuild my credit rating but this turns out to be untrue and a lie. I have spoken to Experian who I view my credit rating with and they have told me that “you should apply for a maximum of 3 types of credit in 6 months, otherwise it will make you look desperate for credit", i.e. bad. It appears to be your procedure to offer to have a new loan set up for when you pay your existing one off as is my experience with PDUK. Therefore PDUK sales tactics to to offer new loans on a monthly basis which means potentially if a customer takes up your offer of having a new loan they could end up with 6 in 6 months. Experian have also said that lenders like to see stable accounts that run for a period of time, i.e. 12 months and over etc... I have just got off the phone to experian and they confirm that payday loans have a large negative effect of a credit file, as they are simply not open long enough. This means that there is no way you can build a credit report up using your service. I feel like I have been miss sold Loans from PayDay UK MEM Consumer Finance and had to pay a massive APR for the privilege of only damaging my credit file . By using your service I have actually done nothing but hurt my credit score. I phoned MEM today 23/04/12 and referred me to a page on Experian's website, questions and answers with James Jones. Please see the link below. http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames246.html I have already pointed this article out to Experian earlier today as It contradicts the advice Experian give to customers. The advisor has referred this piece to the management team as Experian advisors say that a payday loan will not help credit files to be rebuilt and actually cause harm. I would like all entries from MEM Consumer Finance to be removed from my credit file with immediate effect due to your miss leading information, I have included a copy of my original letter sent 10/04/2012 and a picture of the misleading information that is on your website that makes people believe that your service can improve credit reports when they can not. I have also included the contested piece of mis-information from the Experian website that your advisors refer to. I have lodged a complaint through the Financial Ombudsman Service, there reference is xxxxxxxxxxx and you will be hearing from them shortly. I look forward to receiving your reply which is required within 10 days. James Now I am waiting for my reply, any ideas on what they will do next? James Ps, sorry if my writing is bait all over the place but I'm dyslexic but think I'm doing a good job lol

Toptrapper beat me. When I had to send them some information the emailed me on [email protected] and they got the message. James

Any ideas on how to claim the mentioned £300 restitution. I'm sending a complaint off in the morning asking for this and I guess they are not just going to send me a cheque so what do I do next when they tell me to go away? I've also got a new thread going about there misleading claims that there loans may help build your credit file which is, http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?346870-Payday-loans-and-credit-files.&p=3803362#post3803362 Any help and advice will be greatly recieved. James

Guess what renegadeimp, I'm really enjoying this, think I'm going to become one of those professional pain in the @rse's! James