Severn Trent water: Reporting to Credit Reference Agencies

[comebackjimmy]

Hello all

Minor thing here but wondering what CAG members think...

I paid my water bill throughout 2023 from April to October seven out of eight payments with one remaining for November which I have not so far paid.

ST water duly recorded the non payment with Transunion/KreditKama as follows:

October:  a tick mark

November: -- indicating no data

December  x indicating a missed payment.

OK not happy but fair enough.

But January I have got a x again but no more payments are due.

At first glance this would seem unfair as I have only failed to pay once, the last payment for the year due in November and nothing more is due till April apart from my current arrears of £34.

Can that be right that they can continue to record the one missed payment month after month?

Not troubling me greatly but would be interested to see opinions on how this data is presented.

[AndyOrch]

Did you contact them before hand to inform you would miss a payment ? Did they contact you to give you 7 days to make payment ?

Quote

Like many other utilities companies, we share your personal data with, and receive your personal data from, Credit Reference Agencies.

This helps us to:

maintain up-to-date customer records

prevent fraud and identify customers at risk of falling into debt

find and help customers who need financial assistance

manage debt levels and, in turn, keep prices lower for all customers

If you pay your bill on time, sharing your data will also positively impact your credit rating.

There are three Credit Reference Agencies, and we share data with two of these: TransUnion and Equifax.

These companies hold and share information about your previous credit history and payment behaviour. 

This will include whether you have paid bills on time and in full in the past. This data is refreshed and updated every month and contributes towards your credit score.

Every month we will share your outstanding balance and a status reflecting your payment behaviour. 

If you pay your bills on time and in full, this will be shared each month along with your account balance and a status “0” which tells the Credit Reference Agency that you are up to date.

If you are over one month late in your payment your credit score may be impacted. If your account is one month behind it will be shared as a “1”, two months behind a “2” and so on, up to a 6 for an account that's six months behind on payments.

If you are on an alternative payment plan, for affordability reasons, or to cover debt on the account, you will be reported as an “i” to Credit Reference Agencies. This indicates to the Credit Reference Agency that a non-standard payment arrangement with Severn Trent is active on your account. We report alternative payment plans as a different payment plan to support other businesses make responsible lending choices.

Making and receiving payments guide | Legal | Help and Contact | Severn Trent Water

WWW.STWATER.CO.UK

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Andy

[comebackjimmy]

They called me about a week ago and I said I had no money and couldnt pay them.  They said they would get back to me 19th February but would still report it to the CRA's.

My question is really about the presentation of this data.  I have missed one payment but no others are due.  They are making it look as though I am missing a payment every month!

[AndyOrch]

7 minutes ago, Andyorch said:

If you are over one month late in your payment your credit score may be impacted. If your account is one month behind it will be shared as a “1”, two months behind a “2” and so on, up to a 6 for an account that's six months behind on payments.

Ring them up them and quote the above if its incorrect.

Have you now paid the missing month?

[comebackjimmy]

No not paid it.

They will have to wait until I have paid rent, council tax, food, electricity, fuel, car tax.  They are not high up on the priority list just now.

[AndyOrch]

15 minutes ago, comebackjimmy said:

They will have to wait

Thats why its showing on your credit file, some water companies will not allow you to pay monthly once you default on an annual payment plan.

[dx100uk]

and just remember only them and you can see the calendar missed payments stuff.

unless you are paranoid its kicked your so called credit rating down forget about it.

no-one else can see it.

dx

 

[comebackjimmy]

Plenty of other adverse reports so this one is not making any material difference, it was just the way it was being shown.

The tick and cross system gives the impression that a payment is being missed every month.

I note the comment about not being offered a payment plan again and the phrase blood out of a stone springs to mind..

Thanks for the replies.

 

Edited January 31 by comebackjimmy