Vodafone has sent Debtworks after me

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Rusterstuster

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#296302 6-Jun-2022 16:12

Hi guys, first time here.

Today I received a letter from Debtworks claiming that I owe $2621.45. The client being Vodafone New Zealand ltd - Mobile.

I have not had any dealings or contact with Vodafone for roughly 5 years so you can imagine my shock... No letters. No calls. No emails.

I spoke to Vodafone and received the typical horrible service. I was left on hold multiple times only to be disconnected with a promise to call back without following through. I was told on the phone by a "billing specialist" that I do not owe any money. I asked for that statement in an email only to be given a vague statement that if I owe vodafone any money it would have been transferred to Debtworks and to take the matter up with them. They couldn't even find any info on a previous account for me? I have emailed Debtworks but have not yet had a response. they haven't answered their phones either.

I'm very concerned about how this could affect my credit rating in the future.

Has anyone had anything like this happen before? I would greatly appreciate any help or advice on what to do. I have also lodged a complaint with the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution.

Thanks

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#2923265 6-Jun-2022 16:25

The CEO of VodafoneNZ is active on Geekzone @jasonparis and should be able to add some value here

DjShadow

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#2923267 6-Jun-2022 16:31

I would ask Vodafone for a copy of invoices they claim belong to you, also maybe look at getting a copy of your credit files from the various credit agencies.

Rusterstuster

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#2923272 6-Jun-2022 16:59

Linux:

The CEO of VodafoneNZ is active on Geekzone @jasonparis and should be able to add some value here

That would be great, would love to hear what @jasonparis would say about this situation.

Rusterstuster

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#2923273 6-Jun-2022 17:01

DjShadow:

I would ask Vodafone for a copy of invoices they claim belong to you, also maybe look at getting a copy of your credit files from the various credit agencies.

Good idea, would anyone know of any email addresses I could contact for that? really don't want to go through the call centre again.

I have set up an account with illion to check my credit.

cshwone

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#2923278 6-Jun-2022 17:17

And advise Debtworks formally that this is in dispute to stop them taking any further debt recovery action at the moment.

mdav056

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#2923279 6-Jun-2022 17:18

You have my complete sympathy. Slingshot did almost exactly the same to me about 5 years ago, concerning the nonpayment of a current landline bill at a house at which I had not lived for 8 years -- and I had not had a Slingshot account for more than 15 years, and not at that house! Talking to the debt collectors was useless (they just wanted me to pay the bill, and would do nothing without Slingshot's sayso), Slingshot looked into it and found an error, but did not tell the debt collectors, and the police took all the details and filed them. Took me about a year to sort it out. Very stressful. Hope you get it fixed sooner than I did.

Edit mod RC: please use the companies real name

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quickymart

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#2923287 6-Jun-2022 18:10

DjShadow:

I would ask Vodafone for a copy of invoices they claim belong to you...

If only it were that simple, no doubt a straightforward request like that will result in the OP being lost in the "tele-go-round".

xpd

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#2923289 6-Jun-2022 18:16

Once a debt has been passed onto a collection agency, the original company pretty much has nothing to do with it after that. So asking Vodafone wont get you anywhere for now.

Keep onto the collection agency, once you get hold of them, as above, ask them to put it on hold as its in dispute and query them as to what its for etc. If they say "don't know, ask V/fone", thats BS.

They will have some information as to what its for or else they could just approach anyone with any stupid reason for asking for a debt to be paid.

I've had dealings with both major telco's over the years regarding debt from years earlier, it can be a sod to sort out, but worth the hassle to keep your record clean as possible.

XPD / Gavin

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kiwifidget

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#2923290 6-Jun-2022 18:21

They are a mere shadow of their former selves, but even Fair Go could be worth a shot.

Delete cookies?! Are you insane?!

surfisup1000

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#2923291 6-Jun-2022 18:23

Rusterstuster:

Hi guys, first time here.

Today I received a letter from Debtworks claiming that I owe $2621.45. The client being Vodafone New Zealand ltd - Mobile.

I have not had any dealings or contact with Vodafone for roughly 5 years so you can imagine my shock... No letters. No calls. No emails.

I spoke to Vodafone and received the typical horrible service. I was left on hold multiple times only to be disconnected with a promise to call back without following through. I was told on the phone by a "billing specialist" that I do not owe any money. I asked for that statement in an email only to be given a vague statement that if I owe vodafone any money it would have been transferred to Debtworks and to take the matter up with them. They couldn't even find any info on a previous account for me? I have emailed Debtworks but have not yet had a response. they haven't answered their phones either.

I'm very concerned about how this could affect my credit rating in the future.

Has anyone had anything like this happen before? I would greatly appreciate any help or advice on what to do. I have also lodged a complaint with the Telecommunications Dispute Resolution.

Thanks

They're probably chasing you now because the debt expires shortly.

You should contact the debt collector immediately and tell them you dispute the debt. Write a letter/email etc, something that shows proof you disputed it.

This should give you time to deal with the vodafone - tell vodafone you have disputed the debt with the collection agency, and you need vodafone to provide you with invoices/proof of the debt. Something in their system triggered this (debt aging algorithms), their 'billing specialist' should be talked to for fobbing you off. You do exist in their system, rightly or wrongly, so you can be found.

https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-26-credit-and-debt/guarantors/disputing-that-you-owe-a-debt/

Linux

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#2923303 6-Jun-2022 19:06

xpd:

Once a debt has been passed onto a collection agency, the original company pretty much has nothing to do with it after that. So asking Vodafone wont get you anywhere for now.

@xpd Companies can recall debts passed to collectors and I know VodafoneNZ have done this

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mdav056

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#2923317 6-Jun-2022 19:34

mdav056:

You have my complete sympathy. Slingshot did almost exactly the same to me about 5 years ago, concerning the nonpayment of a current landline bill at a house at which I had not lived for 8 years -- and I had not had a Slingshot account for more than 15 years, and not at that house! Talking to the debt collectors was useless (they just wanted me to pay the bill, and would do nothing without Slingshot's sayso), Slingshot looked into it and found an error, but did not tell the debt collectors, and the police took all the details and filed them. Took me about a year to sort it out. Very stressful. Hope you get it fixed sooner than I did.

Edit mod RC: please use the companies real name

Sorry, @mod, fat finger...

Another question -- do debt companies actually sell debts to debt-collection agencies? At a discount, presumably? Might help explain both the motivation of debt collectors and the difficulties of getting such fake debts cancelled.

gml

Rusterstuster

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#2923337 6-Jun-2022 20:32

Thanks for all the feedback, really appreciate it!

Tomorrow I will make sure to contact debtworks via email and let them clearly know that I am disputing the debt.

I will also look into the process of making a claim at the disputes tribunal. "If the debt is $30,000 or less, you can take a claim to the Disputes Tribunal, where you ask them to make an order that you don’t owe the disputed amount (see the chapter “The Disputes Tribunal”)." - from the community law website

Getting information out of vodafone will be an uphill struggle for sure. Would I have any luck going into a store to talk face to face with someone?

I may actually look into emailing fair go, any help would be appreciated.

alasta

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#2923338 6-Jun-2022 20:36

The OP has no current relationship with Vodafone so should deal with the debt collection agency directly. If the debt collection agency is unresponsive then get your lawyer to write to them. If you can't afford a lawyer then talk to a community law centre.

Linux

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#2923340 6-Jun-2022 20:36

@Rusterstuster email Jason Paris and he will act on it

jason(dot)paris(@)vodafone(dot)com

Be polite and be clear on facts do not go in guns blazing

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