It's been a while, a lot has happened... I should update this =)

After several emails flying back between them and me, where they quote dates, times and figures inconsistent with what their own paperwork shows, and I respond with comments such as I can't believe the complete and utter incompetence, I get an email stating that they've contacted the Telecomminications Industry Ombudsman and closed the complaint. I write back and ask why have they closed the complaint when they haven't even told me the decision? No response... I write back and say that if I don't know why they have closed the complaint within one hour from sending the email, then I call the TIO and reopen in myself. No response... I call the TIO, who then call the telephone company in question and they get told that my request has been declined. Now we have a fully reopened dispute, taken up a level both within the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman and also with the problematic phone company.

At this stage, the complaint is also opened with the credit control agency with whom my black mark was listed. It is the 12th of August.

We returned from our trip on the 23rd of August, and the first thing I do is go for my mail... I'm sorting through and removing anything from TIO or Baycorp (the credit control guys) so that I can see what's up... On the 17th of August the TIO wrote to the phone company with the list of known information, highlighting the inconsistencies with their own data, and requiring explanation how they could get it so wrong, and giving the opportunity to give valid explanation why I cannot have the default removed from my name...

the next letter I open is from Baycorp. It is dated the 12th of August. It is to let me know that they, too, have contacted the phone company and asked many questions...

The next letter I open is from Baycorp, dated 15th of August. It is a new copy of my credit record showing that on the same day the phone company removed the default against my record.

I WON!!!!!

So I'm not sure if it was the clout of knowing that the TIO have moved it up a level (they hadn't received the TIO correspondence when they removed the default, but they had been informed that it was reopened), or if they're just really scared of Baycorp being involved....... I tend to think it may have been the latter.... SO I suggest to anyone with a dodgey default that is undeserved to follow it up via normal routes, but definitely also get Baycorp involved... It was the day that they would have received correspondence from Baycorp that the default was removed...

I'm a happy little vegemite =)