Neither Debt nor Connection: Vodafone's Claim That No One Can Understand

Vodafone is at the center of a controversy that, although it seems unbelievable, is very real. A former client, a resident of the town of Nerva in Huelva, has found herself involved in an error that calls the company's practices into question. After parting ways with Vodafone eight years ago, in 2020 she received a notification from the debt collection company Intrum, requesting a nonexistent debt of 430 euros.

The most surprising thing is that, in 2024, the same person received another letter from Intrum. On that occasion, it threatened to take the case to court if she didn't pay the supposed debt.

The woman, completely bewildered, decided to put the case in the hands of Facua Huelva. This organization defends consumer rights. Through its legal department, it began a formal claim to Vodafone to clarify the situation.

Specifically, they asked the company to inform Intrum that there was no outstanding debt. Furthermore, to stop sending debt collection letters to the affected person. But this wasn't the only step Facua took.

A complaint was also filed against Vodafone with the Spanish Data Protection Agency. They understood that the company had provided the affected person's personal data to Intrum without legal justification.

Vodafone Must Clarify What Happened

The problem is clear. The debt being claimed never existed, and the time elapsed since the supposed outstanding invoice makes the claim invalid. According to the Spanish Civil Code, "personal actions that do not have a special term prescribe in five years."

This means that if Vodafone hadn't claimed the debt in the first five years, it couldn't do so after that time. In this case, eight years had passed since the debt was supposedly originated. This makes the claim absolutely illegal.

However, the case of this resident of Nerva is not an isolated incident. In fact, many people have been victims of similar errors by telecommunications companies. Sometimes they don't update their databases correctly or send claims without having reliable proof that a debt exists.

These types of practices, besides being unfair to consumers, can violate various legal regulations.

Be Very Careful with These Notifications

This case also highlights the importance of people being alert when receiving notifications from debt collection companies. Especially when they claim old or nonexistent debts.

In situations like this, it is crucial to have the support of organizations like Facua. They help consumers defend their rights against companies that try to collect improperly.