West Brom BS – Stuck on their extortionate SVR?

West Brom BS – Stuck on their extortionate SVR?

11:52 AM, 13th January 2017, About 7 years ago 13

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Oh how I’m kicking myself !! A massive well done to Mark and the team for the victory. I only realised this whilst trying to find a solution to my problem.pain

The reason I’m kicking myself ? ……In 2011 I remortgaged with West Brom AWAY from my original fixed deal, which upon ending, would have tracked at +0.99% above base til end of term to a product that was cheaper for a fixed 2 yr period but then reverted to SVR !! AAAAARRRRGGGGHHH ! massive mistake.

The ONLY reason I did this was because I was assured that I would be able to take a new product after the fixed rate ended …………. The rest is History …..West Brom cease BTL and I get reverted to SVR of 6.75% and a hike of £400 pcm in interest payents…..YES , my own stupidity, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

My gripe is BTL SVR is now 6.25% but residential SVR is 3.99% How can this be fair !!!!!!!?

I am now having to face repossession rather than losses of £3k per year after ground rent and service charges on top. West Brom have offered NO HELP at all. Can’t move mortgage or sell due to negative Equity.

Lease option sale a possibility ?

Any advice welcomed and thank you.

Kieth


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Comments

John Constant

8:24 AM, 16th January 2017, About 7 years ago

Keith,
there is a point that Gary touched on in his earlier post. Do you have other assets that you could attempt to "rebalance" the Loan to Value in your portfolio?
Quite simply, withdraw equity from another property (this could be another BTL or even your residential) and pay into your problem property, which obviously brings down the negative equity and monthly payment.
Withdrawing equity from the good property needn't require a remortgage; you may be able to take a further advance from your existing lender, or even a 2nd charge from an external lender.
If you need assistance in investigating this option, please contact HD Consultants via my member profile.

Dylan Morris

13:21 PM, 16th January 2017, About 7 years ago

Sorry to hear that you fell for the West Brom tactic of moving you onto a new deal. At the time bank base rate would have been 0.5% and with you moving onto a lifetime tracker rate of 1.49% (0.99% plus 0.5%). I remember the West Brom were encouraging borrowers to move onto such schemes around 2011 as they clearly knew interest rates were incredibly low, likely to stay that way for many more years and they'd been reckless in not setting any kind of floor to their tracker rates. Unfortunately you fell for their ploy, but I don't think you will get anywhere making a complaint. Unless you can prove that the West Brom documentation was unclear and that you were misled. Such as it wasn't spelled out sufficiently that you would move onto their SVR. I don't think you will get anywhere on the basis that it was simply a bum deal which you agreed to. They will argue "caveat emptor" ....... buyer beware.

Dylan Morris

13:39 PM, 16th January 2017, About 7 years ago

With negative equity, like you say Keith, selling or remortgaging is not an option, unless you can reduce the amount of debt. Look at the rest of your rental portfolio or even your own residential property to see if there's some way you can pull some funds out.

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