Will Mortgage Express copy BoI and West Brom and raise their rates?

Will Mortgage Express copy BoI and West Brom and raise their rates?

21:33 PM, 25th September 2013, About 11 years ago 23

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Is there a trend? First the Bank of Ireland raised their Tracker rates and now West Bromwich Building Society have followed suit, will Mortgage Express copy and raise their rates?

We borrowed a tidy sum from Mortgage Express and have been enjoying the “Product Variable Rate” of 1.75% above the Bank of England Base Rate. The rate seemed secure but West Bromwich Building Society’s recent move to increase their tracker rates worries me.

If West Bromwich BS get away with this, then will Mortgage Express have a punt as well? Their reputation these days is of doing all they possibly can, fair or foul, to get borrowers to re-mortgage to other banks.

I’ve looked back at my mortgage offers from Mortgage Express and it looks hopeful for us. The mortgages started as either discount or fixed rates and then reverted to the “Product Variable Rate”. The first one we took out in 2001 and then we renewed the deal with various extra drawdown loans and new discount rates etc. On first impression, the renewals all seem to refer back the original contract rather than start new ones. The key phrase in the original 2001 agreement was straight: “the interest rate will be 1.75% above base rate”. I trust it still stands.

Another Mortgage Express mortgage offer (2004) states “a variable rate of 6.5% (which is 1.75% above the Bank of England Base rate – currently 4.75%)” and later it states that the rate “will revert to the variable rate …. for the remainder of the term”. The separate “Conditions 2004” booklet did contain a section on Mortgage Express’s rights to change the interest rate but it started “If the interest rate is one which we can vary at our discretion …”. So again this looks good.

However, I hear from Property118 that West Bromwich have no clauses in their offer letters referring to their rights to increase their tracker margin. Also they didn’t refer to their special conditions booklet (which presumably did have some text providing for when and how the tracker margin might be changed). Finally, they ignored the October 2004 mortgage regulations cut off date.

Property118 also reports that Bank of Ireland did keep to those 3 rules and they seem to be getting away with it. So, now West Bromwich have gone further than Bank of Ireland and we all wait to see if they’ll get away with it.

Mortgage Express would need to push the boundaries further still, I guess. I suppose they are first waiting on the outcome of the West Bromwich’s move. Will Mortgage Express copy BoI and West Brom and raise their rates

Are you worried as well?

EDITORS NOTE

Property118 is leading a Class Action group to fight back by taking a test case to Court if necessary to prove once and for all that amending the margin on a tracker rate mortgage is breach of contract. If you are worrying whether your mortgage lender will follow the lead of Bank of Ireland or West Brom please READ THIS and complete the form below to support this campaign.


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Comments

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

12:02 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Having been out for a few hours I am now playing catch up.

I concede the point on use of the word hysteria, Neil's definition is absolutely correct. I was looking at it as a substitute for the word "panic" in the human behavioural pattern of "surprise, panic, blame"

In response to Ed, I completely agree with Neil.

Message for Ed, if you are not a bookmaker or a Turf accountant I think you may have missed your vocation in life 😉
.

Anon

12:34 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

I would appreciate your thoughts on the following conspiracy theory.

As we know, Mortgage Express is run by UK Asset Resolution who are tasked with recovering as much money as possible for the tax payer.

If UKAR were to increase tracker margins for Mortgage express customers, to a point where most landlords were to default on their mortgages, UKAR would be in a position to appoint LPA receivers. This would not affect the number of properties in the PRS but it would mean that a centralised body, controlled by the Government, would control a huge section of the PRS. In turn, that would create jobs in the public sector, it would mean that Jo Public wouldn't have to deal with rogue landlords and letting agents to anywhere near the same extent and it would also provide a better opportunity for recovery of tax payers funds.

Apart from landlords, can you imagine tax payers not supporting such a scenario?

As I see it, the clock is ticking and landlords only have so much time to diffuse this bomb. The success of a Class Action could prevent the above. If a test case isn't won before the above scenario comes to pass then I'm afraid the PRS as you know it is doomed.

Thoughts?

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

12:42 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Anon " at "26/09/2013 - 12:34":

Anon

THANKS A LOT!!!

I have not been sleeping much through worry recently anyway, you have just documented my worst nightmares.
.

Rob

12:46 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Anon. It could happen. Although surely they could only increase the rate by something considered reasonable, they couldn't increase it to say 8% plus base.

Neil Patterson

13:03 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Rob walsh" at "26/09/2013 - 12:46":

Rob, what indeed is reasonable?

Is it reasonable to renege on a contract both parties willingly entered into just because it no longer suited?

There are plenty of example BTL products at 5.99%, so with an excuse like increased risk because of high LTVs in the current market 6.99% sounds about right !

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

13:14 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Neil Patterson" at "26/09/2013 - 13:03":

STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP !!!

Otherwise I'm going to have to start buying those adult nappies the old dears in nursing homes wear!
.

Rob

13:16 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Nothing is reasonable in my eyes the rates should remain as they are, however my thinking is if they raised it by 2 3 or 4% for example they are more likely to get away with it. But if they raised it by 8% then the government may say hang on a minute don't take the ****. But I would not rule out anything.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

13:23 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

My definition of reasonable is the same as the FCA's Financial Promotions principles of "clear, fair and not misleading".

WTF is the FCA doing turning their back on this issue?

The mortgage documentation and financial promotions undertaken by BoI and West Brom are any but "clear, fair and not misleading". In fact, it is these lenders and the FCA who are being totally UNREASONABLE.
.

Mick Roberts

18:59 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "26/09/2013 - 07:36":

Aaah Mark, don't scare me. I have a LOT with the Woolwich, a few with Platform, & couple with Skipton who took over Scarborough who a had a limit on theirs which hasn't gone below 3%.
I thought those that were altering, were old mortgages & ones which were took out later, had different wording where they couldn't alter them?

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

20:01 PM, 26th September 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mick Roberts" at "26/09/2013 - 18:59":

Hi Mick

I have one mortgage with West Brom taken out in 2008.

I didn't get a letter on Saturday so I thought I'd got away with it.

Well I was wrong, I've received their letter today. I was paying base + 2.49%, it's going up to base plus 4.49%.

I'm not happy and clearly they are ignoring the Oct 2004 mortgage regulation date, which to date at least, even the BoI haven't dared to cross.
.

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