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Mis sold mortages on affordability

Mis Sold Mortgage Did Not Check Affordability

Monday, June 14th, 2010
Despite low interest rates looking like they will remain in place for the coming months and a new Government in place, many families are in desperate financial situations.
In a recent survey carried out by the charity “Shelter”, it showed many families are resorting to other sources of credit such as credit cards to fund mortgage payments.
Part of the Financial Services Authorities rules governing mortgage advice state that mortgage advisers must check the affordability of any proposed mortgage and keep evidence of how this was checked.
Many mortgage advisers gave total disregard for affordability and used self certification mortgages to get borrowers higher mortgage loans than should have been granted.
The survey carried out by Shelter showed six per cent of participants liable for rent or a mortgage admitting they had used a credit card to fund payments over the past year.
Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, described the findings as a “shocking discovery”…
Ms Boycott added: “It is absolutely vital that every single person using credit cards in this way seeks advice urgently to get the help they need to ensure they don’t lose their home.”In some circumstance mortgages were granted without affordability being properly assessed.
The Bank of England has confirmed that mortgage approvals in the UK has increased to their highest level for over a year.
During a visit by the FSA to his firm in March 2009, they discovered he had only obtained the sign off on one mortgage contract, despite lots more being processed.
There is no evidence any of these applications were approved by an external compliance consultant.
The FSA concluded that Masi acted without honesty and integrity, demonstrating he is not a fit and proper person, and has therefore banned him from working in the financial services industry because he presents a risk to consumers.

Despite low interest rates looking like they will remain in place for the coming months and a new Government in place, many families are in desperate financial situations.

In a recent survey carried out by the charity “Shelter”, it showed many families are resorting to other sources of credit such as credit cards to fund mortgage payments.

Part of the Financial Services Authorities rules governing mortgage advice state that mortgage advisers must check the affordability of any proposed mortgage and keep evidence of how this was checked.

Many mortgage advisers gave total disregard for affordability and used self certification mortgages to get borrowers higher mortgage loans than should have been granted.

The survey carried out by Shelter showed six per cent of participants liable for rent or a mortgage admitting they had used a credit card to fund payments over the past year.

Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, described the findings as a “shocking discovery”…

Ms Boycott added: “It is absolutely vital that every single person using credit cards in this way seeks advice urgently to get the help they need to ensure they don’t lose their home.”In some circumstance mortgages were granted without affordability being properly assessed.

The Bank of England has confirmed that mortgage approvals in the UK has increased to their highest level for over a year.

Good News for Borrowers

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has declared five mortgage advice firms in default – they are Network Data, PMSG Insurance Services, also trading as Professional Mortgage Services Group; Financial Quest UK; and First Class Mortgages – paving the way for consumers to claim compensation.

Now the firms have been declared in default, which means t is understood that the firms are unable or likely to be unable to pay claims against them and triggers FSCS protection for their customers.

Kate Bartlett, director of operations at FSCS, said: “The FSCS’s role is to help people who have lost money as a result of doing business with an authorised firm that is unable or likely to be unable to meet claims made against it.

Bobby Kennedy of Gravitas Law said, “This is a positive step, demonstrating the interests of consumers are being taken seriously”

Was your mortgage fraudulent?

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

It has widely been reported in the media that mortgage brokers have submitted fraudulent mortgage applications to lenders. You might have a mortgage claim.

Mortgage brokers must have adequate systems and procedures to monitor the risk of consumers or advisers submitting false applications based on false employment and earnings information.

If you suspect that your mortgage broker altered the income figures unknowingly to you, enter your details so we can complete a full mortgage audit on your behalf and check for any misselling or misrepresentations that the broker might have done on your behalf.

You must expect professional standard and levels of service from the professionals involved on the mortgage process, that is normally the case but unfortunately Gravitas Law has encountered on numerous occasions examples where the mortgage broker has not protected the client and offered suitable advice.

Mis Sold Mortgages

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Gravitas Law mis selling specialists

Mortgage mis-selling, mis-sold mortgages, mis-selling mortgages, mortgage claims, morgage mis-sold, mortgage mis-representation, miss-sold mortgages It does not matter what you called it or how you spell it, mortgage claims for compensation are increasing.

Consumer awareness is rising with regards to the quality of the advice they received when they took out a mortgage or a remortgage. If the mortgage was arranged by a mortgage broker, they had a duty of care to provide suitable advice.

The broker needed to assess yourneeds and circumstances and based on the information make a suitable product recommendation. The majority of mortgage brokers will put your interests first and recommend a suitable product. Gravitas Law can audit your mortgage and identify any breaches or mistakes caused by any of the professionals involved in the mortgage process.

Regardless of what you called mortgage mis-selling or mortgage mis-represenatation, if there is a possible claim Gravitas Law will identify it and suggest the best route to achieve compensation for your losses.

Good advice is not a matter of spelling or semantics but a necessity in a very complex and regulated market.

Lenders expect rise in property repossessions

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Moore Blatch found of the 67% of mortgage lenders predicting an increase in repossessions, 50% believe repossessions will rise by as much as 5% while 17% believe a rise of between 5-15% and a further 6% foresee a rise in repossessions of over 15%.

Some 28% of lenders thought there would be no change in repossessions in 2010, while 6% believe there will be a decrease.

The lenders cited excessive borrowing from other sources as the main cause of increasing repossessions, with redundancy the second contributor, marital/partner separation as the third biggest contributor and interest rate rises as the fourth biggest contributor.

One independent advisor commented, “it is interesting that none of the lenders cited poor product design on their behalf”

Recently The Council of Mortgage Lenders revised, and subsequently lowered their 2009 predictions for repossessions from 75,000 down to 48,000, which contradicts Moore Blatch’s report.

Bobby Kennedy, director of Gravitas Law said, “Repossession should be a last resort for a lender, unfortunately in many cases it isn’t. Anyone facing repossession should look for help and advice, as there are strict guidelines lenders should follow when considering repossession.”

Mis sold Mortgages is a trading style of Gravitas Law Ltd.

Gravitas Law is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of claims management activities.

Our registration is recorded on this website: www.claimsregulation.gov.uk
Our Authorisation no. is CRM15800.

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