Halifax are annoying !!

macymoo

Hi this is my first post although I have been facinated by the site for ages! Anyway, my 2yr fixed rate with Halifax is due to end soon and thought I'd give them a call to see what they could offer in the fixed rate department, to my annoyance new customers get a much better rate (fee free) than I would get. They tried to get me to go for another 2yr fixed with £299 in fees, and if I change lender they are going to charge me £175 redemption fee and £25 to release the deeds so i can't win either way. Britannia are doing a better interest rate for the 2yr fixed and an offer of £99 fees so i may switch to them just to get away from the Halifax. Anyone got any better ideas???

David_B_2

I'm 'Anti Halifax' at the moment and am slowing moving all my accounts away from them. The next being the mortgage and I suspected they would and could be right b*stards if they wanted.

Does not help you much but thanks for the tip off and good luck.

TangentMan

I would ignore the "brand new customer's only" deal - you aren't going to get that deal so don't get hung up about it and it isn't worth getting frustrated.

If Halifax won't do you a good deal, look elsewhere, just remember that whatever deal you do find has to be good enough to warrant the fees involved.

I am not defending Halifax just saying to focus your energy since you will be going through the hassle of a remortgage.

Don't let their commercial decision frustrate you.

aliwatts

Hi there,

My Halifax mortgage deal was due to run out on 30/06/06. I had a letter a week or 2 ago telling me this and then they rang me yesterday to offer me all the different options.

A very nice lady dealt with me and talked me through all the different options and I ended up with a new tracker deal paying £6 per month less than I am now. I was very happy with the service and today received it all in writing, which is very detailed. I can pay more whenever I like as long as I dont go over 10% what is owed, there will be no fees.

I have to defend Halifax as they have given me good service, sorry.

Ali
:j

MortgageMamma

Hi there

Why dont you take whole of market advice and remortgage witha lender with a much better customer retention scheme? alternatively there are a number of lenders on the market now that have clicked and see the value of keeping existing customers, and so offer their existing customers the same deal as their new customers. You will still have to pay arrangement fee's though.

Take care if considering Abbey as they offer customers rubbish deals currently when their rates end and so do Alliance and Leicester. This just reinforces the message given on here from the professional advisors, there's much more to a mortgage than the current rate and lowest payment, as it is such a long term commitment you need to think of a lender who you may be able to stay with for more than two years (should they remain competitive!).

macymoo

Thanks for all your comments good job I started looking early, I have until the end of July to decide !!

aliwatts

Good luck with your search, hope you get the right deal for you.

:j

regularsaver1

there are some rates for existing customers without fees

Crispy_W

Hi Macymoo

Halifax are annoying! Aren't they just?

After three years of shoddy service, we have recently moved our mortgage to Nationwide, arranged via L&C Mortgage Brokers who are mentioned all over this site. Some of the reviews are mixed, but I was delighted with the service they provided.

When you do get away from the Halifax, you will find that among the various charges, they will charge you £175 for 'adminstration'. If you still have the documentation from when you first took out your mortgage you will find this charge was a lot lower 2 years ago, probably about £90.

If you go to this thread you will see that you can have this charge at least reduced to the original agreed level.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=173136&page=1&pp=10

This is to the first page of the thread so can can read the origin, and you will need to go to page two before it gets relevant.

Hope that this is helpful.

Good Luck

ADC_3

Went to Halifax yesterday for a further advance of £50,000. Own a property worth £350,000 and mortgage with Halifax is £140,0000. They refused. Reason being is that I am now self employed and have only been so for 18 months. They only deal with people who have been self employed for over 2 years. Very short sighted.

Trying_really_hard

I work in the Halifax department that you are decrying. Now, i know that we don't offer these "brand new customer only" type deals for our existing customers but at least we TRY to offer you something that suits your circumstances other than a standard variable rate.

I know that all some people want is a lower monthly outlay, and for that i don't blame you. As a DFW I can really see where you're coming from.

We can't win them all, but at least we try.