Halifax and the Lost Mortgage

sgh1976

2 and a half weeks ago I purchased a new build property. After a nightmare completion day Halifax finally released our funds at 2pm. Job done.

Now, the Halifax mortgage booklet stated that if we purchased on the 23rd then 14 days later the first payment plus extra interest would be taken from our account 14 days from that date. We would also recieve info from the bank about this payment in the post and get the DD set up for future payments.

So 14 days after the 23rd no money is taken from the account, no info in the post.

So yesterday phoned up Halifax, gave them all the details and they went off to speak to the completions dept.......came back and said no funds have been released off the Roll Number we have on our Mortgage Offer and the status of our application is "offered". Utterly baffled by this as the money was sent to our solicitors the sent to the Builders. We wouldn't be sat in the new house if it hadn't.

When this was pointed out to the guy on the phone he just said "sounds strange but we haven't paid out so you currently owe us nothing"

Now how do I deal with this situation. I do not want a situation in x months time when Halifax suddenly realise their error and try and add on extra interest and defaults for missed payments. Obviously we will keep all monthly payments sitting ready in the bank account just in case but how do this get sorted when the bank are basically shrugging their shoulders.

(feels odd chasing up people to take money from me!!)

beecher2

Get in touch with your solicitor and get them to sort it out? Phone Halifax back and give them your address - maybe there's been a mix up with the Roll Numbers?

edit: explain what happened on the day of your move

Phone call at 9.30am from our solicitor to say that the Halifax had not sent funds due to finding an error on the mortgage application!!!!. Turns out it was their fault, so money would be sent over at 10am. 1pm........still nothing. Solicitor keeps chasing, our stuff due to arrive at 3. Nervy times. 2pm finally get a call to say money has arrived and is now on its way to the builder.

Matt1982

I would complain to Halifax

http://www.halifax.co.uk/contactus/howtocomplain.asp

Faxing your letter and then posting is best ratherthan speaking with someone.

alona1

If it was me, I'd keep quiet BUT keep the money in a seperate account and DO NOT spend it. If anything comes back then on the notes from your call - shows you were looking into it - so I would fight it if they try to charge you extra and just handover what you owe them.

sgh1976

beecher2 wrote: »

edit: explain what happened on the day of your move

Halifax found a discrepancy on the Mortgage the day before completion (never told anyone until our solicitor phoned up on the completion day to ask why the money wasnt with them.
The error was my wife's start date for her job (only had 1 job in 18 years). They had it down as April, which would have made her at school and in FT work. The error was Halifax's as they confirmed the application had the right dates on it.

beecher2

sgh1976 wrote: »

Halifax found a discrepancy on the Mortgage the day before completion (never told anyone until our solicitor phoned up on the completion day to ask why the money wasnt with them.
The error was my wife's start date for her job (only had 1 job in 18 years). They had it down as April, which would have made her at school and in FT work. The error was Halifax's as they confirmed the application had the right dates on it.

I understand that but it sounds as if the money transfer was rushed through which may explain why an error has been made. Phoning Halifax up with this information might help them to find your account.

I definitely wouldn't keep quiet about it.

sgh1976

All this was mentioned yesterday during the call to them. They still insist that no money has been paid out on our offer.

beecher2

Have you contacted your solicitor yet?

mateypeeps

If you want to finalise this, so you can rest, then tell them that you want to make a formal complaint and for them to give you the information on how to proceed, as required by the FSA.

Tell them that you intend going to the Financial Ombudsman and that the only reason you are bothering to complain, is that the Ombudsman will not entertain cases unless the bank has had a chance to resolve the issue, first.

If they then say they have no record, and you want to get compensation for all the worry, time and trouble spent on this, you should be able to get the Financial Ombudsman Service to investigate, and hopefully sort it out and get the Halifax to compensate you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Ombudsman_Service

If any rules (like Treating the Customer Fairly, TCF) have been broken perhaps the Financial Services Authority (FSA) will fine them as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Services_Authority

Someone is guilty of maladministration, possibly a technical breach of the Data Protection Act, the need to keep accurate records, and take reasonable steps to correct errors when pointed out.

Raggs_2

Would it be possible to get a letter from them confirming that you don't owe them anything? And that you have made several attempts to tell them that you do?

Then if they come back saying you do, you have written record of their mistake, so at least you can beat off any attempts to grab the extra interest.

Don't know if that would work on removing the whole thing, but I'd definitely want a letter stating that as far as they are concerned, I don't owe them.

sgh1976

beecher2 wrote: »

Have you contacted your solicitor yet?

Yep. Reference numbers match up from the funds sent and Mortgage Offer we have. Solicitor is also stumped on this one. Got to phone tomorrow to see if he has found the solution or indeed the Halifax are still happy we haven't been given any mortgage funds.