MSE News: Halifax to repay £500m to 300,000 mortgage holders

Bensonrad

Recieved a letter yesterday from Halifax with Goodwill payment of £70, to be honest not really sure what the letter means, something about bad wording on rates, and its says whilst it did not affect our mortgage at the time it should have been made clearer to us. So guess this is a nice bonus and nothing had been wrong in terms of overpaying or being swindled for me?

bertie19

We had a 5 year fixed rate mortgage taken out in December 2005 and then moved and took an additional 2 year fixed rate mortgage (on different rate but still keeping the original product) in April 2007. From April 2009 we were on SVR for the top-up part and a fixed rate for the initial product. We then left Halifax in November 2009. Are we likely to fall in to the goodwill category because iv not heard anything yet. Also does anyone know the helpline number so I can give them a call??

mallow56

Well, got my letter this morning with a cheque - for £20!! The letter states "However the cap did not apply to you because none of your mortgage was on a product rate with an early repayment charge, so you were not a locked in customer". However, my mortgage statements list the early repayment charges for each year if I left before the end of my 5 year fix! have rung them and they are looking into it and getting back to me within 5 working days.

TheLibertine

bertie19 wrote: »

We had a 5 year fixed rate mortgage taken out in December 2005 and then moved and took an additional 2 year fixed rate mortgage (on different rate but still keeping the original product) in April 2007. From April 2009 we were on SVR for the top-up part and a fixed rate for the initial product. We then left Halifax in November 2009. Are we likely to fall in to the goodwill category because iv not heard anything yet. Also does anyone know the helpline number so I can give them a call??

See my posts on page 17, as to your main question its hard for people to say definitively. But Halifax is contacting customers who've left at the end. I still havn't heard anything for example. Use the number I posted and they'll get back to you within 10-14 days, or that's what they said to me anyway.

helen01234

Can anyone help me with my situaation please?

We recieved a letter stating we were going to get the £250 goodwill gesture. Accepted that was that and rung up to get it sent as cheque.

They confirmed they would do so. Time passed and I never recieved the cheque so rung again. they then told me that I wasnt allowed to have a cheque as we are in arrears by 2 payments on our mortgage account.
I lodged a complaint as I was told previous I could have cheque.

I have today recieved a response from the complaint and they are refusing to send me a cheque and will only apply it to the account to clear some of the arrears. However they have offered to send me a goodwill gesture again due to being told incorrect information of a cheque of £50.

I am not happy at all with this. We struggle severley with money and we have an agreements already with the Halifax to pay an extra £20 a month which we hve been doing for months to pay of the arrears.
Can anyone help- what should i do now? I really want the £250 in a cheque as we desperately need the money.

Also....another thing is they have been taking aan extra £160 out of our bank as our payments should have dropped by this in March but they havent. They have admitted fault and said they will refund but wont guarantee to give us it back in a cheque they may just clear some more of our arrears. If I hadnt had rung them they would have continued to take the £160 extra from us!! They arent helpful and say it could take 7 working days for them to decide and then they will 'try' to contact me with an outcome.

We are stuck with the Halifax because of our credit rating and arrears, but at the moment they are causing me that much stress I am so angry and upset with them. PLEASe can anyone help? Thank you Helen

TheLibertine

helen01234 wrote: »

Can anyone help me with my situaation please?

I'm no expert so someone may give some more useful advice, but from what I do know I'd say Halifax are perfectly within their rights to use this money against your arrears.

Although largely they are not, they could also just take this goodwill off a mortgage that isn't in arrears. Remember this is a voluntary agreement they came to with the regulator, there is very little recourse for someone to take.

Unfortunately in my eyes there is nothing you can do, apart from keep hassling them and then they may crack, but they'll only crack from a customer service point of view and not from a legal obligation view if you see what I mean.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but most people would think you've done quite well out of this. You have the goodwill payment (taken off your arrears), and you also have an extra payment of £50.

Sorry but I really don't think you can expect the cash if you are in arrears, the only reason you can is that they originally told you you could have it. This is your only route to go down, just see if you can wear them down.

newyear2011

i closed my mortgage acc in dec 2010. phone hbos in march 11 and asked if I was eligable for goodwill payt was told no but the guy would flat my account to be checked. received chq this morning for £250 - well chuffed now!

Coco1_3

Wow!

I had absolutely no idea about this dispute. Until, that is, I nipped home for my lunch to find a £2,475 cheque lying on the doormat!!

What a treat that is!!! Over the moon!:j

Leedsit

Horay, after a phone call enquiry a month ago we were told our account was not affected, got home to find a cheque for 3k!!! Very happy

FYI as I know how frustrating it is trying to find anything out. We took out a tracker in July 2007, went onto the svr in July 2009 and left the Halifax in jan 2011.

Thrugelmir

helen01234 wrote: »

I have today recieved a response from the complaint and they are refusing to send me a cheque and will only apply it to the account to clear some of the arrears. However they have offered to send me a goodwill gesture again due to being told incorrect information of a cheque of £50.

Seems a fair outcome. Particularly as it was money you weren't expecting to receive. While you may not thank them now reducing the arrears is of benefit to you.