Is this site bias towards one mortgage broker?

payless

MSE_Martin wrote:

Is this site biased towards L&C? Yes absolutely, amongst the big four national UK brokers that is anyway - for the simple reason that it is the only one that is fees-free and true whole of market for non-web advise.

Yet read my article; there are many other options in there. And I by no means dispute the fact there are many good local whole of market fees free brokers - and I suggest if you want face to face you go to them.

However L&C are the only one that fit the criteria, and have the coverage and capacity to deal with the MSE traffic. Also the feedback (and I have swathes of it is universally good).

While there are no affiliate links to L&C, it does sponsor the Mortgage and Remortgage Guides; yet as you'll see in there this doesn't guarantee it anything and if it changes its practices so it is no longer worthy of recommendaiton I will say so.

To be honest the traffic it gets from this site actually works as a good breaker to stop any changes. I've had meets with L&C and it is aware with no uncertainty of what will mean I 'ditch and switch' from suggesting it as a viable option; and as such it has behaved impecably - always responded to any slight issue - as it has a commercial imperative to do so.

I hope this clears it up.

Martin

Martin, do you value the input of the brokers on this site - if so have you had opportunity to review some of the recent threads ?

MortgageMamma

I can live with the site being slightly biased towards L&C although I must say I don't like it. but its not my site so I know I either accept it or go away.

What I cannot live with is a certain forum user, who is constantly spamming L&C links, and links to every article martin has written on mortgages after every post I and other brokers make, in an attempt to either discredit what the broker says, or lead the forum user in a different direction to that which is considered optimal by a trained professional. It is making the forum an unpleasant place to be, not only for brokers but forum users as well. This is why regulars such as AndrewSmith and Myself have been staying away. Broker bashing of this nature has actually driven one very experienced adviser away permanently this summer. surely this cannot continue?

The only people losing out on anything here are the forum users who need guidance, as they are the only ones to gain from our persistence in helping them.

payless

3 recent ones perhaps worth reading

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=321787 ( as you say true whole of market )

and the responses brokers get for giving good advice:-
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=318604

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=317783

Plus any guidance on signatures and profile links ... brokers who use them are getting blasted

payless

MSE_Martin wrote:

Is this site biased towards L&C? Yes absolutely,

Did you vote yes ?

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kenshaz

payless wrote:

Did you vote yes ?

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The vote was a waste of time .Martin stated his position,live with it.

EdInvestor

kenshaz wrote:

I believe that those who post should be given options and choices,and made aware of all this site has to offer and not groomed into a certain direction.

Use of the term "groomed" seems to imply a certain view of the level of intelligence and judgment of Moneysavers that I find surprising and (I'm sorry to say) verging on the arrogant.

Far from being innocent 'babes in the wood', many MSEers appear to demonstrate a level of scepticism and understanding of their own advantage that industry people quite regularly find more than a little trying

Speaking as someone who challenges industry-based advice very regularly, it seems to me that simply posting repeated links to outside providers/Martin's article, and reporting posts with "Spam" allegations with no additional information or argument is simply irritating and disruptive.

It's also ridiculous to criticise the brokers for their signatures - they've been requested by Martin to ID themselves - in fact most of them have made it clear they would prefer not to on regulatory grounds.Your argument might have more legitimacy if they weren't clearly labelled.

But since they are, a little more respect for Moneysavers' ability to work out where people are coming from might not go amiss.

toonfish

interesting thread, and as a newcomer to the site the initial post would pretty much cover my opinions on it. Some folk will do anything to save a bit of money (allegedly) but I'm happy to stick with those who want personal, face to face service. There's more than enough work to go round.

However, in my limited experience of 4 national brokers mentioned they have not offered clients the "best deal" for them on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately being a "big company" or "top broker" carries a lot of weight with the consumer.

payless

kenshaz wrote:

The vote was a waste of time .Martin stated his position,live with it.

I have done so for over 3 years , and in fact had a fairly good relationship with the chap from L&C when we were the only 2 brokers posting... ( although still disagreed with their "whole of market" defination then also)

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Just had a thought ...

I previously suggested that the "Mortgage & Endowment " board be split into 2 boards... perhaps that would give space to add
" as sponsored by L&C "

gazza975526570

Stumbled across this thread and felt i would add my thoughts on my understanding here.

If someone is making a suggestion based on that persons understanding and expertise then surely this is what this website is all about. Additionally if someone is siggesting they obtain advise elsewhere as long as no names are suggested then again this appears fine.

If on the other hand someone constantly recommends one company then this is a referral and as such, in my opinion, should be found on the referral thread

MSE_Martin

To be honest part of this is my fault on the signature issue for not sorting it out. It's in my TTD list but I've never got there.

As for do I read this forum - not that often no - i simply don't have the time to read all the forum posts - or i'd do nothing else. So I try and sample when I can.

Do I respect the views of posters - yes I do - but this is a Chat Forum and different opinions are welcomed. The only things that saddens me here is the constant repetitive spats that go on between disagreeing parties. And I would call on everyone to try and calm it down.

Martin