Halifax Total Mortgage Protection Plan (TMPP) - Can I reclaim?

nathonjones

Firstly, hello to everyone. Really hope I can get some advice on this. I'm sure you won't disappoint.

I took out a mortgage with Bank of Scotland / Halifax in 1998 and subsequently re-mortgaged with the Halifax in 2004.

Both mortgage accounts included a TMPP (Total Mortgage Protection Plan) which I believe covered me for illness, unemployment etc.

I remember clearly the mortgage advisor stating that I would be unlikely to be accepted for the mortgage without this cover, although I obviously have no proof of this.

What I wanted to ask is if I can make a claim for these monies back?
Secondly, what is the process. I have some paperwork here, from the original agreements, but it's like Japanese to me, to be honest.

I really am unfamiliar with PPI's claims etc, so any advice that could be offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Regards
Nath.

dunstonh

Both mortgage accounts included a TMPP (Total Mortgage Protection Plan) which I believe covered me for illness, unemployment etc.

TMPP is a menu based product. It can offer most of the main types of personal insurance. i.e. life assurance, critical illness cover, income protection and MPPI.

What I wanted to ask is if I can make a claim for these monies back?

On what basis would your complaint be and what evidence do you have to support it?

Secondly, what is the process. I have some paperwork here, from the original agreements, but it's like Japanese to me, to be honest.

TMPP wouldnt be on any agreements. Its a standalone product. It would have its own documentation.

I really am unfamiliar with PPI's claims etc, so any advice that could be offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

You need to state what your reason for complaint is your evidence to back up your accusation.

At the moment, you dont know what you had insurance wise. So, you cant really complain until you know that. Also, a verbal accusation without evidence would only be successful if there is another failing with the way it was set up. Problem is that TMPP is monthly premium and standalone. So, a technical failing on set up is unlikely. So, that leaves you with just eligibility and financial need. Were you eligible for cover and did you have a financial need for it?

nathonjones

dunstonh wrote: »

TMPP is a menu based product. It can offer most of the main types of personal insurance. i.e. life assurance, critical illness cover, income protection and MPPI.

I'm not sure what a "menu based product" is, but checking the paperwork I can see that it was for:
Mortgage Repayments Benefit (125% of monthly mortgage payment)
Life Cover Benefit
Critical Illness Benefit

dunstonh wrote: »

On what basis would your complaint be and what evidence do you have to support it?

That I was told that, without it, my chances of being approved for the mortgage would be reduced. I have no evidence of this.

dunstonh wrote: »

TMPP wouldnt be on any agreements. Its a standalone product. It would have its own documentation.

Indeed it does, but this was all sold as one package with the mortage. In one transaction, as it were.

dunstonh wrote: »

At the moment, you dont know what you had insurance wise. So, you cant really complain until you know that. Also, a verbal accusation without evidence would only be successful if there is another failing with the way it was set up. Problem is that TMPP is monthly premium and standalone. So, a technical failing on set up is unlikely. So, that leaves you with just eligibility and financial need. Were you eligible for cover and did you have a financial need for it?

I have no idea if I was eligible, only Halifax would know that, but I assume that I was otherwise they wouldn't have tried to sell it to me. I am confident that I had no financial need for it though.

I have since called the TMPP department and they logged a complaint and said they'd get back to me as soon as possible. To be honest, they really didn't sound surprised about the nature of the complaint.

What do you think will happen from here?

Really appreciate the input, thank you.
Nath.

dunstonh

I'm not sure what a "menu based product" is, but checking the paperwork I can see that it was for:
Mortgage Repayments Benefit (125% of monthly mortgage payment)
Life Cover Benefit
Critical Illness Benefit

So, it is three products in one effectively.

That I was told that, without it, my chances of being approved for the mortgage would be reduced. I have no evidence of this.

That may be the case but without evidence you are likely to be rejected unless there is some other failing.

Indeed it does, but this was all sold as one package with the mortage. In one transaction, as it were.

Correct. And under an advice process, unlike other types of PPI. So audit trail and documentation should be very strong.

I have no idea if I was eligible, only Halifax would know that, but I assume that I was otherwise they wouldn't have tried to sell it to me. I am confident that I had no financial need for it though.

You had no need for life assurance? are you single with no children?
you had no need for critical illness? did you have sufficient savings to repay the mortgage if you suffered a critical illness?
You had no need for income protection? did you have sufficient savings to cover 12 months of mortgage payments if you became ill (or other income protection that would do that instead)?

To be honest, they really didn't sound surprised about the nature of the complaint.

They wouldnt do.

What do you think will happen from here?

if they handle the complaint correctly, they should look at it, check the documentation exists and is correct and if it is they should reject your complaint. If the documentation is not correct or gone missing or they cant be bothered (yes that does happen with banks quite a bit) they will say there is no evidence of mis-sale but as a goodwill gesture they will refund.

roonaldo

nathonjones wrote: »

I

Indeed it does, but this was all sold as one package with the mortage. In one transaction, as it were.

.

It was only sold by the same adviser. TMPP is seperate to mortgage, payable by a seperate Direct Debit. Seperate documentation is issued.

Your only likely to ever see a refund if your were ineligible for it or it was unsuitable.

jimmyringo

Hi,
I have an ongoing mortgage with Halifax since 2004.At the time of sale i was also sold Total Mortgage Protection.This was advised by the seller.Where my situation may differ to yours is that i work for a local health trust and my wife works for the NHS so we get full pay for 6 months if we're off sick and we have a work pension.
Because of this i contacted Halifax in May saying that i believed the TMPP was missold.I used the form on Halifax website and explained that as our work gave us sick pay we had no need for the mortgage repayments benefit.
i got a letter from them last week saying they are refunding all premiums paid plus interest.I rang to clarify if this was from 2004 to the present day and was told that they had also looked into my previous mortgage and this was being refunded too.About £60 a month from May 2001 to present plus 8% interest.:j

-SDW-

Jimmy..very similiar situation to us ..me self employed with my own accident/ilness cover, wife works for local council so well looked after if ill , they said we must have mppi as I am self employed even though I showed them my own policy. Halifax are now refunding us £160 a month from 2003 till present plus 8% simple interest..had to go thru FOS and right to the obudsman ..took around two years ..just waiting on Halifax doing the calculations ..phoned them yesterday and they reckon about two weeks until i get the figures ...aye right !!! :beer:

dunstonh

had to go thru FOS and right to the obudsman ..took around two years

You are unfortunate. At the moment it appears that Halifax are caving in with every complaint whether there is grounds or not given recent posts.

emma809

jimmyringo wrote: »

Hi,
I have an ongoing mortgage with Halifax since 2004.At the time of sale i was also sold Total Mortgage Protection.This was advised by the seller.Where my situation may differ to yours is that i work for a local health trust and my wife works for the NHS so we get full pay for 6 months if we're off sick and we have a work pension.
Because of this i contacted Halifax in May saying that i believed the TMPP was missold.I used the form on Halifax website and explained that as our work gave us sick pay we had no need for the mortgage repayments benefit.
i got a letter from them last week saying they are refunding all premiums paid plus interest.I rang to clarify if this was from 2004 to the present day and was told that they had also looked into my previous mortgage and this was being refunded too.About £60 a month from May 2001 to present plus 8% interest.:j

Hi

Im similar to you also recieved a letter in august stating refunding all premiums and interest but im still waiting after signing the form for a cheque,have you received your cheque yet or they holding out also?

jimmyringo

Hi emma,

I rang them yesterday,and they confirmed that they have received my signed acceptance forms and have passed the claim to another department for the calculations to be done.They'll send out a figure before they send a cheque to see if i agree with it or not.They say i should receive a figure by the end of September.
Actually ,i have to say that i've rang them a few times,and each time they have been very helpful and polite.

Jimmyringo

footiemom

hi just seen this thread. i took halifax tmpp in nov 2001 i work with the nhs and at that time (and still) receive 6 months full pay and six months half pay my husband also recieves sick pay. We are still paying this at £60 a month. it covers 125% ot the mortgage repayments but im starting to think this is a waste of time and is it worth cancelling it and reclaiming it. I was not told at the time of sale i could get an insurance elsewhere.

any advice greatly received

footiemom