NRAM being extremely obstructive

swells_2

Hi everyone. Quick synopsis: we have DMP administered by CCCS - works great. Been doing it now since Dec 2008. Last October husband had no other income so we stopped paying NRAM mortgage (been paying full mortgage each month until then). Husband now receiving OAP. We wanted to rent out the property (had a tenant already to go) but NRAM were so negligent and inefficient in sending out relevant documents (took from 24th Feb to 18th Mar to receive them) we had to go down voluntary surrender route as we were moving abroad where we could live cheaper on 26th March. Sent papers in to NRAM on 26th March together with keys and 2 valuations from Estate Agents which said property should be put on market for £125k with view to achieving at least £110 - £115k. We tried to help NRAM all the way (getting property pristine condition to sell, obtaining valuations etc) but they have been so unhelpful and inefficient it isn't true. They sent letter dated 28th March to say that they had the keys to the property but we had not sent in the voluntary surrender forms!! We now live out of the country and my post is being re-directed to a friend. So on 23rd April I found out about that letter. I phoned them to say that how did they know they were our keys if they hadn't had the letter and forms. (I sent a 2 page letter with keys pointing out all we had done to try to save our property). 2 days later they found all the documents (that was a month after they had been sent in (interest accruing all this time). I was told that surrender had been accepted on 27th April. I then had a call from my friend 10 days ago to say that there was a letter about a court hearing for repossession of the property!!! I called NRAM again ... to be told that this was obviously a mistake and that she would contact relevant department to cancel it. Again the interest has been accruing... now 2 months after surrender forms sent in. I said why isn't the property on the market - this is now 2 months after we had surrendered the property!!! Obviously because of their inefficiency they had not not done anything about putting the property on the market. I asked her to lodge an official complaint. We went through everything I had sent and done to aid the sale. I have just looked on the web to see if property is for sale yet and find that it is!!! I am now horrified (actually quite tearful) because it has been put on for just £99,950 (£25k less than we had been advised by 2 local agents - NRAM even had those valuations in front of them with the surrender documents). We are in negative equity by about £40k if they sell at this stupid price. I really feel now like just going bankcrupt and letting NRAM take the knock but we have fought so hard not to go bankcrupt and I still don't want to do it. Can I do anything about this ridiculous price they have put the property on at? Can I complain to anyone else? Can I do anything at all.? I just feel that I have tried to do everything right and NRAM have done everything wrong. Help anyone?? PLEASE

Depth_Charge

Hi

Might be some useful information here to start with

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=11_mortgage_shortfalls

http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/policy/issues/271#1

http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/html/handbook/MCOB/13

http://fsahandbook.info/FSA/html/handbook/MCOB/13/6

swells_2

Hi again. You will need to read the thread before this - my first plea for help. Ok I have read the internet clauses suggested to me by Depth Charge - Thank You. Called FSA - they couldn't help me because for last 4 years we have lived outside of UK and this they say makes our property unregulated - you have to live for 40% in the property in order for them to be able to intervene on your behalf. Then called Financial Ombudsman - maybe not as bad situation but still may not be able to help because of above 40% rule. I think this ruling is absolutely terrible... we still paid our mortgage, still paid council tax, electric, had post sent there, no one was living it so when we went back to Uk we stayed there (obviously)... I just don't understand why we are being penalised... everything seems so hard, like a continuos upward struggle. The thing is we went to the Middle East as it was the only place my husband could get work (at 61) and my husband sold himself to the Arabs so that we could keep from going bankcrupt... we have religiously kept to our DMP - admittedly dropping it from £2k per month (after 3 years of payments) to £400 now that we only have pensions to pay the DMP out of but we are still persevering. If the Financial Ombudsman can't take up our case is there anything else we can do to complain against NRAM ( I know you can complain direct to them but eh! let's be realistic here). Everything about NRAM is a disgrace as far as I and my experiences are concerned. I just don't know what to do - I don't want us to go bankcrupt... but if NRAM sell our property for £99950 we may well have too much debt on a DMP to pay back at £400pm. We can't afford to take them to court privately. Help ... any ideas??? Susan