Rejection Letter - HBOS Mortgage

Lovelyrita86

Morning all!

Received a rejection letter from HBOS re the PPI we were charged through our mortgage. They were very prompt in rejecting our original letter/questionnaire, with only 4 weeks passing! Impressive!

I was 18 when I took out this mortgage (all done over the phone) and the HBOS adviser told me it was compulsory to have the PPI due to my age and the "risk" otherwise I wouldnt be accepted for the mortgage full stop!

The PPI was an extra £65 per month on top of my mortgage payments (and all other bills) Needless to say being a first time buyer and paying all my bills by myself for the first time, I struggled. After nearly 2 years of paying this I was informed by a family member that it was infact NOT compuslory and if I wished to I could cancel. I did. Immediatley.

Just a couple of questions really. Is it worth me replying direct to the bank before going to the FOS? And are these rejections letters just a fobbing off letter sent to almost everyone in the hope they will give up?

If anyone has experienced anything similar or has a nice success story they want to give me hope with i'd appreciate it :T

Thanks

dunstonh

Is it worth me replying direct to the bank before going to the FOS?

If you have evidence to support your allegation then provide it to HBOS. If not, be prepared to supply evidence to the FOS. If there is no telephone recording then your complaint will likely be rejected as it is just a verbal unprovable allegation. You would need another failing for a complaint to succeed on this basis typically.

And are these rejections letters just a fobbing off letter sent to almost everyone in the hope they will give up?

No. Most complaints that show no wrong doing at the lenders end and are unprovable allegations being made by you are rejected. You wouldnt expect to win in this case.

Lovelyrita86

Awww Dunstonh! Was hoping you'd tell me the opposite!

Thanks all the same for your response. Lets just cross my fingers for this big lottery win instead then! =]

[Deleted User]

Lovelyrita86 wrote: »

Awww Dunstonh! Was hoping you'd tell me the opposite!

Basically, if the basis of your complaint is simply an unprovable allegation, it will fail. Successful complaints have to be both valid and verifiable.
Often "hearsay" type complaints are upheld, but this will be because other failings have been identified by the Bank during the course of it's investigation. The Banks don't detail why a complaint has been upheld, so the complainant mistakenly believes the hearsay has been successful.

Lovelyrita86

Thanks Moneyineptitude - So you think this is a wasted case? Theres no other way around it? I just assumed being forced to take it was mis-selling although I understand it being over the phone, and there being no proof (call recordings and such) that its impossible to prove.

Bummer =[

[Deleted User]

Lovelyrita86 wrote: »

I just assumed being forced to take it was mis-selling although I understand it being over the phone, and there being no proof

It is certainly mis-selling, but the burden of proof is upon you as the complainant. The Bank will say that their sales processes at the time (scripts etc) will have precluded this from happening. How can you counter this with only your recollection of events when you were 18?

Lovelyrita86

I understand. =[ Thanks for your help anyway.

Damn banks!!

[Deleted User]

Lovelyrita86 wrote: »

I understand. =[ Thanks for your help anyway.

You can still try your luck at FOS, but expect nothing and you won't be disappointed.

Lovelyrita86

Exactly! Ive got nothing to lose. And if I get anything its a bonus!

Thanks again