Changing mortage internally

Majik

Apologies if I seem amateur, and I promise I have read through threads here, but I can't seem to find a straight answer. Here's the situation:

I took out a 25 year mortgage with Halifax (Endowment) coming up to six years ago. The first two years were discounted rate, then I was tied in for three years after.

In the meantime, I was clearing off various debts etc and now find myself with a credit record with one paid of CCJ on it from about four years back and that's it for naughtiness (thankyou previous housemates...).

The tie in period cam eto an end last year, and as I had other things on my mind, when they rang me up to change to another scheme, I plum forget to get back to them. As such, I am now on the "standard" mortgage offer with them.

So here's my questons - can I change over to a new scheme from the standard one now?

If I do, will they run a credit check on me, as this still worries me, and I'd rather they didn't.

I haven't missed a single mortgage payment or endowment payment. Clean as a whistle.

Third - anyone got any advice on nice Halifax mortgages currently?

Finally, am I limiting myself here by only looking at Halifax? Can I swap to another lender, or will they run a check on me?

Thanks,

Majik

herbiesjp

In answer to your points:

Yes you can chnage to a new scheme with Halifax, and they will proably not run a credit check.

Halifax do not offer great deals to existing customers, and it does depend on what you are looking for i.e. fixed, tracker etc.

I think you are limiting yourself here - there are other lenders that I think will look at your application and offer you a better deal - they will run a credit check, but some may well ignore the CCJ if it is four years old.

MarkyMarkD

I agree with herbies - one settled CCJ a long time ago is not prohibitive for most lenders; you will probably get a better deal moving away from Halifax. It certainly won't hurt to shop around because most lenders won't credit score you if you just ask to switch products - it's not increasing their risk.

Majik

Thanks guys - poking around Halifax still - I'm just nervous about more credit checks; bit of a hit to the ego to be turned down. Oh, and the mortgage is less than 22k.

Just reading the thread about Halifax's reward scheme....

Majik

herbiesjp

Under 25k some lenders will not look at a re-mortgage. However, depening on the scheme, you could borrow the £25k and then repay the extra 3k immediately - that is if the rate was worth it and the fees were not going to impact on the savings made.