Caught in a countrywide web!!

stator

Countrywide and Connells Group both disgust me sometimes. They make estate agents seem like the worst of the worst.

betmunch

Rachaelandste wrote: »

Thanks. I doubt we will get the £500 as this was a mortgage application fee and the MA did find and apply for a mortgage. He ripped up the AIP in front of us when we backed out of the sale and so we have not actually seen what Barkelys were prepared to lend to us, and would not be able to use it for future purchases even if we wanted to.

We attempted to complain to Countrywide today when we discovered what had happened but they said they had no way of tracing where the mix up had happened, and as each department was separate they had no connection to either the estate agent, MA or insurance and we would have to contact each individually, yet our details have been passed freely from one person to the next.

We Don't want our current lender to pull out mortgage as there is another mortgage application on another house in our name or any more offers to be placed without our knowledge.

You could get your £500 back as you felt pressured into using them when you already had a mortgage application lined up.

Sounds to me like they are trying to make if difficult for you so you give up and go away, they know they did wrong.

Write down all that happened in a time line and why you are unhappy with it and that you want your fees refunded. Send it to the head office for both the EA and FS, not the branch. Head it COMPLAINT. Then it will be taken seriously by people that can actually do something to help.

This will not have any impact on the house purchase you are doing with the TSB mirtgage

csgohan4

Landofwood wrote: »

Right, but the OP suddenly appearing on CIFAS just before hundreds of thousands of pounds are about to released would be a major flag.

Sorry I meant a CIFAS marker to be put on the search and application for the fraudulent mortgage being applied for, so anyone who looks at it knows what's going on.


I had that done on 2 credit cards applied fraudulently so the lenders wouldn't question why I had searches in such a short space of time.


If you don't, how are you going to prove it's fraud??? if a CIFAS marker is on your credit file and it's granted, you don't need to do anything.


If not, You will have to go through the process of asking for letters from the fraudulent lender every time you ask for credit as proof the loan was fraudulent.

Landofwood

If the lender has any reason to believe that the borrower has been a recent victim of fraud (e.g. by registering with CIFAS) it is likely to cause delays and may spook the lender entirely.

I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, I'm just warning of the risks of taking such an action during a mortgage application.

csgohan4

Landofwood wrote: »

If the lender has any reason to believe that the borrower has been a recent victim of fraud (e.g. by registering with CIFAS) it is likely to cause delays and may spook the lender entirely.

I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do, I'm just warning of the risks of taking such an action during a mortgage application.

fair enough, my case was done more than 8 months ago, so the lender may be more forgiving

Rachaelandste

Thanks guys, we have logged a complaint with the MA but have decided not to push it until we have completed on our mortgage just in case it scares the lender off. They are aware that we pulled out of a previous sale and were not too concerned.

Grotdog

Countrywide are pretty much the default survey organisation for valuation surveys. They are running a scam which goes along these lines:

You have a valuation survey. They 'find' damp, and say you have to have a 'property care association' timber and damp survey. The local damp man comes, peter cox or similar, diagnoses rising damp, when you can see the house is dry anyway - and the lender imposes a retention till you get it done. You DONT need any damp proofing, there never was any damp, but the damp companies and the PCA are one and the same - Countrywide does a nice little number in referrals, and everyone in the chain is happy except the poor buyer, who has to spend thousands on fraudulent damp proofing to get the mortgage. THIS practise is the next PPI - if enough people report it, it will stop.

I've experienced this many times in my own business, and friends have experienced it.

Countrywide is a disgusting organisation - they need to be brought to order - but this can only happen if enough people complain in the right way - writing well resourced letters to the organisations referenced further up in this thread.

jonathan_1983

Just come across this when I was searching for something else. I've pasted my response to a thread from a while ago but you really shouldn't let Countrywide get away with anything, chase them all the way.


"I used a Countrywide adviser when I was a FTB as he was in the same branch as the estate agent. I consider myself to be very much 'on the ball' when it comes to money and making sure everything in order.

However, what an experience! I won't bore you with all the details but needless to say, I was signed up to very expensive life insurance, critical illness, house insurance etc without even me agreeing to it; this took a long time to cancel and get my money back. Also, £300 was taken from my account for without my knowledge for their apparent fees despite the 'adviser' telling me that I don't pay this fee, it's the mortgage provider. This is what he told me on two separate occasions in front of witnesses.

I complained to Countrywide, this went on for months trying to get this £300 back and eventually I went to the Financial Ombudsman. A couple of weeks later, I received a cheque for the £300 plus a little bit more for the inconvenience.

I have well and truly learnt my lesson when it comes to Countrywide. Never again!"

Please don't let them get away with it and good luck!

Janetta

Hello,

So sad to read the nightmare you are/have gone through. I hope the info below helps.

I am enclosing this contact address in which i used having a similar experience. A full investigation was given, written report was recived and compensation. Having also used the awful services of Countrywide Estate agents.
He will contact you immediatly: and the only positive person who resolved matters for me.
God Bless

Richard Morley
Customer Relations Senior Advisor, Countrywide
2 Carrs Road, Cheadle, SK8 2HR

DD
01614 955832
Email
richard.morley2@countrywide.co.uk
please let me how you get on ...

DandelionPatrol

Rachaelandste wrote: »

Thanks. I doubt we will get the £500 as this was a mortgage application fee and the MA did find and apply for a mortgage. He ripped up the AIP in front of us when we backed out of the sale and so we have not actually seen what Barkelys were prepared to lend to us, and would not be able to use it for future purchases even if we wanted to.

That alone is grounds IMO to complain and expect your £500 back. With no AIP, you have zilch for your £500.