3 yr fixed is up - Connells scam?

Samking

Hi all, need some advice.

Took out a three year fixed mortgage with Kent Reliance on a shared ownership property. We had to go trough Connells at the time and "had" to take out a 6.8% rate mortgage (but that's another story).
My three year fixed is coming to an end and Connells said they can get me on a two year fixed with Nationwide at 1.8%. This is fab BUT I have to pay £499 "lifetime fee" to Connells plus a £99 admin fee.
If I go to Nationwide it's free.
I am torn because Connells essentially sort everything for you. They also said I'd get another mark on my credit score if I go Nationwide direct as they look into your credit scores.
What shall I do?
Do I have to pay surveyor and legal fees again if I am switching mortgages?
Just don't know wether to just pay the £599 or go with Nationwide who are free (as far as I know).
Thanks!!

Senior_Paper_Monitor

I think you know the answer already !!

Samking

If I knew what to do I wouldn't have asked

As far as I know going with Nationwide direct doesn't have any fees but I'm not entirely sure.

worried_jim

Don't get mugged off again with Connells.

ACG

If you go to ANY lender direct or through a broker they will do a credit check.

Samking

I know they'd do a credit check that's not my question. Do lenders direct charge an "admin fee"? As if Connells charge £499 but banks do too I may as well stay with Connells. My credit is fine so I don't care at them looking into my finances I just don't want too many checks to go against me.

ACG

Have a look on the nationwide site for what they have on offer.

somethingcorporate

Check the nationwide mortgages online, some have a fee but if you go via an indirect route they won't be doing it for free so suggest you just do it yourself.

Either ring nationwide or go in and see them.

chanz4

whats your current lender offer, the reason I ask my lender has just halved my apr to 1.99 so worth asking.


Also going direct will be no different Halifax are good for shared ownership

Dird

Whatever fees Nationwide charge, you'll still have to pay them through Connells. That's on top of the £499.
Don't be a chump. What exactly do they do for you? If you arrange a meeting at NW their advisor will fill most the stuff in, just like a Connells person would but without the cost

Malmo

Samking wrote: »

I am torn because Connells essentially sort everything for you. They also said I'd get another mark on my credit score if I go Nationwide direct as they look into your credit scores.
What shall I do?

As mentioned, a credit check will be performed irrespective of whether you go direct or via any broker/intermediary service. So what they have told you is misleading at best and a plain lie at worst and sufficient justification to disregard their "service".

What you should do is either research the Nationwide option and satisfy yourself that it's the most appropriate option for your circumstances and apply directly or find an independent whole of market broker who won't lie and/or rip you off, unlike Connells.

I have offered on a house that was marketed by 2 agents, one of which was Connells and the other a local agent. I have deliberately avoided doing business with Connells and went through the local agent and for good reason.