Mortgage advisor ratings/reviews?

Cymraes2

Hello everyone

This is my first post so apologies if I'm not following etiquette!

This sounds awful but... is there a review site somewhere where I can feed back on my APPALLING mortgage advisor? Apart from Which? because I don't want to pay!

We're buying a house (survey is done, conveyancing underway). It's empty and we don't have a chain. Should be easy (and we're desperate to complete by the end of the financial year or we'll be hit with the second home stamp duty) - the only hold up we've had to far is our mortgage "advisor".

We can well afford the mortgage, we've supplied P60s, SA302s, bank statement after bank statement (we first saw him in November so it really hasn't been a rush job)... and he keeps asking for them again, I can only assume he's losing them every time. We've supplied some documents two or three times, we've seen them being scanned into his computer so we know he's had them, we've emailed things (which we're uncomfortable about because it's our personal data) time and time again. Our situation is not complicated; we have a great credit rating, no credit cards etc. Today he sent me an email in bold red capital letters demanding three months' bank statements (which he's already had), and then five minutes later he emails back and says "don't worry I've found them now."! No apology.

Anyway of course I'm keeping my mouth shut because I don't want to p him off (I hope we're nearly there); but I am certainly going to write an appalling review to warn others off! (after the mortgage comes through of course!). Wouldn't wish him on anyone. He's held up the process by at least two weeks, probably longer.

Also does anyone know if you're "allowed" to contact the lender direct if you're going through a broker? I'd sooner just deal with the broker directly at this point. I have a number and email address from an email that was forwarded by the advisor.

Thanks!

MortgageMamma

Hello there, sorry you're not happy with your broker - like you say due to the stamp duty changes you are a bit of a prisoner at the moment.

When did your mortgage application actually get submitted to the lender? who is the lender? has the broker approached several lenders as its the only reason I can think of that you will be asked for more bank statements and evidence. Have you checked your credit report recently to see what searches have been done?

Here's what I would do. Send an email to your broker telling them how disappointed you are in the service you are receiving and how his failure to collate your documents has led to an unacceptable delay. If you have paid a fee for the advice ask what that fee covers and if the advisor would be prepared to compensate you should your mortgage not complete on time and you incur a charge.

Trust me, just a kick up the !!!! like this could turn the situation around. No adviser wants to defend a valid complaint.

csgohan4

so are you with Which? mortgage advisors?

dunstonh

This sounds awful but... is there a review site somewhere where I can feed back on my APPALLING mortgage advisor? Apart from Which? because I don't want to pay!

Not really. Most adviser/brokers are small firms who have the same level of internet coverage as your local butcher or baker.

Estate agent brokers are larger and tend to have a dire reputation (local independents not included in that). However, they already get plenty of bad coverage.

Is your adviser one of these postal/internet/phone factory lines or a local face to face adviser or an estate agent adviser?

Cymraes2

Thanks all. Dunstonh he's a local person who was recommended to us believe it or not!

Mortgage Mamma he's only applying to one lender as far as we know (Marsdens). I can only assume he's got lots of clients on the go and he's confusing himself. It's pretty shocking that he's getting the fundamentals wrong, like misplacing his clients confidential info! Who knows what confusion he's caused with the lender! Good tip about checking my credit report. Will do.

My plan is to call the lender and ask them what they're still waiting for and send it directly (cut out the middle man). I'm also going to ask to be copied in to every email they send the broker (if poss). I don't want to p the broker off though because frankly he has our nuts in a vice ATM!

Luckily we're not paying the broker a penny; he gets his fee from the lender.

amnblog

Sounds like you are getting value for money here.

As MM says, your best option is to make them aware of your disappointment and agree how you wish to be deal with from here in.

Changing horses mid race is not a good idea and contact the Lender direct is a reicipe for disaster.

Poor service is unexpected if you have been recommended. It may be that our broker friend is too busy to keep service standards up, and not fronting you up with this problem.