Struggling to pay my mortgage alone - bank not interested! *Rant*

lmjohstone

I'm sorry in advance but I just need a rant!!

My husband moved out of our house in November and left me to pay for everything myself, which wasn't a problem until our mortgage went up to nearly £1000 in April (and so the house went on the market).

I have been paying everything on my own and am now starting to really struggle. I did what everyone says to do and rang Santander (mortgage company) to let them know that I was going to be unable to pay the mortgage next month and I spent 40 minutes on the phone going through their income and expenditure test.
They decided that I was only in a deficit of £50 so I could just reduce the amount I'm paying off my credit card to £1 and the problem would be solved so they couldn't do anything.

What I took from this is if I had more debt that the £1200 I currently have, wasn't trying to pay off my credit card and my household bills were more then they could help me. So I'm being punished for trying to be sensible with my money :mad:

After this conversation they then put me through to Step Change. I don't need debt advice - I need to lower my mortgage back to the payment it was before April (£700)!!

Boredatwrork

Apologies if you have tried these:

Can they look into extending the term of your morgage, it means you pay more in the long run overall, but it will reduce your monthly payments, and you can always look into reducing the term later on, or make over payments.

Do you have a good history, some banks give you a payment holiday in certain circumstances, obviously this is a very short term solution, but if you are really struggling, it might allow you to save a few months, while you look for alternatives.

Food for thought (hopefully)

TrickyDicky101

Why did your mortgage increase - was it because a fixed rate period came to an end?

Are there customer retention deals available with Santander that would reduce your payments and that wouldn't require you to undergo a full affordability assessment?

Talking to Step Change would be a good idea as debt appears to be the root of your problem (that's not judgmental - it's a fact, so Step Change can help. They may even suggest the retention possibilities I mention above).

Floxxie

Assuming that your husband is a joint owner, then he is jointly liable for the mortgage. Have you taken legal advice?

rtho782

They are quite right to suggest that your mortgage should take priority for payment over a credit card.

lmjohstone

Thanks for your comments. I've tried to respond to individual points.

Santander weren't interested in changing anything for me, as far as they are concerned I can afford the payment so everything else should take a back seat.

The fixed rate term ended in April so I went on to their variable rate. Options were limited (I couldn't remortgage alone and had to get my ex to agree to a longer term) and I thought that this would be very short term as the house was going on the market.

Debt wasn't a problem until my husband moved out (and refuses to pay for anything as he doesn't live there so its not his issue - his words). In November I had no credit card debt.

Yes he is jointly responsible for the mortgage, but wont pay. I don't want to start not paying the mortgage just to prove a point as this will affect my credit rating in the long term.

I did speak to a solicitor when he first left and basically it as it was short term she said it wasn't worth me chasing him for the money (as for example, he could then request I pay rent on the half of the house that belongs to him)

I have spoken to our estate agent and am going to drop the house price by 10k for a quick sale, if I can get my ex to agree. I think it might be a challenge!

d70cw6

just cos your hubster doesnt see it as his issue, it doesnt mean it isnt!

Jhoney_2

Go on to the santander website and log in/create a login with them.

Select the existing ciustomer looking for a new deal option.

You will need your mortgage account number to hand and will have to enter Date of birth.

The next screen should ask which type of product e.g fixed etc

When you select one a list of options come up and you pick the one that you want.

It then turns up in the post for signing but it gives you information as to what happens next anyway.

None of this requires permission or involvement from anyone at the bank. It takes minutes so try not to worry and take your time to consider the options there -which are specific to you.

The bank have no wish to charge you less, so forget them.

As to what type of product, you need to consider rate rises etc as you perhaps do not have the cushion to deal with those, but that's up to you.

If there are no options there, find yourself a whole of market independent mortgage broker. Most do not charge unless they get you the mortgage, I believe.

ETA: If you are selling, do NOT take a fixed product as you will then have Early Repayment Charges if you sell within the fixed period!

Good luck.

lmjohstone

Jhoney this was the first thing that I did back in March (when I got the letter confirming the new rate). The only cheaper options available to me were fixed term. I also spoke to my mortgage broker but he was unable to help.

Boredatwrork

If it really is drastic, and you have the room, get a lodger in for 6 months, surely better that than going under and will give you breathing space.
In the mean time ask a lawyer about your options for removing your husband, remember if he isnt paying in each month, when the house does sell, he will still get 50% (i.e half the money your paying in since he left).

Jhoney_2

Apologies, I didn't understand that from what you had said.

Were the other rate options empty? Did you scroll down and click the other tabs?

Sorry to ask, just seems strange that there were no other options listed but I am only going by my one and only experience and my own circumstances.

When you do sell, I would also try to reduce the ex's share by the the mortgage payments you pay without his help, but that's a whole other can of worms.