Halifax offer going back to underwriters?

muhandis

If you do complain, please make sure it's written (online form) https://www.halifax.co.uk/contactus/how-to-complain/complain-online/ as that's the best way to make sure they register it as a formal complaint and don't play customer-service ping pong with you.

Firsttimebuyer1991 wrote: »

Okay understood, I wasn’t sure of how it really worked as I’m new to the forum.

Thank you Muhandis, I will be contacting Halifax tomorrow

Xyzzy

Complain however is easiest. It will be dealt with either way.

Can I check, are all 4 searches full searches or are the identity checks? If so they aren’t affecting your score.

If they have credit scored (full search) you too many times (I’m not sure how this would happen having worked in the industry) they can remove these and you need to ask them to do so. You may need to be persistent. Ask them to speak to their complaints team about how to do so if they don’t know. Fair but assertive!

Offers are now binding unless your circumstances have materially changed. I know it’s easy to worry but if nothing truly has changed I’m sure that’s what the underwriters will find.

Thrugelmir

Firsttimebuyer1991 wrote: »

Even thought we have had a formal offer in the post!

How were you informed that a mortgage offer had been made?

Firsttimebuyer1991

We were informed of the mortgage offer by post. It’s a written offer

[Deleted User]

Having worked as a Halifax mortgage advisor, their system was always very tempermental. If it hasn't changed, it always had a habit of changing back to pre offer if you looked at it funny.

My guess is that the mortgage advisor went in to the case to check something and moved it out of offer by accident, all the credit searches are an attempt to get it to re-offer before anyone noticed.

For such a big lender, their IT was fairly shocking

Xyzzy

I know that JMA is pretty much on the money there

Firsttimebuyer1991

That would actually make a lot of sense as I did see her going back and forth on the system and she did say she wasn’t going to say anything. You’ve possibly hit the nail on the head there as none of this adds up at all.
Thank you so much for shedding some light!

Firsttimebuyer1991

I just want to keep this updated incase this happens to anyone else.
So I’ve been really on it today, I’ve been trying to gain legal advice and also been trying to contact my MA all day. Finally I just contacted Halifax Mortgages directly.. I explained the situation and they looked at our offer. The man on the phone was just as baffled at us, I told him that a further 4 credit searches were done on Saturday and he thinks this maybe could be the reason. He was really helpful and emailed our MA and her area manager urgently and said this needs to be sorted as there is no explanation. I haven’t put a complaint in yet as I want to see what happens however if they say no I will be putting one in for sure.
My MA called 10 mins later and said she hasn’t had a chance to do the referral today but that her manager is with her tomorrow so they will contact the underwriters directly to try and get an instant decision on this.

I’m thinking surely they don’t really have a leg to stand on for asking for more deposit.. nothing has changed with us at all and there is no reason for this happening.
We’re just keeping everything crossed!

Firsttimebuyer1991

Also to add, our MA is saying to the underwriters that this has only happened since we’ve gone through getting buildings and critical illness cover so unless that has had an affect.. who knows!

Xyzzy

Good luck and I have my fingers crossed for you.

You went the right way in relation to not making a complaint I’d say, just see how it turns out firstly.

Don’t worry about legal advice for now. If it came to it they are a big lender and if you made a complaint they will be bound by the FCA/MCD regs which would be at the heart of their ultimate decision. And their complaints process (I’m hoping you won’t need to follow it) will be rigorous and fair. Ultimately if not the ombudsman lies at the end of it.

If there are any further issues do ask them to recheck your address history though. I know that can be a snipe.

Let us know how it pans out