Am I entitled to compensation - Bank Lied&Lost Deeds

Stars12

We started the process of buying a house in Nov. We are a private sell so know the seller. We came to a standstill when Halifax were delayed in sending out the deeds. Multiple times they told the seller they were going to be sending them, then they said they got it wrong and deeds were actually in Scotland, they would send to Sheffield who would then send them out. When she chased again there was a further delay but they were sending them out that day but couldn't give a time when they would received them. Still no deeds so solicitor called and said they had 'misplaced them' AKA, lost and i guess never had them,. Due to this we have still not got the house, they had to apply for new ones then due to Covid this was delayed when the seller got them, we were unable to find a mortgage as they had all stopped. We got a  mortgage nut had to put an extra 5% down as a deposit as they weren’t offering 5% deposits so had to put down 10%. We could have really done with the extra money to do up the house. Is there a way we can apply for compensation from this at all? Had the bank not have lost these in the first place we would have been in the house by now and even if they lost them but were honest from the beginning we still might have had the new ones prior to covid

[Deleted User]

No. 

It's also highly unlikely from your account that anyone lied.

Stars12

HI zx81, but they said multipul times the deeds were here, then there, then said that they had sent them out, and they never had?

[Deleted User]

Which clearly suggests customer service confusion.  

Any deliberate lie would serve no purpose for either them or for you.

Never assume deceit when incompetence explains the same outcome.

Stars12

OK thanks. What about the side of the bank lost the deeds, due to the banks actions we were delayed and had to put more money down?

[Deleted User]

If the seller wishes to make a complaint to the bank about the storage of his deeds, he is entitled to do so.

It's nothing to do with you though, as you were not party to the contract.

Your compensation claim, if you were to have one, is against the seller.  However, it's unlikely you had a contract with him either with regard to timings.

dunstonh

Due to this we have still not got the house, they had to apply for new ones

Why were paper deeds required?  Land registry is electronic now.   Was the property not previously registered with Land Registry?  

Is there a way we can apply for compensation from this at all? 

No.  You have no contract with the bank and no breach has taken place.

 even if they lost them but were honest from the beginning we still might have had the new ones prior to covid

You are making an allegation without evidence.   They almost certainly were not telling lies.  It was most likely an error.    Lloyds, C&G, TSB, Halifax, Bank of Scotland etc all had different storage centres for deeds.   When they came together they centralised things.  Then when paper deeds were no longer required, they returned them to the homeowners.   The staff on the phone may not know where they actually are but just take a guess and when your message is passed to the person that actually does the work, they may do something different to what the call centre worker thought they may do.

OK thanks. What about the side of the bank lost the deeds, due to the banks actions we were delayed and had to put more money down?

The bank wasnt working for you and did not cause you a delay.   

Stars12

Yes thats correct, the property was not registered as they have had it for a long time

Takmon

Stars12 said:

OK thanks. What about the side of the bank lost the deeds, due to the banks actions we were delayed and had to put more money down?

The fact that you have now put a 10% deposit down instead of a 5% deposit is actually going to be saving you money in interest so you definitely can't claim compensation for a scenario that has caused you to save money overall...