Extremely Slow Mortgage Advisor

janoid19 · 16 October 2020 at 2:14PM

Hi,
I'm after some advice please.
I had an offer accepted on a house on Friday 2nd October 2020. On the same day I emailed my mortgage advisor to let her know I was ready to apply for a mortgage. I hadn't had a response so on the following Tuesday I called and her receptionist told me she was on another line and would call me back. I didn't receive a call back so I sent a further email the next day (Wed). I then got a call 10 minutes later and we went through what further information and documents she would need for my application. I sent the required docs to her on Thursday 9th Oct.
I has now been over a week since I sent the documents and I called yesterday and was told she wasn't in the office so I sent an email asking for an update on the application and for her to give me a call to which I have had no reply.
I am starting to get anxious that it has been 2 weeks since my offer was accepted and I still haven't got a mortgage application submitted.

Can anyone confirm that I am right to be worried or is it pretty normal? I am a first time buyer so don't know how long it usually takes.
Thanks x

Verix · 16 October 2020 at 2:42PM

You're definitely right to be frustrated. It is very busy at the moment for mortgage advisers, but if i had someone on the phone who'd had an offer accepted on a property and were keen to do a mortgage with me i'd want to be moving quickly. Rates are literally going up every day from different lenders and dawdling means the client may have to pay more for their mortgage.

Unless you've paid them a fee or you know they have started the mortgage application then I see no reason why you couldn't change to a different broker.

The only thing i will say is that the solicitors are likely to take a lot longer than the mortgage will so this two week delay probably won't cause a great hold-up in the grand scheme of things. It just doesn't bode well for the future service you are going to recieve.

Good luck!

janoid19 · 16 October 2020 at 2:47PM

Thanks for your reply.
I haven't paid anything yet and as far as I know she hasn't started the application but since its so difficult to contact her I have no idea whats going on and I was hoping for a bit of support due to being a first time buyer.
It took 2 weeks after sending my documents for her to ring and get me my mortgage in principle but at the time I hadn't found a property so was in no rush but looking back it makes me worried about going forward.

Thanks x

Verix · 16 October 2020 at 3:10PM

Wow, I feel guilty if i don't get back to clients within 24 hours.

The important thing is you haven't paid anything and there will be plenty of advisers you could use instead. Maybe speak to friends or colleagues to see if they have any recommendations?

söpöpöllö · 16 October 2020 at 3:38PM

We had someone like that when we were trying to get us an AIP and we decided to change brokers. I understand that a lot of them are busy but I don't like it when it's like pulling teeth. I'm busy at work but I at least send some sort of acknowledgment to assure people I'm not just ignoring them, and I'd like to be treated the same way. Especially when it's something as big as buying a house.

janoid19 · 16 October 2020 at 4:04PM

söpöpöllö said:

We had someone like that when we were trying to get us an AIP and we decided to change brokers. I understand that a lot of them are busy but I don't like it when it's like pulling teeth. I'm busy at work but I at least send some sort of acknowledgment to assure people I'm not just ignoring them, and I'd like to be treated the same way. Especially when it's something as big as buying a house.

Exactly! even if she just said 'thanks for sending the documents, I'll give you a call next week' then at least i'd know where I stood.
It's the 'not knowing' thats driving me mad.

hounsehunterftb · 16 October 2020 at 4:11PM

Why don't you look for some one who is willing to give you that time! I can so feel your pain when you JUST don't receive any replies and are kept in dark completely. If yours is a straight forward application, then using online agents like Habito or Trussle won't be a bad idea either.
We recently went through the full mortgage application to mortgage offer with Habito. Admittedly, ours was a straight forward case of full time employed, deposit from savings etc etc.

janoid19 · 16 October 2020 at 4:18PM

Yes it should be pretty straight forward. I have started filling in my details early today on Habito ready if I need to use them. I have just rang the mortgage advisor and was told she was on the other line so I've explained my concerns and the receptionist said she would get her to call me back (although I've heard that before).

kingstreet · 16 October 2020 at 4:21PM

How big is the mortgage, what type of lender will it be and does the broker charge a fee?

janoid19 · 16 October 2020 at 4:26PM

I'm after a mortgage of £142,500 and my AIP is with Halifax. Yes they charge a fee which is payable when the mortgage offer comes through (I was recommended her by a colleague). I am in full time employment and deposit of savings so pretty straight forward I understand. x

kingstreet · 16 October 2020 at 4:32PM

They don't even have the excuse they won't earn much with commission of about £470 + fee. However busy you are, you simply organise your time so each case is dealt with in order - get the documents, issue the final illustration(s), submit the application, upload the documents and on from there to offer. It's a methodical mechanical process.