Credit Check/Halifax Nightmare

MrsNozzle

Hello, hope some of you nice MSE'ers may have some advice. Sorry if it turns into a bit of an essay, but will lay out all the facts for clarity.

As we're coming to the end of our fixed rate on the mortgage at HSBC, me and the hubby have been looking around for a new one. Found a great rate at Nationwide, sat down with them and did all the business. We were nearly there when a credit check revealed an anomoly on our old address with my Husband.

Basically, the lady at Nationwide didn't think there would be a problem as we are only a couple of weeks of being at our current property for 3 years, but she phoned up later saying that the Underwriter wouldn't go ahead and we had to find out exactly what the credit problem was so that it could be expunged from the record before we could have the mortgage.

OK, so after going on equifax and a bit of digging, it appears that this problem is to do with a £21,000 loan (!) from Halifax taken out by DH's ex wife (before they divorced). For some reason, DH is still showing up on the loan as second name, even though when the divorce was finalised, all this was sorted out. Also, the ex-wife (who has a borderline personality disorder) gave up work about a year before he left and so the loan was being paid off by Halifax Ireland insurance. Equifax shows that the majority of the loan has been paid off (just over £800 outstanding), but that there are arrears.

Problem now is this:

* D/H went into Halifax - they gave him a number to speak to Halifax personal loans, who don't appear to have any records about him being taken off loan nor that the loan is being paid off by the insurance. They told him to speak to Halifax Ireland Insurance.

* He spoke to the Insurance bods, who wouldn't impart any information about anything as he is not the main signatory. They said he needs to speak to mad ex-wife and get her to phone them to give them permission. He's tried to speak to her but she's an absolute nightmare and says she is too ill to do this.

* Halifax loans and Halifax Insurance don't appear to be communicating about this at all and we've reached a bit of an impass. We are unable to get any kind of confirmation that he is no longer on the loan - although it's obvious that the loan has been pretty much paid off at the rate of nearly £400 per month - so obviously money is coming from somewhere, and not from us!

* In the meantime, we desperately need to sort out our mortgage - we've only got to the end of Feb to do this and time is ticking on.

I would be so grateful if anyone has ideas as to what we can do next. We are just going round in circles and getting no help from Halifax whatsoever.

Thanks in advance - and again, sorry for the essay!

MrsNozzle

OK - we've done a bit more digging, so maybe this will give enough info for some help.

Halifax insurance won't speak to DH as only ex-wife was on it. So we're in the rubbish situation of DH being liable for the arrears, with a black mark against his credit report, yet he is unable to do anything or talk about it.

Ex wife now says she thinks insurance has paid everything off, and that it's 'doing her head in' so she's going away for a few days. Refuses to phone them or do anything :mad: :mad:

We think it maybe that the insurance has paid out everything it's going to and there is a small shortfall.

We are just going round in circles. Can anyone suggest anything - please!!!

Mum_of_3_3

Does he have anything in writing saying that he was taken off of the loan? Maybe something was written down amongst the divorce papers?

If he does try faxing that to Halifax and they may then take him off of the loan at last!

Sorry I couldn't be anymore help, I hope you get it sorted!

M_o_3

MrsNozzle

Thanks for your reply M-o-3. Unfortunately, it looks like he was still on the loan, he assumed at the time that the insurance would cover anything so that's the one matter that wasn't signed over to ex and her father to deal with.

Looks like we're going to have to pay this or suffer the consequences - which is a bit rubbish considering he never really had anything to do with this loan in the first place. (She decided out of the blue she wanted a really flash car) Exes.... Grrrrr! :mad: