Halifax insurance

LillyJ

When I arranged our mortgage I quite clearly stated that I DID NOT WANT Halifax buildings insurance and that I would arrange my own.

When the offer came through it said that I was taking Halifax insurance (no obligation to take their insurance with the mortgage). I rang back and said I was NOT taking the insurance and they assured me that they were sorry and that they had taken that part off the offer.

I got a letter from the solicitors with our deeds with a bit about the mortgage offer, stating that we were taking Halifax insurance! I am furious. Last time I rang I spoke to the guy who had arranged the mortgage who basically told me I was worrying about nothing.

Halifax's lines are down atm, but will ring them when they are back up. I just want to make sure that I am not going to arrange insurance by myself, then Halifax start charging me for theirs? Is this normal procedure? It seems a bit odd.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

This not normal procedure.

Why are you stressing for? At least your application will be going through smoothly. Halifax will not charge you until you move in. By then you can just cancel it. All in all, you will not lose any money.

You must have buildings insurance throughout the term of the mortgage!

LillyJ

TEDDYRUKSPIN wrote: »

This not normal procedure.

Why are you stressing for? At least your application will be going through smoothly. Halifax will not charge you until you move in. By then you can just cancel it. All in all, you will not lose any money.

You must have buildings insurance throughout the term of the mortgage!

I understand I have to have buildings cover but I have sourced it cheaper myself elsewhere and am not the type of person just to go along with the mortgage company's insurance (unless it is the cheapest and best of course!).

I am just annoyed by Halifax's tactics and you had to be pretty on the ball to spot it. I just don't know how I am going to get them to cancel it, I already thought that they had cancelled it but they obviously haven't.

It may not be a stressfull thing but there is so much to think about at this stage in a house purchase that I am just worried something will go wrong and mess it all up!

silvercar

They could just have printed out the wrong information on your offer. I once had a Halfix mortgage and every letter had mistakes eg "You owe us £150, please pay" should have been "we owe you £150."

They claimed they press one letter and it prints a paragraph, so if they click the wrong keyboard letter you get the wrong info.

LillyJ

silvercar wrote: »

They could just have printed out the wrong information on your offer. I once had a Halfix mortgage and every letter had mistakes eg "You owe us £150, please pay" should have been "we owe you £150."

They claimed they press one letter and it prints a paragraph, so if they click the wrong keyboard letter you get the wrong info.

I hope so, but when I spoke to them about it before they seemed to be under the impression that I wanted Halifax insurance and that they were doing me a favour.
This was a fair while ago, and this weekend the solicitors have sent our mortgage deeds with this info on as well.

Tiddler_2

LillyJ,

I realise it's inconvenient having the wrong information, but even if the mortgage starts and you get a letter confirming that they have placed the Halifax insurance on risk, you have 30 days to cancel it without it costing you a penny. It seems that whoever you are talking to doesn't know how to cancel it on their system.

To be honest (as an ex halifax staff member) I find their buildings and contents policy reasonable value for money, when you compare it on a like for like basis. It may be a little bit expensive particularly if you are FTB, with minimal contents, but the quality of the cover is very good.

Sooler

LillyJ wrote: »

Is this normal procedure? It seems a bit odd.

It’s typical of the service you get from the Halifax.

luckyfool

Sooler wrote: »

It’s typical of the service you get from the Halifax.

Goes to show the different perspectives. If you speak to mortgage brokers most will rave about the Halifax's service. Most of the time they are one of the most reliable, quick, and flexible of lenders to deal with.

LillyJ

luckyfool wrote: »

Goes to show the different perspectives. If you speak to mortgage brokers most will rave about the Halifax's service. Most of the time they are one of the most reliable, quick, and flexible of lenders to deal with.

I spoke to them in the branch today as I was passing and it turns out that their insurance was removed from my offer in April so it is sorted. Turns out I am getting their insurance anyway but online with 30% discount plus £55 quidco.

I have actually found them excellent up until this issue arose. They could not have been more helpful, especially as everyone told me I would struggle to get a mortgage in this climate as I wanted 90% as an FTB. They were very quick indeed and I got a good rate. I ended up going direct as they undercut the broker (which I think is a bit unfair on the brokers but that's another story).
I actually bank with them as well and it just turned out that they were the best for us for the mortgage after we spoke to the broker.
They fast tracked us as well so no messing about with proof of income, and didn't even have to show ID as I already bank with them.

Sooler

luckyfool wrote: »

Goes to show the different perspectives. If you speak to mortgage brokers most will rave about the Halifax's service. Most of the time they are one of the most reliable, quick, and flexible of lenders to deal with.

It's once they've got your custom it turns to pants.

JuiceFS

Buying is horrendously stressful, so I hope all is well. You would hope that once you had informed someone that the system would update and consequently any correspondance would reflect the amendment. Well done for spotting it! You would have had a chance to cancel with their cancellation policy but that's not the point and I totally understand where you are coming from. Good luck with the move!!