Word of warning about AWD mortgage brokers

vic76

I do work for AWD but only in admin and these are some very uninformed commemts
We are one of the largest IFAs in the UK and the largest one in Europe I dont think if we were dodgy this would be the case plus Im sure you would have heard all about it, seen us on watchdog etc!

We certainly did not used to "be Carrington Carr" I have never even heard of them they are obviously just one of the tens of companies that AWD have bought up including the company I have worked for 8 years Chase de Vere - one of the UKs most respected brokers

We have many different arms and I dont know a lot about home finance as they are totally seperate to the rest of AWD. We also have a mortgage telephone arm Moneyextra that sells mortgags in the usual way i.e. commission rather than fee as do many of our independent financial advisers who sell mortgages as part of a whole financial planning service

In any organisation especially one as large as this there will always be a bad egg. If you are unhappy with any aspect of service or contact from AWD then write or call in & complain we have a dedicated dept that takes such complaints very seriously as compliance, treating customers fairly and maintaining a good reputation are key to AWD and their future success

You cannot possibly tar a whole company of such a size with one bad experience from one individual

toonfish

3 brand new posters all singing AWD's praises - not Cartelesque at all that

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

vic76 wrote: »

I do work for AWD but only in admin and these are some very uninformed commemts
We are one of the largest IFAs in the UK and the largest one in Europe I dont think if we were dodgy this would be the case plus Im sure you would have heard all about it, seen us on watchdog etc!

We certainly did not used to "be Carrington Carr" I have never even heard of them they are obviously just one of the tens of companies that AWD have bought up including the company I have worked for 8 years Chase de Vere - one of the UKs most respected brokers

We have many different arms and I dont know a lot about home finance as they are totally seperate to the rest of AWD. We also have a mortgage telephone arm Moneyextra that sells mortgags in the usual way i.e. commission rather than fee as do many of our independent financial advisers who sell mortgages as part of a whole financial planning service

In any organisation especially one as large as this there will always be a bad egg. If you are unhappy with any aspect of service or contact from AWD then write or call in & complain we have a dedicated dept that takes such complaints very seriously as compliance, treating customers fairly and maintaining a good reputation are key to AWD and their future success

You cannot possibly tar a whole company of such a size with one bad experience from one individual

Perhaps a bit of a company history lesson is in order!

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/cd98d3fa2a80a1fefea6588e3ee1f401/compdetails

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

Pioneer41 wrote: »

I really can't believe all the negative comments, I have used AWD 3 times now and recommended them to many of my friends. Yes they charge a fee, but they provided me with an excellent service, have recontacted me at the end of each of my deals and found me something else. They also did not charge me an arrangement fee the 2nd or 3rd time they arranged the mortgage, which I understand is company policy.

I take the view that you pays your money and makes your choice, personally I would sooner deal with a large firm with solid foundations, than use a one man band that may not be around in the future.

Lets face it, if you don't want them to call, then don't book an appointment.

I would investigate the possibility of being missold mortgages if you've been sold 3 since they became AWD in November 2004.

Even if you started an application in November 2004 (congratulations on being their first customer), you're not likely to have completed until Dec 04 at the earliest. A 2 year deal would have taken you to Dec 06 and another 2 year deal would have taken you to Dec this year. How you've managed to fit another one in in the mean time is quite astonishing, though possible if you've arranged penalty free deals each time.

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

If AWD are so interested in

compliance, treating customers fairly and maintaining a good reputation

how come they don't display their FSA number anywhere on their website? Is it because they don't want people to know what it is?

Angiem_3

I used Them when they where Carrington Carr after they cold called me. They did full re-mortgage and life insurnace package and also MPPI, then they cold called my again this time as AWD to re mortgage again I was sold life insurance and MPPI.

They are absolutely shoody, they pressured both me and my hubby into signing for things and did not give us chance to fully read and think about things.

We have since managed to get the MPPI refunded as it was mis sold, hubby was off work sick when it was sold to us and he had been off for 4 months with depression, they prey on the vunerable, we never realised they where getting commision from the insurance and mortgage companies on top of the 1.95% fee they charged us both times, the second time we had to pay an ERC.

We tried to get some money back from the fees or commision but they said no way.

I

Angiem_3

Hi Just to let you all know it may seem that I am a new member because this is my first post, but I have been registered for a while and just never posted.

But when I spotted this thread I just felt I had to warn other people about them.

STEER WELL CLEAR OF THEM.

I am now in a lot worse position financially thanks to them, they included tax credits in our income for the mortgages which of course the tax credits have now reduced as our eldest child is over 16.

Mortgage is now with Derbyshire Home Loans with a massive interest rate that is LIBOR linked and dont think we can change it now due to income.

happybroker

one of the largest IFAs in the UK and the largest one in Europe

are we not a european country any more, have I missed something?

We certainly did not used to "be Carrington Carr"

Yes you did! excerpt from companies house under previous names;

Previous Names:Date of changePrevious Name01/11/2004CARRINGTON CARR LIMITED10/03/1993CARRINGTON CARR (HOLDINGS) LIMITED20/06/1991CARRINGTON CARR LIMITED01/12/1988CARRINGTON CARR FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED

these are some very uninformed commemts

they certainly are, you ought really to know who you work for.

there will always be a bad egg.

an admission?

If you are unhappy with any aspect of service or contact from AWD then write or call in & complain we have a dedicated dept that takes such complaints very seriously as compliance, treating customers fairly and maintaining a good reputation are key to AWD and their future success

Go for it people!

and finally.....

us on watchdog etc!

it could happen judging by the comments posted.

dunstonh

Oh this is funny.

Here is the AWD website itself:
http://www.awd-homefinance.com/about-us.html

"Founded in 1987 (originally as Carrington Carr Limited), AWD Home Finance was built on a commitment...."

---

AWD are tied reps of L&G. Dont I recall seeing in the insurance section a number of posters complaining about L&G tied reps putting in clawback fees into their contracts so if the person cancels the life assurance within 4 years the L&G tied rep goes to the customer to get that commission from them directly. Threatening legal action if they dont pay up. A very dodgy and unprofessional process that is quite frankly disgraceful to see nowadays. However, thats what happens when you see tied sales reps rather than real advisers.

edit: yes indeed, i was correct: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=620415&highlight=AWD+finance

The AWD tied rep gave the impression they were an IFA as well. Disgusting.

Look at post #1 and #6 on this one: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=528573&highlight=AWD+finance - cold calling going on with multiple posters saying it.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=105682&highlight=AWD+finance and another cold calling confirmation.

vic76

I repeat AWD Home Finance is only one very small specialised arm of AWD you can get a mortgage in the usual way from (AWD) Moneyextra.com be careful not to include the whole of AWD operations under AWD Home Finance who deal mainly with those with credit, debt issues and dont even operate under the same FSA number. AWD has been operating in the UK for 40 years http://www.awdplc.com/about.htm - we can all find a link clever clogs. I could reel you off at least 7 companies I know of just personally that have been swallowed up by AWD in the past few years, Carrington Carr being one
Plus how can they cold call you if they didnt already know your details and when your mortgage was ending. You probably signed up to one of the many companies they have taken over, the customer databases are all included as part of the deal