FD mortgages - how long for approval?

Here's my time line:

08/02/08 agreed in principle over phone
11/02/08 received app forms
12/02/08 sent completed app forms and supporting docs
13/02/08 forms and docs received by FD
15/02/08 received back pay slips only with a note to say they will be in contact in 10 days
18/02/08 Needed further proof of address which they later didn't need (see below). Current a/c will be open in 24-48 hrs
23/02/08 Received Welcome pack and all the remaining docs back in the self addressed envelope.
27/02/08 Payment of £299 charged to CC, but no AIP in post. Called and arranged the valuation while its processed.
03/03/08 Received offer doc with wrong offer type (Home buyers instead of Buildings). Valuation company contacted EA to arrange survey for 04/0308
04/03/08 Called FD to correct the survey type on the offer doc and instruct the valuation company accordingly
06/03/08 Received amended offer doc. Signed and sent back
10/03/08 Confirmed receipt of signed offer doc and valuation
11/03/08 Solicitor received legal pack
14/03/08 FD queried our deposit source, need a statement from our parents who are helping.
17/03/08 Solicitor faxes statements to FD
20/03/08 FD process the statements
25/03/08 I chase them, they confirm a fax has been sent, solicitor not received anything
26/03/08 still nothing, chase them again. They are holding us back from completing on 28/03/08 :mad:
11/04/08 Mortgage account set up, we've been charged twoce for booking fee, chased them up and its been returned.
14/04/08 We completed! Wooo hoo

We completed 9 weeks after our first covnersation to FD. FD themselves took 8 weeks.

dweeby wrote: »

Also, they seem to work to a non-negotiable check-list, if you offer useful information that isn't on their list - they're not interested.

Frustrating when you're trying to buy a house!

Not sure how true this is.... i am trying to weasle out of paying their valuation charge.. I onlymoved house and ported my old mortgage in december when existing lender valued.... they have said that if i can get a copy of the valuation the my lender used "for lending pruposes", but not my homebuyers report then they're take that if its only a couple of months old..

I doubt my lender will send it me though but worth a try! i found their approach very flexible... even after i have sent my forms back i have changed the amount i'm borrowing with minimal fuss, and even got a text today confirming they had got my form and would start to process them shortly.

no rush for my remortgage though as redemption penalty runs for a good few months yet..

TighterThanTwoCoatsOfPain wrote: »

Not sure how true this is.... i am trying to weasle out of paying their valuation charge.. I onlymoved house and ported my old mortgage in december when existing lender valued.... they have said that if i can get a copy of the valuation the my lender used "for lending pruposes", but not my homebuyers report then they're take that if its only a couple of months old..

We are purchasing a house and already have a mortgage offer from another lender, but thought we would get this mortgage instead as it would save us money. I have tried to get them to use our valuation - the mortgage one and our independent home buyers survey, but they have told me no straight away. How did you manage to get them to say they would if it was the lending one? I have a copy of mine and would be really happy to send it on to them and save another valuation fee.

jem16 wrote: »

That's two of us that have been told our mortgage valuations could be used - it may require "retyped" we were told.

Why don't you send them a copy anyway?

I phoned them again today to check if they have my application and got through to somebody in the credit approvals dept. I also asked about the valuation and got a totally different reply. Yes they can use it if it is the valuation for mortgage purposes and they surveyor is on their panel. So I'm sending a copy today. I guess it must be who you talk to.

I've updated my timescale with the latest items. FD called today to ask for some missing info on my app.