Bank of Ireland increase differential on tracker rates

Bank of Ireland increase differential on tracker rates

10:32 AM, 28th February 2013, About 12 years ago 1862

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The story of the Bank of Ireland decision to increase to the differential (interest rate margin) on  tracker mortgages started on this forum when a professional landlord contacted Property118 within minutes of a letter from Bank of Ireland landing on his door mat. What ensued was outrage from landlords and affected residential mortgage borrowers. The story was quickly picked up by the National Media as it wasn’t just the 13,500 affected borrowers who were worried.

Will this set a precedent for other mortgage lenders to follow?

Property118 reacted by using funds donated to The GOOD Landlords Campaign to underwrite the cost of a barristers opinion on the legality of the Bank of Ireland’s actions. The remainder of this thread,one of the most read and most commented threads of all time on Property118, continues to tell the story as it unfolds.

If you want to skip the story and cut to the chase simply CLICK HERE

Of the 13,500 affected borrowers, 1,200 have had the decision reversed by Bank of Ireland. With additional support and pressure we believe all affected borrowers can and will see justice done.

___________________________________________

Lee, a professional Landlord asks, “help! I have just received a letter from the Bank of Ireland stating they want to increase the differential on my tracker rates.

I have 12 mortgages with the Bank of Ireland previously Bristol and West. I have been on a base rate tracker of 1.75% above base, but now Bank of Ireland are using some fine print claiming they have to recapitalise and saying the ‘new differential will be 4.49%.

How can I fight back?”

The original policy wording seems to be:

6 INTEREST

Charging interest at a tracker rate

(j) Unless we change the differential (if any) under condition 6 (n), we will not change the tracker rate unless the base rate changes.

(m) in condition 6 (n):
– a “positive differential” means a percentage which we add to the base rate to arrive at the tracker rate; and a “negative differential” means a percentage which we subtract from the base rate to arrive at the tracker rate.

(n) We may reduce a positive differential or increase a negative differential at our discretion by giving you not less than seven days written notice. This means that we can change the differential in a way that is favourable to you.

The above seems to indicate that they can reduce the rate in my favour, but not give them the right to increase it. Am I correct?


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Colin Childs

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18:38 PM, 13th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Paul Brindley" at "09/01/2014 - 17:16":

BOI is already committed to exiting the business banking market in the UK under the revised EU restructuring plan of 2013. Likewise the investment sector. So longer term one can envisage that the only remaining interest will be the joint venture with the Post Office. Which could easily be be sold off to a US venture looking to enter the UK retail banking sector.

Lucy McKenna

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22:37 PM, 13th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "13/01/2014 - 18:27":

good news, thanks Mark, please let me know anything I can do.

Lucy McKenna

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22:46 PM, 13th January 2014, About 11 years ago

I am pretty sure I know the answer to this and I am not worried,
I am sure you will do this anyway.
Can it be made clear to people that should not enough funds be collected contributions will be returned. That if a surplus of people want to contribute then those that make an early contribution can have some refunded so that everyone pays equally and if the amount decided on as a contribution per person at the beginning falls short of the required amount then those that have contributed are given the option to contribute more to make up the shortfall. Hope that makes sense.

Lucy McKenna

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22:54 PM, 13th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Hi Mark, There thankfully must have been a major event since your post dated 9.1.2014 when you were suggesting we would need to commit to £10,000 each

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19:03 PM, 14th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "13/01/2014 - 18:27":

Great news , thanks Mark.
Will be pleased to make further donation and help where possible.

Fed Up Landlord

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19:32 PM, 15th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Well it's money where our mouths are time. 200 of us at 500 quid apiece would give us £100,000. Considering that BOI are having 2k a year out of me and I am probably at the cheaper end of the market it's a bargain. And it's tax deductible!

Paul Brindley

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21:25 PM, 15th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Gary Nock" at "15/01/2014 - 19:32":

What is happening here is a symptom of what's happening in society generally - where people expect others to sort out their problems free of charge. Fail to take active steps to protect yourselves, fail to pay for that protection and you deserve to be shafted. The world has a way of dealing with those sort of people, eventually. You see this world is inhabited by lions and sheep, and there's only one eventual outcome for the sheep.

Lucy McKenna

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22:07 PM, 15th January 2014, About 11 years ago

I agree Gary, but out of the thousands affected we should be able to find at least 400 and that would be an even better outcome for all.

Colin Childs

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22:14 PM, 15th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Paul Brindley" at "15/01/2014 - 21:25":

Question is who pays? The Skipton BS decision affected 64,000 borrowers. As a mutual organisation there was no fall back position. Any costs to the society would have fallen back on the members as well. Merely inflicting further pain. Sometime it's better to bank ones profits and move on.

Tricia Collick

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8:33 AM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Gary Nock" at "15/01/2014 - 19:32":

Gary,
I completely agree, if Mark thinks there is enough of us I am willing to contribute a little more, BoI are relying on the fact that we will not be up for the fight.

This situation is a 'breaking of contract' and 'unclear small print' which I thought was against the law in order to protect little people !
The law in this case doesn't seem to be doing anything to protect us little people.
They would certainly do something if it was against a big company.

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