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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M Jones

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10:39 AM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

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

I'm in! - Will contact Justin again today to offer my support and financial backing.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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10:56 AM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Deceived by West Brom " at "16/01/2014 - 10:39":

No need, watch this space, announcement due any day, we are just working on the article and Press Releases.

It's very exciting but I can't say anything yet for fear of stealing our own thunder 🙂
.

Fed Up Landlord

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11:14 AM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Hi Tricia

Well I think its an unfair term as well and the FOS are still "percolating" in their endeavours to make a decision. So from my limited legal knowledge then we have that angle plus the BOI reticience to fully validate the reasons behind the increase, relying on the old "this information is commercially sensitive" line. If they are taking millions of pounds off borrowers ( and not giving it to savers I hasten to add) then they should be able to validate with numbers the conditions that are satisfied in the imfamous Mortgage Conditions 2001/02/03.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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14:46 PM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

I have spoken to David Morris MP and we have provisionally arranged a meeting next week in Westminster for me to brief all of the MP’s which have expressed an interest in the injustice of lenders changing their margins of tracker rate mortgages.

The debate has been applied for and the MP’s will continue to make application until they get the debate.

A potential fly in the ointment is that a debate cannot be had in the Houses of Parliament if the judiciary are involved in the case. The MP’s are aware of this and are, therefore, pressing for the debate as a matter of urgency. I will seek further clarification on this point as we do have an announcement regarding legal action to release this week too.

It’s all getting very exciting and my marketing brain is coming up with all sorts of angles on how we can use this for PR purposes.

I will let you know when a date/time is confirmed for the meeting and I will obviously update you again soon after.

The briefing will be about tracker rates generally but will, of course, cover the issues affecting borrowers of both West Brom and the BoI.

I have no idea what will come of it but rest assured I will be milking this for all the PR I can get 🙂

Paul Brindley

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15:05 PM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "16/01/2014 - 14:46":

You may also care to grab Andrew Mitchell MP while you are there

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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15:08 PM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Paul Brindley" at "16/01/2014 - 15:05":

There will be several MP's at the briefing. It has been organised by the people on our West Brom thread. Part of the campaign was to write to their MP's. It is all of those MP's who were sympathetic to our cause that will be attending the briefing. I think there are about 20 of them to date 🙂
.

GHH 64

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15:45 PM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Mark

Possibly worth remembering that the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee are holding an enquiry into the structure of banking in NI and have already taken evidence from a number of interested parties. Given the Bank of Ireland angle I wonder if a submission to the Committee might be in order ?

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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15:54 PM, 16th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "GHH 64" at "16/01/2014 - 15:45":

If that's something you would like to progress then I would be happy to attend a meeting to brief them as an when required 🙂
.

Peter Bishop

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16:39 PM, 17th January 2014, About 11 years ago

I will also be willing to contribute as much as possible... though with the BoI increase currently costing me £7656 per annum, there's not much left!!

As an aside, after conversations with the bank of Ireland, I have been
told by different employees of the bank on 2 occasions that it is the banks view that landlords have had it good for a few years, so they want to recoup some money!!!

Colin Childs

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17:22 PM, 17th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Peter Bishop" at "17/01/2014 - 16:39":

What levels are the employees at? As that's a very simplistic answer to a far more complex issue for the board.

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