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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12:14 PM, 25th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Well put Andy - my £50 is on the way to the marketing fund !

Paul Brindley

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13:33 PM, 25th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "ian " at "25/01/2014 - 11:01":

It went well, I'm emailing him my evidence on Monday.

It may just be me, but if people can't be bothered to put any effort in, if they continue throwing money down the drain by paying the increase but won't put anything more than a few pennies in to a fighting fund, then they have no grounds to complain when they're treated as doormats by organisations like the banks - they're as much victims of their own making as they are the bank's actions. The professionals involved would do well to bear such victims' attitudes and inaction in mind when deciding what work to do and not do - if they're not going to be paid in full for the work they do, they should abandon you to your own devices.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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19:23 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

We could really be onto something here


.

Fed Up Landlord

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19:55 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Well this IS interesting. The new bill probably will not be retrospective. But will this influence the various campaigns and legal arguments?

GHH 64

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20:19 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

The bill may not have retrospective provision but if the law is changed it may it gives more weight to arguments that the action was unfair at the time it took place.
A bit more difficult for the bank to defend its position I would think

Fed Up Landlord

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20:37 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Well obviously somebody somewhere thinks its unfair. Just as 13,500 BOI borrowers should but only 300 of us can be bothered to challenge it.

Paul Brindley

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20:38 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "GHH 64" at "28/01/2014 - 20:19":

No chance! Legislation is retrospective or persuasive once in a blue moon. Let's get real here!

Fed Up Landlord

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20:57 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Come on Paul lets see the glass as half full for once. It might not be retrospectively binding but it does indicate a change in thinking by some influential body. That can have a knock on effect to dissuade other lenders doing the same.

Lucy McKenna

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22:40 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

Hi Mark, please consider letting those of us on the waiting list contribute our money and be able to take part in the confidential material. I am not sure what I shall do with my day if this and the WBBS forum dries up as I am sure it will if you make a private forum!!

Paul Brindley

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22:41 PM, 28th January 2014, About 11 years ago

I guess you are more optimistic than I am. Only time will tell who is right and who isn't. I prefer not to cling to the hope that somehow my ship will come in, instead I choose to make things happen. That's the way I work. I just don't like the idea of my, or my client's, destiny in someone else's hands especially when that party either has a vested financial interest or is largely disinterested.

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