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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Fed Up Landlord

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16:32 PM, 2nd June 2013, About 12 years ago

Just had a letter back from FOs stating they are looking into the complaint and have sent for the papers from BOI

ian

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16:59 PM, 2nd June 2013, About 12 years ago

Gary
Do you have a Residential or Buy to Let Mortgage account ? Good news they have taken an interest.

Fed Up Landlord

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17:07 PM, 2nd June 2013, About 12 years ago

Ian its a BTL

ian

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18:10 PM, 2nd June 2013, About 12 years ago

Gary
Thanks for responce, did you use the Class Action draft letter ? or have you not signed up?

Fed Up Landlord

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18:20 PM, 2nd June 2013, About 12 years ago

Hi Ian. I used the FOS application form with class action wording

Justin Selig - solicitor

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18:30 PM, 4th June 2013, About 12 years ago

Legal Action Update:

The FOS, OFT and the FCA have now acknowledged receipt of our complaint and all have confirmed they are looking into it. The FOS told us they were particularly busy so not to expect a response for about 4 weeks. The other two have not given any timescales as to a response but I would expect it may be a few more weeks before we hear back.

I will update the forum when there have been any further developments. In the meantime, I would be grateful if anyone who has been affected by the rate increase and has cancelled their direct debit and substituted it with a standing order to please contact me at justin@lawdepartment.co.uk

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12:07 PM, 6th June 2013, About 12 years ago

I am a domestic customer with a flex mortgage. I complained to BoI about the rate increase.

BoI gave their final answer on the matter and I passed details (FULL details) to the Financial Ombudsman. This included 54 letters with the wording;
"Interest Rate (Current Rate: x.xx%):
From the date of this letter until the end of the mortgage term, the interest rate we will charge will be 0.69% above the BOE Base Rate."

I then had a letter from BoI stating that they did not accept that promissory estoppel applied and that clause 6m still applied. They reasoned that their "intention" was not to change the original contract when they wrote those 54 "standard letters". They did however admit that the wording was "ambiguous" and so they agreed to return my interest rate to the original differential and only change in line with BOE base rate.

I sent a copy to the FOS who then phoned me. I stated that I was still not happy since the BoI letter was simply number 55 stating my interest rate differential was fixed and I could see no reason to trust it any more than the preceding 54. I asked the FOS to get BoI to confirm their intention in writing their letter.

Yesterday I had a phone call from the FOS confirming that BoI had communicated that their intention was not to alter my differential for the duration of the mortgage. I asked for a copy of this in writing. The FOS are sending me a redacted copy.

BoI have climbed down for 1200 people because of what they call "ambiguity" in a "standard letter". They have not admitted that promissory estoppel applies, (which says nothing about whether it applies or not) but have done a tactical move.

It is my opinion that they would only have made this tactical move if they knew they would lose in court. It seems unfair that those who have kept all of their paperwork and have the ability and initiative to fight their cause by presenting a complex case should get one outcome while those who may be unable to mount a challenge get another outcome. At the conclusion of the contracts (in 2007) there was no difference between customers. Every mortgage holder had the right to flex up or down. Every mortgage holder therefore had the right to receive the "ambiguous" standard letter with the particular wording stated above.

I believe the FOS should rule that all holders of these flex mortgages should be treated equally and returned to their original mortgage interest differential.

I still do not think I am finished with this until I see something in writing upon which I can rely, and that has not happened yet. Best of luck to all.
FB

Justin Selig - solicitor

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14:10 PM, 6th June 2013, About 12 years ago

In response to Flying Banana's post - thank you for your comments. It would be really helpful if you would please email me a copy of the clarification letter you have received - my email address is justin@lawdepartment.co.uk
Thanks
Justin

Steven Badger

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8:23 AM, 8th June 2013, About 12 years ago

I follow this thread with interest and have joined the class action which I am fully behind.

I just want to take the chance to remind the Law Department that we are paying customers, even if we are each only paying a small fraction of the total cost.

I joined up on 12 May and have still received NOTHING. These guys charge £250 an hour, so don't want to phone again in case they attempt to book my phone call to the account. At that rate, I'd expect a decent back office function to sort small matters like the payments. A couple of questions/ points:

Can you please confirm my inclusion in the class action.
Have you written to BOI on my behalf yet?
What was the legal opinion that we originally paid for?
What is the status of the class action's account with the legal department...and is anyone from the customer side managing it?

Glad to hear of some movement from BOI and as I said I'm fully behind the action, but come on Law Department, please be professional with us.

Regards

Steve

Justin Selig - solicitor

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21:14 PM, 8th June 2013, About 12 years ago

Dear Steve

Please accept my apologies for not coming back to you sooner. I am sorry that we have not responded to your application. I have been away, and since I got back we have been spending time responding to questions put to us by the Financial Conduct Authority who are one of the bodies who are now looking into the BOI's actions in some detail.

I will contact you on Monday to formally acknowledge receipt of your application.
If anyone else who has recently joined the action has not heard from us, please bear with us, but you should in any event hear from us early next week.

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