Is the FOS Fit For Purpose?

Is the FOS Fit For Purpose?

14:07 PM, 9th June 2016, About 9 years ago 29

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Financial Ombudsman Service

It is now proven that the Financial Ombudsman Service monumentally screwed up when they found in favour of West Bromwich Mortgage Company being in the right to add a premium to their tracker mortgage margins and to issue veiled threats to call in mortgages with just 30 days notice.

Were they afraid of creating another banking crisis, like the one when Northern Rock collapsed, or were they just incompetent and/or biased?

I have no doubt that several borrowers who were affected by this will be calling for resignations but I’m not going to do that. Instead, I am going to give the FOS an opportunity to vindicate themselves.

I am calling upon the FOS to re-open the complaint files regarding complaints about the Bank of Ireland and their unilateral decision to apply premiums to tracker rates mortgages for both homeowners and buy-to-let landlords. Around 13,000 borrowers were affected.

I am also calling upon the FOS to re-open the complaint files regarding the Skiptin Building Society / Amber Homeloans complaints in respect of their unilateral decision to disregard contractual obligations in respect of rate cap of bank base rate plus 3% on their standard variable rate mortgages affecting over 100,000 borrowers. This case goes back to 2010 and was reported on but in National media.

Neither of these cases are far removed from the one we won at the Court of Appeal against West Bromwich Mortgage Company.

It is all very well for mortgage lenders to say they need to balance their books and cater for both borrowers and savers but that gives them no right just to change contracts in their favour. In a mortgage interest rate contract says it will track the Bank of England base then that is exactly what it should do, no if’s, but’s or maybe’s. I don’t think the FOS paid much attention at all to what the contracts said.

Can you imagine savers locking their money into a 5 year fixed interest rate bond, only to be told subsequently they are not going to get the agreed rate because the lender wants to reduce mortgage rates? It’s no different, a contract is a contract!

Let’s see what the FOS do next, what do you think it will be?

I suspect we will need to take this matter further and that’s why we have launched a new fund-raiser.

We have honoured those who helped us to fight the campaign against the West Brom by keeping the name given to them in Court, the Property118 Action Group….. details 

Benefits of Backing Property118 Action Group

Property118 Action Group FOUNDER MEMBERPrivate housing providers (buy-to-let landlords) often lack the experience and finances to defend their rights. Membership of Property118 Action Group offers them a unique and powerful umbrella at a very reasonable price.

Founder Member Benefits

  • If you pledge £600 you will automatically become a Founder Member.
  • Founder Members will never be required to pay any more money in terms of monthly subscriptions or to contribute to any action we undertake to for the benefit of members.
  • When we have raised enough money we plan to take further action against the Bank of Ireland, Skipton Building Society and Manchester Building Society in respect of changes they made to their mortgage terms which we beleive are unlawful.
  • You will be able to use the Property118 Action Group “Founder Member” badge on stationety, websites etc.
  • There will never be more than 5,000 Founder Members so you will be part of an exclusive club.

Business Sponsorship £1,000

All the benefits of Founder Member status plus:-

  • PR benefits,  please see this link
  • Sponsors logo

Business Advertising £5,000 

All the benefits of Business Membership plus:-

  • An opportunity to post one News article on Property118.com every month, to include a contact form for the purpose of attracting members to enquire about products and services offered by your business.
  • Lifetime upgrade to a Business Member profile in Property118.com to include a business bio, the contact form mentioned above and the ability to add further images to your profile page.

Investment Opportunities

We are hoping to be able to offer shares in Property118 Action Group in due course.

Pledges

Needless to say, we are VERY happy about this!


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Comments

Mike L

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21:19 PM, 10th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Mark,

You say above that you "suspect we will need to take this matter further and that’s why we have launched a new fund-raiser." This does not come through at all in the write up on the Property 118 Action Group's crowdfunder page.

It could be a big motivator for some. I know I was furious when the FOS let us down so badly. There is no point in having an Ombudsman if they don't do their job right!!

I've signed up already anyway but I may have signed up a lot quicker if I'd realised that the FOS would be in the Action Group's sights as a potential early target. They're no good as they are and no one else seems to care!

Mike L

Evan Owen

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9:17 AM, 11th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "10/06/2016 - 09:06":

If only all their employees had a background in the industry. The problem is that they have offices in the most expensive part of the UK yet they pay peanuts so they get monkeys.

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20:45 PM, 11th June 2016, About 9 years ago

I've written to the Independent Assessor of the FOC to complain. Then, I think I'll make a Freedom of Information request on other complaints they've Not found to support.
Lets see if the info produces any media interest from some of the papers thathave run the strory ?

On Action group Founder membership, What proprtion of the £600 is going to Admin / running costs ?

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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21:42 PM, 11th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Chris Daniel" at "11/06/2016 - 20:45":

Great question Chris, we are not taking a fund management fee.

Criwdfunder take a fee of between 5% and 7% of money raised, dependent payment method.
.

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23:04 PM, 11th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Complain to the Independent Assessor of the F.O.C - as I have, perhaps a number of voices will have an impact. ?

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23:11 PM, 11th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Okay, count me in.
I'd imagine the expense would be tax de-ductable, as its in connection with your trade or business.
I thought I could get 'George' to pick up the tab, - seems quite appropriate, don't you think
Chris

Nrinder Gosal

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9:47 AM, 12th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Are we likely to succeed if we issue a case against bank of Ireland given they are classed as outside the UK? They doubled my interest from a tracker! But very quick to increase when Bank of England rate was rising . I went to my local MP Lynnne Featherstone and upon contacting the then buisness minister said no hope !! No wonder Lib Dem lost so many votes . I am now in the process of suing Bank of Cyprus for fraud . Don't need any money but if anyone else has issues with them let me know . Nrinder

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13:30 PM, 12th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Of the list of small Landlord groups that have supported Property 11 Action, - its worth pointing out and Including the NLA who have donated £10 k !!!
Better late than never.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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13:39 PM, 12th June 2016, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Chris Daniel" at "12/06/2016 - 13:30":

I question their motives for that.

Here's what I think the truth behind this is ....

Our win against West Brom embarrassed NLA into making a u-turn in my opinion. They refused to support our legal action against West Brom and said our case wasn't worth backing. They put several people off joining the action group and alienated many of their members in the process.

They are still saying the Judicial Review is unlikely to succeed but they are appeasing their members by donating £10,000.

NLA are hedging their bets because they don't want to run the risk of having more egg on their faces and losing members.
.

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13:58 PM, 12th June 2016, About 9 years ago

I think your absolutely right, but doesn't change fact that they have no supported with funds. Albeit very late in the game. - On that point, its interesting when each of the other organisations supported and how..
No organisation is going to support without a reason [ not disagreeing with the NLA' shortcomings ]
It would be good if the RLA followed sut on behalf of its members ?

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