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Well in 2007 i got a morgage for 95k to buy a house for me and my wife. At the time we was both working and we could afford it easily, then my wife got pregnant and was having a babe girl and my wife had to leave her job and we could not afford the mortgage so we in the end after struggleing to pay we handed in the keys to halifax and was prepared to pay any outstanding debt or shortfall. A few weeks later we went to visit my wifes cousin and she told us some1 had bought the house and she has a new neighbour basically. Also in 2008 we received a letter in 2008 from halifax letting us know he owe nothing for the mortgage. And when u logged in to my wifes online banking it also displayed the mortgage as £0 owed.
almost 6 years later they send us a letter saying they sold the house in march 2012 and there was a shortfall of 50k which we must pay back.
I would like some advice about this because it doesnt make sense atall so any help would be appreciated.
Well in 2007 i got a morgage for 95k to buy a house for me and my wife. At the time we was both working and we could afford it easily, then my wife got pregnant and was having a babe girl and my wife had to leave her job and we could not afford the mortgage so we in the end after struggleing to pay we handed in the keys to halifax and was prepared to pay any outstanding debt or shortfall. A few weeks later we went to visit my wifes cousin and she told us some1 had bought the house and she has a new neighbour basically. Also in 2008 we received a letter in 2008 from halifax letting us know he owe nothing for the mortgage. And when u logged in to my wifes online banking it also displayed the mortgage as £0 owed.
almost 6 years later they send us a letter saying they sold the house in march 2012 and there was a shortfall of 50k which we must pay back.
I would like some advice about this because it doesnt make sense atall so any help would be appreciated.
I have had some sort of Halifax connection for 30 years. I have always promoted them as being very good and unproblematic.
In the last couple of years, I have to say they have seriously disappointed me on a number of occasions. At first I thought one small thing in such a long time is not much, but it just got worse.
First thing was noticing it was like going back 10 yrs when dealing with them. Their reply, we have adopted Lloyds methods.
Second, I get a house insurance renewal quote that I feel is a bit high. So I do an online check, even the Halifax comes in at half that price. So I do my first complaint. I get a bog standard response of the original quote was correct. No problem, I then got my house insurance with someone else for less than half the cost. Saved me over £400 in a year.
Third, my wages are going to be reduced and I have a baby on route. So I ask if I can release some equity from my house in order to clear some smaller debts and get my finances in order as well as buy things for the baby coming. Answer NO. Why ? Because they undervalue my house by around £50k, so I don't meet their LTV.
But, I dare to say so do I just get a couple of estate agents valuations on my property. Answer NO, I must use Halifax and pay for the privilige of rectifying their undervaluation. Eh NO.
Next I ask asbout my first ever payment holiday from my mortgage for reasons above. Find out about same valuation problem. So I complain this time. A bog standard response that has no personal detail or reason. Basically saying NO.
So I visit a branch twice, make a phone call and ask for someone to contact me for an appointment to talk about remortgages. I get no replies. I fill in online for appointment. No replies.
I would just like to point out, I have never missed a payment on anything. I have several current accounts, savings accounts and a credit card with them. They have even just raised my credit without me asking on the credit card. I also have a sharedealing account.
So in summary, they have really hacked me off now. I have sought mortgage advice elsewhere and will be saving £400 a month !, not with Halifax.
I will be working my way through my accounts and severing all contact with Halifax.
How I feel now towards Halifax, DISGUSTED
(This has happened over couple of years now and is not just a rant about something fresh)
I opened 2 online accounts for my two sons, presented all i.d. at local branch as requested but after one month of failing to be able to access the accounts online (the site constantly asking us to accept t's and c's, and having to wait 5/10 mins to get to speak to someone on the helpdesk to answer the phone), I tried to close the accounts. One accout they insisted I had to do at the branch because they said they did not have a d.o.b (although birth certificate was presented as a pre-requisite of opening the account). The other account they said they would do online there and then. I was therefore upset to find out 8 days later that I still did not have the money and the online helpdesk tried to persuade me that 8 days was not long enough! Eventually, I found out that they had not closed the account! Tried to speak to someone to formally complain but they left me on hold for 10 minutes so I hung up. Wrote letter and was copensated £50. Not enough as I had wasted hours and Hours trying to sort. Frankly a shambolic service. Cannot think of one good thing to say accept that they people in my local Boscombe branch are v. nice and helpful! Thank God for First Direct!
I have banked with Halifax for over 20 years. Since their demutualisation and consequent forced mergers and massive losses, they chose to resort to easy pickings of their current account holders and started a process of theft of excessive charges. £35 for .35p overdrawn, yes this is the bank that likes to say yes, yes to stealing its customers money. Well Halifax, I have now closed my 3 banks accounts with you, and no... you don't need to keep writing to me anymore. I will be taking steps to recover your charges plus interest and would suggest that rather than spending millions on ridiculous advertising campaigns pretending that you are liked, you take that money and give it back to your customers.
I have been with the Halifax for many many years, but over the past two or three years I have noticed a rapid deterioration in the quality of the services they provide.
It seems like at least once a month when I go to withdraw money from the cash machines the withdrawal service is not available (they are happy to take your money but not let you take it back). This has been compounded by at least 2 major failures of their ATM system this year (the last being 1 week ago).
Today (November 21) I attempted to pay a bill via their internet banking service. Just as I hit the button to make a payment, I was kicked out and told my account had been suspended. So I went to the telephone banking system - same message. So now I will have to make a special journey into town to pay my bills over the counter (assuming it is there service that has actually failed and they haven't really suspended my accounts).
There is a clear preference for the banks to encourage their customers to use internet banking, but this service does not seem to be particularly robust.
After 35 years with the Halifax I think it is time to leave. It's a pity because they used to be quite good.
Seven years with the Halifax running a current account, amongst other things, is seven years too many. They are a walking disaster area and from being a nondescript building society have become a far worse bank. They just don't have a clue and I feel sorry for the few competent employees they possess who are swamped by the useless, clueless idiots that make up a majority of their staff
but what kind of company, changes agreed limits by such a large amount, doesn't inform its client and then hides behind such ridiculous phrases.
I had the same experience with their sister company Bank of Scotland. It seems that if you search reducing credit limits on the internet. You get examples from HSBC and even Barclaycard. Its the credit crunch. They will never tell you that its just they do not see us as worthy customers. They want to reduce borrowing to shore up their own deficit. I hope more people read this and are prepared.
Hi, due to a spell in hospital and a lack of receiving a bank letter informing me that I had gone overdrawn due to halifax insurance wrongly taking a payment from my account even though the policy was cancelled, I have a problem, basically early sept a charge of £31.99 was took from my account wrongly by halifax home insurance, a matter that I was not aware off, due to this a cheque that I had wrote for £34 was allowed and paid which resulted in me going overdrawn, funds were then put into my account by a family member so I could pay more bills, again which were paid but again due to my account being £31.99 short again my account again ended up with me being overdrawn, to cut a long story short I was charged on the
3rd sept - £35
10th sept -£35
16th Sept - £35
18th Sept -£35
22nd Sept - £35
26th Sept - £35
28th Sept - £35
3rd Oct - £35
plus interest charges of £24.70 the 1st Oct
I have contacted the bank by letter explaing that due to me being in hospital I had no mail, I also explained that on returning home the charges for the 3rd-10th and the 16th I was never informed of anyway and the fact that due to me being in receipt of benefits can the charges be dropped or lowered as it was their fault of taking £31.99 from my account in the first place that took weeks to be paid back into my account, and received a short reply stating that the charges are set and I have to pay them, at the same time I also sent an identical letter to the customer complaints dept of the bank but as yet all I have had is a response saying it is being looked into, I have tried to ring but to no joy, In one month charges were took for £245 plus and I only get £210 per month in Incapacity benefit, since thwn I have again noticed that on the 9th Oct another £35 charge was took which has made me overdrawn, I was not notified of this charge and have not wrote any further cheques and have cancelled direct debit so where this charge has come from I have no idea.
I get paid on Wednesday and my lodger, for the umpteenth time this year has not paid their rent on time. Oh well, no problem, I'll just use my Halifax credit card until I get paid...WRONG!!!
I bought some shopping on Saturday but when I tried to buy petrol on Sunday my card was refused. I embarrassingly had to borrow some money off the friend I was driving.
I rang up and found that my credit limit has been reduced without them informing me. They have said that they have written to me but only sent the letter on the same day my credit limit was reduced - the 23rd Sept - and I haven't received it yet; with the last post delivered at my house on the 26th.
I had a £5,600 limit but they have reduced it to less that 25% of that.
I have never missed a payment and usually pay my account fully, though I hadn't for the last 2 months or so as it is utility bill and road tax time.
On the phone they said that I appeared to be "cash dependent" as I had used the cash advance feature of my credit card more than once. After I pointed out that this feature was something they gave me, the person said that they give it but don't expect it to be used. They then said that it was their duty to be "responsible lenders".
In my exasperation I, of course, advised them that I would pay off the account, cancel my card with them, and never use them again or recommend them. What I think I'm going to do ... for as long as I can be bothered, is to pay off the balance and use the card to buy £5 worth of petrol every month...then pay in full each month.
...but what kind of company, changes agreed limits by such a large amount, doesn't inform its client and then hides behind such ridiculous phrases.
Absolutely disgusted with the companies policy to overcharge for bank charges - but most of all the condecending tone with which the so called 'customer service manager' thinks its ok to talk to people
my daughter has been charged £140 in 5 weeks for 2 direct debits summitted twice - and they think that its not unreasonable - glad the government helped out this deserving community serving company
Halifax withdrew my overdraft with no notice although they say they wrote to me (I received nothing) and told me I am classed as ZERO by them will not give me any overdraft at all I had to use my savings to pay my bills How are we supposed to spend as the government says they want us to if the banks are making it impossible for the working person - I cant spend on anything now, just bills and food and travel to work, and quite frankly they are bordering on rudness when you speak to anyone on the phone and am assuming they are getting nothing but abuse from customers who are being treated like S**t.
Its ok for the "executives" to sit in their posh offices dictating new rules without any consideration at all of the impact on ordinary people - they have had billions of our tax money and now they still want us to pay more - why treat
Ordinary working people like this what about the big earners I bet they are not being treated like they are a ZERO.
How about getting fair and just treatment from the banks, after all they caused this mess in the first place.
I had to get this off my chest I am furious at the way they have treated me and I know I will not be the only one, loyalty and length of time with the Banks are not even thought about let alone considered anymore
In the meantime I will share a bank account and when this mess improves I will bank with any bank as long as it is not English
if you are with the Halifax I would advise you to leave them before you end up as a ZERO too
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Visitors to the site are reminded that the details contained within user comments are uncorroborated and as such should not be read as fact but as the opinion of the person who left the comment.
Comments:
almost 6 years later they send us a letter saying they sold the house in march 2012 and there was a shortfall of 50k which we must pay back.
I would like some advice about this because it doesnt make sense atall so any help would be appreciated.
almost 6 years later they send us a letter saying they sold the house in march 2012 and there was a shortfall of 50k which we must pay back.
I would like some advice about this because it doesnt make sense atall so any help would be appreciated.
In the last couple of years, I have to say they have seriously disappointed me on a number of occasions. At first I thought one small thing in such a long time is not much, but it just got worse.
First thing was noticing it was like going back 10 yrs when dealing with them. Their reply, we have adopted Lloyds methods.
Second, I get a house insurance renewal quote that I feel is a bit high. So I do an online check, even the Halifax comes in at half that price. So I do my first complaint. I get a bog standard response of the original quote was correct. No problem, I then got my house insurance with someone else for less than half the cost. Saved me over £400 in a year.
Third, my wages are going to be reduced and I have a baby on route. So I ask if I can release some equity from my house in order to clear some smaller debts and get my finances in order as well as buy things for the baby coming. Answer NO. Why ? Because they undervalue my house by around £50k, so I don't meet their LTV.
But, I dare to say so do I just get a couple of estate agents valuations on my property. Answer NO, I must use Halifax and pay for the privilige of rectifying their undervaluation. Eh NO.
Next I ask asbout my first ever payment holiday from my mortgage for reasons above. Find out about same valuation problem. So I complain this time. A bog standard response that has no personal detail or reason. Basically saying NO.
So I visit a branch twice, make a phone call and ask for someone to contact me for an appointment to talk about remortgages. I get no replies. I fill in online for appointment. No replies.
I would just like to point out, I have never missed a payment on anything. I have several current accounts, savings accounts and a credit card with them. They have even just raised my credit without me asking on the credit card. I also have a sharedealing account.
So in summary, they have really hacked me off now. I have sought mortgage advice elsewhere and will be saving £400 a month !, not with Halifax.
I will be working my way through my accounts and severing all contact with Halifax.
How I feel now towards Halifax, DISGUSTED
(This has happened over couple of years now and is not just a rant about something fresh)
It seems like at least once a month when I go to withdraw money from the cash machines the withdrawal service is not available (they are happy to take your money but not let you take it back). This has been compounded by at least 2 major failures of their ATM system this year (the last being 1 week ago).
Today (November 21) I attempted to pay a bill via their internet banking service. Just as I hit the button to make a payment, I was kicked out and told my account had been suspended. So I went to the telephone banking system - same message. So now I will have to make a special journey into town to pay my bills over the counter (assuming it is there service that has actually failed and they haven't really suspended my accounts).
There is a clear preference for the banks to encourage their customers to use internet banking, but this service does not seem to be particularly robust.
After 35 years with the Halifax I think it is time to leave. It's a pity because they used to be quite good.
I had the same experience with their sister company Bank of Scotland. It seems that if you search reducing credit limits on the internet. You get examples from HSBC and even Barclaycard. Its the credit crunch. They will never tell you that its just they do not see us as worthy customers. They want to reduce borrowing to shore up their own deficit. I hope more people read this and are prepared.
3rd sept - £35
10th sept -£35
16th Sept - £35
18th Sept -£35
22nd Sept - £35
26th Sept - £35
28th Sept - £35
3rd Oct - £35
plus interest charges of £24.70 the 1st Oct
I have contacted the bank by letter explaing that due to me being in hospital I had no mail, I also explained that on returning home the charges for the 3rd-10th and the 16th I was never informed of anyway and the fact that due to me being in receipt of benefits can the charges be dropped or lowered as it was their fault of taking £31.99 from my account in the first place that took weeks to be paid back into my account, and received a short reply stating that the charges are set and I have to pay them, at the same time I also sent an identical letter to the customer complaints dept of the bank but as yet all I have had is a response saying it is being looked into, I have tried to ring but to no joy, In one month charges were took for £245 plus and I only get £210 per month in Incapacity benefit, since thwn I have again noticed that on the 9th Oct another £35 charge was took which has made me overdrawn, I was not notified of this charge and have not wrote any further cheques and have cancelled direct debit so where this charge has come from I have no idea.
I get paid on Wednesday and my lodger, for the umpteenth time this year has not paid their rent on time. Oh well, no problem, I'll just use my Halifax credit card until I get paid...WRONG!!!
I bought some shopping on Saturday but when I tried to buy petrol on Sunday my card was refused. I embarrassingly had to borrow some money off the friend I was driving.
I rang up and found that my credit limit has been reduced without them informing me. They have said that they have written to me but only sent the letter on the same day my credit limit was reduced - the 23rd Sept - and I haven't received it yet; with the last post delivered at my house on the 26th.
I had a £5,600 limit but they have reduced it to less that 25% of that.
I have never missed a payment and usually pay my account fully, though I hadn't for the last 2 months or so as it is utility bill and road tax time.
On the phone they said that I appeared to be "cash dependent" as I had used the cash advance feature of my credit card more than once. After I pointed out that this feature was something they gave me, the person said that they give it but don't expect it to be used. They then said that it was their duty to be "responsible lenders".
In my exasperation I, of course, advised them that I would pay off the account, cancel my card with them, and never use them again or recommend them. What I think I'm going to do ... for as long as I can be bothered, is to pay off the balance and use the card to buy £5 worth of petrol every month...then pay in full each month.
...but what kind of company, changes agreed limits by such a large amount, doesn't inform its client and then hides behind such ridiculous phrases.
my daughter has been charged £140 in 5 weeks for 2 direct debits summitted twice - and they think that its not unreasonable - glad the government helped out this deserving community serving company
Its ok for the "executives" to sit in their posh offices dictating new rules without any consideration at all of the impact on ordinary people - they have had billions of our tax money and now they still want us to pay more - why treat
Ordinary working people like this what about the big earners I bet they are not being treated like they are a ZERO.
How about getting fair and just treatment from the banks, after all they caused this mess in the first place.
I had to get this off my chest I am furious at the way they have treated me and I know I will not be the only one, loyalty and length of time with the Banks are not even thought about let alone considered anymore
In the meantime I will share a bank account and when this mess improves I will bank with any bank as long as it is not English
if you are with the Halifax I would advise you to leave them before you end up as a ZERO too
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