Inter Financial Weblog

 

Archive for September, 2008

Broker Fees – Why?

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

One of the most common questions asked here at Interfinancial is “Do you charge a fee?” Many customers come looking for a personal loan but are – quite rightly – wary of paying a Finder Fee before they see the goods.

So, what are these fees and why is it so hard to find a loan these days without stumping up hard cash first?

For many customers, the loan is their lifeline: They have a limited income that seems to either being going out faster than it comes in, or they need cash ASAP to cover an unexpected bill. The last thing they can afford is yet another outgoing.

Believe us, brokers do understand that when you need money, you’re not looking to spend it. However, it’s not just customers who have had to adapt to the global credit crisis; the loans market has changed a lot too.

With fewer loan products available and lenders getting increasingly picky over borrower criteria, we’re working harder than ever to find you that loan. We spend alot of our time checking paperwork, answering questions and searching the market – which increasingly means checking the small print – just to get you quotes.

With so many customers shopping around to get the cheapest loan deal, we’ve always had to stay competitive, but we can only offer the deals that are out there. Many customers have unrealistic ideas about the deals they can get – especially when they are seeking a bad credit loan.

Whilst we don’t expect every enquirer to take us up on our quotes, we do find that we’re spending a lot of time looking for loans for people who don’t realise that cheap bad credit loans are not available from every lender like they used to be.

So, we hope you’ll understand that these fees are not just about us taking your hard-earned cash. We just want to make sure that you’re as serious about loans as we are.

Beware of hidden catches in your home loan

Monday, September 1st, 2008

In these days of the credit crunch many lenders are looking to ways to recoup on losses incurred in the last year. If you are looking to get a mortgage look out for the following catches that many lenders slap on in an effort to boost profits.

First of all many mortgages come with exit fees. If you decide to switch loans to another lender or even if you try to pay your home loan off early your lender will charge you an exit fee in order to cover the administrative costs of the mortgage.

These fees have been traditionally around £50 to £100 however many lenders have been including small print in the mortgage agreement which state that exit fees are variable. If you find you have been charged what seems an excessive fee, it is worth checking out. Use the documentation you have to make sure you are being charged the stated amount and if your lender refuses to co-operate go directly to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Another thing to consider when agreeing to a mortgage is the standard variable rate (SVR). The SVR is the lenders’ fluctuating rate for borrowing and in general is around 2% higher than the Bank of England base rate. If you are on a fixed rate mortgage for instance, once the deal expires you will automatically be moved onto the SVR.

It is always wise to be aware of when your loan rate is due to change well in advance to give yourself time to shop around. Although your lender should notify you to discuss your options, it is better for you if you are aware of the market, rather than accepting the first rate you are offered.

The financial climate is rather rocky right now, so it is better to have all your facts than to stumble along and find that you have switched from a great deal to one that leaves you considerably worse off each month.