When you ask for a redemption statement from your mortgage lender, it can come as an unpleasant surprise to see an additional charge termed ‘mortgage exit administration fee’ (MEAF), which, while it will be shown in the mortgage offer letter, is something most borrowers will have forgotten about. These can add significantly to the cost of switching mortgages.
It is estimated that the average mortgage redemption involves the lender in a paperwork exercise that costs somewhere in the region of £50, although redemption fees of over £200 are common.
Some time ago, the Financial Services Authority has reviewed these charges and concluded that some of these charges are a breach of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1999. In 2007 it issued a statement of practice to the mortgage lenders and there is a page on its website setting out the approach it expects lenders to take.
The FSA has set out its advice to borrowers as follows:
- If you think you have been charged a higher exit fee than the fee stated in your mortgage contract, contact the lender to find out if you are eligible for a refund of the difference. You may not need the original mortgage documentation to claim. If you give your name and the address of the property, the lender should be able to find your details.
- From now on, you should know when you sign up for a mortgage what exit fee you will pay, or should be given a clear idea of how the fee might be increased fairly. This transparency and fairness will allow you to make an informed decision about which mortgage product is best for you.
- Check all the mortgage fees as well as the interest rate when comparing mortgages. Consider what impact the fees will have on the overall cost of what you will borrow.
More recently, consumer website MoneySavingExpert has suggested that borrowers who have paid such fees may have success in recovering them and supplies template letters to use in seeking refunds.
Consumers also recently won a significant victory in the court against the clearing banks, when it was ruled that charges for exceeeding overdraft limits and similar penalties could be contested using the consumer protection legislation applicable to unfair contracts.
