Mortgage Arrears / Ascent Contact advice needed urgently

[twoamagain]

Hello all,

 

This is my first post. Please be gentle.

 

I've had a reduced payment arrangement in place for my mortgage with the Halifax for the past 3 years.

I haven't been able to find gainful employment due to ongoing mental health issues and close family bereavement.

 

My mortgage is relatively small and the arrears are approximately £2,000.

 

Today I received a letter from Ascent Contact :

 

"We act on behalf of Halifax and have been instructed by them to contact you and discuss the current situation with your mortgage.

 

We understand that this will be a difficult time for you so we aim to explore the options available to you

and then present your situation to your lender.

Our aim and purpose is to help you put forward a positive proposal.

 

Our local representative has been instructed to complete a field report including financial analysis."

 

The field agent is visiting me next Tuesday and I can't begin to explain how terrified I am.

 

He didn't sound like a reasonable person on the telephone and this is the first time the Halifax have sent somebody to see me.

 

I do suffer from severe panic attacks and suicidal ideation for which I receive regular treatment and support.

 

At the moment my anxiety levels are very high due to a variety of stressors (it never rains, it pours).

 

Does anyone have any experience with a field visit from Ascent ?

 

How worried should I be about repossession at this stage ?

 

What information goes into a field report, other than financials ?

 

Am I required to show the field agent my personal bank statements ?

 

This feels like a huge invasion of privacy to me.

 

I'm not hiding anything and he won't find any lavish expenditure or undeclared income so I'm suspicious of his motive in this respect.

 

I'm just scared beyond belief and any help / advice would be gratefully received.

 

-H

[dx100uk]

you write back to them and state you do not want or need the visit.

 

they have no legal powers whatsoever

and

you'll get charges for the visit too.

 

typically +£50 usually £100.

 

so send of that letter tomorrow.

 

have you all the mortgage statements

 

if so.

 

if you have fixed sum arrears fees

and any other fees

or insurances [bar buildings]

 

then have you thought about reclaiming

they are all unlawful.

 

dx

[dx100uk]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?296108-Hot-news-for-anyone-who-has-suffered-mortgage-arrears-charges-irresponsible-lending-or-other-unfair-lender-conduct

[twoamagain]

Have cancelled the 'visit'. There's no need for it since they already have an up to date income & expenditure Step Change prepared for me.

 

Phoned the Halifax. My account is now being passed to the Litigation Team but will hopefully be passed to the Sensitive Litigation Team because of my mental health problems. This scares me so much.

 

I want to stay in my house. I really do.

 

Thanks for the advice re: fees. I'll definitely look into that. They're charging me £40 for cancelling the field agent visit ! It's 'policy' apparently.

 

-H

[dx100uk]

well they cant and they know it!

 

dx