WTF...................................................

[sean_ork]

What's that got to do with it?

Because that's all that really matters, but if the OP wants a crusade ....

 

[Leesparkykent]

A mortgage company being a lender will have to be a FCA member. They would have to comply with equality, discrimination, competition acts etc

 

[sean_ork]

Are you sure?

It's their money, and their right to stipulate whoever they deem to be suitable qualified. It is perhaps rather short sighted of them to be so restrictive.

 

[sean_ork]

A mortgage company being a lender will have to be a FCA member. They would have to comply with equality, discrimination, competition acts etc

Good luck with that ....

 

[Leesparkykent]

Because that's all that really matters, but if the OP wants a crusade ....

I don’t think “that’s all that really matters” and by the looks of things, the OP doesn’t think being paid is all that matters.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Good luck with that ....

Good luck with what Sean?

 

[sean_ork]

Good luck with what Sean?

Trying to convince a mortgage lender that they could or should use members of other schemes, based on their need to satisfy the terms of their membership of the FCA.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Trying to convince a mortgage lender that they could or should use members of other schemes, based on their need to satisfy the terms of their membership of the FCA.

Oh...what makes you say that then? I personally know someone who has done it. Without a FCA license they can’t lend, give advice or broker money.

 

[Baddegg]

It's their money, and their right to stipulate whoever they deem to be suitable qualified. It is perhaps rather short sighted of them to be so restrictive.

Suitably qualified is nothing to do with the scheme you are a member off.........

 

[sean_ork]

Suitably qualified is nothing to do with the scheme you are a member off.........

Indeed, they aren't fussy who they allow in.

 

[Baddegg]

Indeed, they aren't fussy who they allow in.

That another subject, thought we were discussing mortgage companies and competition laws?

 

[sean_ork]

That another subject, thought we were discussing mortgage companies and competition laws?

I guess we are, putting it another way .... perhaps the lender in question needs to be reminded and convinced that members of others schemes may well also be suitably qualified to carry out the testing they require.

Thats a task for other schemes marketing departments, in the interests of their own members.

 

[johnduffell]

I agree it's utter rubbish, and completely unfair, but I struggle to think of any law that would be broken, as it's before the remortgage. It's certainly not price fixing, as they are not fixing prices as they would have to prove collaboration to gain a collective monopoly on pricing to artificially inflate them. And it's not discrimination as it's not a protected characteristic to be in another scheme.
If it were after the mortgage was signed, and the OP's customer ticked a box to say the electrics were safe, and the mortgage company were trying to apply a penalty or retention to the account because they weren't checked, in a court of law the report from any competent electrician would be acceptable.
But because it is before hand, they can insist you send them a pack of custard creams from sainsburys if they like and refuse to give you the mortgage otherwise (even if you provided waitrose ones which were better quality).

 

[Kamikaze]

If my memory serves me right then cartel behaviour is the most serious breach of the anti-competitive rules. The fines are mind-boggling. If the mortgage company really stipulated an NIC contractor before they requested the EICR as part of the application, then they could also bring the NIC into disrepute. To prove racketeering will be difficult but there should be a paper trail of how the NIC was chosen as a preferred scheme.

 

[johnduffell]

To prove racketeering will be difficult but there should be a paper trail

which is the more likely explanation

1. idiots making up the rules and hurting their own company in the process (to the benefit of the neceic who is not involved other than being well known)
2. complex agreements with the majority of other mortgage providers and the neceic with mutual kick backs abusing the dominant position in the market for their own benefit creating a criminal offence all for a tiny amount of money anyway

Never ascribe to malice what you can explain with incompetence