Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

tracker mortgage scandal

3,400 new victims of tracker mortgage scandal identified

37,100 customers affected by the scandal have now been identified, with €459 million in redress paid to date.

shutterstock_387933691 Shutterstock / Hakinmhan Shutterstock / Hakinmhan / Hakinmhan

THE CENTRAL BANK has identified an additional cohort of people who have been impacted by the tracker mortgage scandal, according to its latest figures on the issue.

As at mid-March, 37,100 customers had been identified as having been affected by the scandal, an increase of 3,400 from the same figure seen at end December 2017.

The scandal saw more the customers of the country’s banks who were affected being overcharged by their lenders when they were either denied a tracker rate they were entitled to, or charged the wrong rate of interest on their mortgage.

To date, €459 million in redress and compensation has been paid out by Irish lenders, an increase of €162 million from December.

88% of those affected by the scandal have now been offered compensation, according to the Central Bank.

63% of those redress payments totalled less than €10,000.

“We recognise the devastating effects that lenders’ failures have had on people,” said the Central Bank’s  director general of financial conduct Derville Rowland.

We’re using our powers to force the banks into remedying the scandal they caused. The payment of redress and compensation to those affected is now very significantly advanced, and proceeding in line with the timelines set out by the Central Bank.

The Central Bank has initiated enforcement proceedings against the six lenders involved – Permanent TSB, Ulster Bank, Bank of Ireland, KBC Bank, AIB, and EBS.

Reacting to the news, Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said that “the banks still think they can get away with their theft”.

“I am deeply angry at the fact that so many years after this scandal was exposed these newly discovered cases will only be starting the compensation and redress process now due to the verification process,” he said.

(The banks) are fighting tooth and nail against their own customers to keep them excluded. That is the only logical reason 3,400 more cases have been found in the last few weeks under Central Bank pressure. CEO after CEO shedding crocodile tears does not cut it, their actions show that they are still behind the scenes challenging their own customers.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
52
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel