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Mortgage lenders that have been pulling the plug on providing competitive deals through the intermediary market in recent weeks are beginning to rethink their strategies, according to the pair.

Both Mr Farr and Mr Rignall said they had detected a change in attitude from some key mortgage lenders towards the intermediary market and a recognition dual pricing is not in their longer-term interests.

However, even when lenders were doing a vast amount of dual pricing to the disadvantage of intermediaries they were stating they did not want to do it for long and still supported mortgage advisers.

While it is fantastic lenders are now ending such practices what has to be understood is why they seized the opportunity to take control and maximise profits to help bolster their own balance sheets at the expense of advisers in the first place.

Was it not obvious to these lenders that disenfranchising a huge section of the market that had produced a substantial chunk of their business in recent years was a bad idea?

Perhaps mortgage advisers did not use their power as quickly as the lenders did and therefore, as far as the bosses of big banks and building societies were concerned, it was a fairly good idea.

Responses to our dual pricing stories show just how angry advisers have been with lenders' actions but also reveal other than vent spleen they have done little to force management at home loan providers to change their minds.

While lenders have won few friends with their decision to sideline intermediaries, what has been the impact on their business results? Absolutely nothing.

Last week, we polled top mortgage clubs and networks about whether they would be willing to boycott lenders that had cost their members dearly with their dual pricing practice. All of these organisations said they opted for diplomacy at the current time.

Given the current climate and the fact this is the first time lenders have quite so dramatically bitten the hand that has fed them in recent years, this approach is understandable.

The only sad comment that came with this worthy decision to take the higher ground was networks and clubs admitting one of the reasons they had decided not to boycott lenders that turned their backs on them was because it would hurt them more than it hurt the providers.

What should never be forgotten is mortgage advisers are powerful. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. However you are only powerful if you show your disgust and are confident in your own abilities.

A few years ago a big name protection provider pulled its products out of the market temporarily with virtually no notice for intermediaries. Advisers were disgusted and when the insurer returned to the market they refused to put business back their way.

They told their clients they could not trust this provider. Past and present bosses at this company have often told me what a mistake they now recognise this move was. They would have been better to lose some cash in the short-term and maintaining the respect of intermediaries.

Half a decade after this provider pulled the rug out from underneath advisers' feet many still tell me they would never use this insurer. Mortgage lenders and advisers should take note. While dual pricing to the detriment of intermediaries may be disappearing at the moment if it was to return perhaps a tougher stance would need to be taken.

Emma Ann Hughes is editor of Mortgage Adviser