C&G merges underwriting and processing teams

Cheltenham & Gloucester has merged its underwriting and processing teams in a bid to improve its service to intermediaries.

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Speaking exclusively to Mortgage Adviser, Kevin Purvey, head of intermediary sales for C&G, said the lender acknowledged it had experienced problems with its processing earlier this year and they had engaged with advisers to try and improve service.

C&G came under fire from advisers in February after its new processing system, Caseflow, struggled under the weight of unprecedented adviser demand as a result of other lenders pulling out of the market.

Mr Purvey said the new teams, which would each have a specific regional focus, would create a "one touch solution" for advisers.

He said: "The ultimate aim is to provide support so if problems are encountered within a case, we are going to put that case back on track quickly. It becomes a one touch solution and that is the way we can build long-term sustainable relationships."

The new system has been piloted with 1000 advisers in the south west in the last two months and is expected to be rolled out UK-wide by the end of October.

Mr Purvey said although the lender was "not naive" enough to think there would be no teething problems with Caseflow when it was put in place late last year it had not anticipated the effect the credit crunch would have on volumes of business.

He said: "We tried very hard to cope with those levels but just like everyone at that point in time began to struggle with service.

"Absolutely we understand that it was a very hard time for intermediaries and their customers that rely on them.

"We have had some problems we have acknowledged what those are and taken some action. And we have invested both a huge amount of time and money and resources into improving the proposition."

"The intermediary market is incredibly important to us and that is why we have engaged with advisers to try and improve our service."

Carey Shakespeare, sales and marketing director for Leeds-based advisers Park Row, said: "C&G became the victims of its own success in that it took the bold step of continuing to lend in an attempt to ride out the market and they should be congratulated for having done so when so many others pulled out.

"It is also refreshing to see Mr Purvey come forward and acknowledge the important part intermediaries will play in C&G's future success in the mortgage market. We need positive statements like that right now."

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