Focus Independent Financial Advisers, Seacourt Tower, West Way, Oxford OX2 0JL
Speed of Response: Time of call: 10.30am. Two rings, through to a receptionist and then a partner. 5/5
Telephone Manner: Friendly and helpful. 5/5
Relevant Qualifications: CeMAP, chartered financial planner. 5/5
Payment Method: Ninety-nine per cent of the time customers would pay nothing, but if the mortgage was under £50,000 then a £500 minimum charge might be applied. 5/5
Guidance Given: A separate legal agreement between the principal buyer and his parents would have to be drawn up. Under no circumstances would the parents be allowed to be included on the mortgage paperwork. 4/5
Knowledge: The adviser seemed to know what he was talking about, although later it became clear that his advice might not be comprehensive. 3/5
Email/Web Presence: www.focus-oxford.co.uk pop-up email address on website / 5/5
Verdict: Appeared knowledgeable and friendly, and suggested a face-to-face meeting to assess the overall financial position.
32/25
Oxford Advisory Partnership, 2-4 High St, Kidlington OX5 2DH
Speed of Response: Time of call: 10.40am. Straight through to a partner after three rings 5/5
Telephone Manner: Friendly and helpful. 5/5
Relevant Qualifications: CeMAP, chartered financial planner. 5/5
Payment Method: Between 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent of the total mortgage would be payable as a charge. 4/5
Guidance Given: A separate legal agreement would have to been drawn up. This could specify whether his parents owned £30,000 or 10 per cent of the property on sale. He highlighted that the parents would be behind the mortgage provider in terms of prepayment of the capital and added that no interest could be charged on the parents’ money. The parents could only demand their money back after the final sale of the property. 5/5
Knowledge: Went into much greater detail than any of the other advisers on this issue. 5/5
Email/Web Presence: enquiries@oxfordadvisory.com www.oxfordadvisory.com 5/5
Verdict: Most helpful and proficient.
34/35
Danny Bourke Mortgage Services, 92 Oliver Rd, Oxford OX4 2JG
Speed of Response: Time of call: 10.50am. Straight through to the managing partner after two rings. 5/5
Telephone Manner: Friendly and helpful. 5/5
Relevant Qualifications: Chartered financial planner. 5/5
Payment Method: A flat £325 basic fee on completion. 4/5
Guidance Given: A separate legal agreement would have to been drawn up. He said that his parents could be named on the mortgage, depending on their age. 3/5
Knowledge: Did not go into too much detail and said that he would prefer to do this in a face-to-face meeting. 3/5
Email/Web Presence: info@ineedadeal.co.uk www.ineedadeal.co.uk 5/5
Verdict: Questions about his overall knowledge remain.
30/35
Provider: Barclays (using Woolwich mortgages)
Speed of Response: 11am. On hold for 15 minutes before being put through to call centre. 2/5
Telephone Manner: Unconcerned by my wait, and utterly unhelpful. 1/5
Relevant Qualifications: None. 0/5
Payment Method: Could not tell me for sure what any charges would be, adding that “it depended” on the mortgage that I went for. 1/5
Guidance Given: Suggested that I either book an appointment at a branch or called back another time when it was not so busy. 1/5
Knowledge: None. 0/5
Email/Web Presence: www.barclays.co.uk Pop-up email on website 5/5
Verdict: Would not buy a fish bowl through it, let alone a house.
10/35
