Mis-Sold Business Loans
The mis-selling of business interest rate loans (business swap loans) is another scandal by the banks. It is now accepted after investigations that these complex loans sold to small to medium size business may not be to the business advantage causing losses.
Simply put a business interest rate swap loan is a ‘gamble” by the bank and the business owner on whether the business loan interest rate will rise or fall. If the interest rate rises, the bank pays the difference, but if the interest rate lowers, the business owner pays the difference. Over the last few years the interest rate has fallen to historic lows, giving rise to substantial losses to the business owners and increase profit to the major banks who mis-sold these business swap loans. The businesses are varied from the “Chippy”, “coffee shops” and to a small hotels.”
The top four UK banks that have mis-sold interest rate swap loans to small businesses since 2001 are hereunder:-
Barclays Bank mis-sold business interest rate swap loans
RBS Bank mis-sold business interest rate swap loans
Lloyds mis-sold business interest rate swap loans
HSBC mis-sold business interest rate swap loans
Most of the interest rate swap business loans were sold between 2005 and 2008 but investigations can take place as far back as 2001. Most small to medium size business owners were led to believe that these type of swap interest rate loans were just a label to simply fix their small business loan interest rates to provide some future certainty that the cost of the loan will not rise. In reality, the swap interest business loans were a sophisticated banking product that gambled on interest rates rising and falling.
The swap interest rate product may be sufficient for the “informed” or “knowledgeable” business owner willing to take a risk, but not for most retail small business owners. As a result of the banking crisis where interest rates have plummeted, these type of swap interest business loans have caused financial hardship to the small business retailer causing difficult if not impossible trading costs, often resulting in closure of the business.
The banking industry failed to advise the small business owner of the risk and pitfalls in detail, failed also to advise the business owner of the onerous penalty clauses for cancelling the business swap loan resulting in unfair lock-ins. The bank, however, had a far less onerous “get out clause” if the interest rate fluctuation did not suit them.
As in the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling, (see our dedicated web site on this www.iamhappi.com)another alleged mis-sold interest rate business swap loan technique was that they banking advisor informed the business consumer that without the swap loan, they were unlikely to be accepted by the bank. A compulsory product that was very technical in nature sold to “unsophisticated” small business owners.
Need Legal Help?
We have an excellent track record claiming compensation against major banks and lending institutions for mis-sold insurance contracts and products. There is no conflict of interest with us or any bank. As a specialist firm of solicitors we have no fear in taking on large banking institutions, we do not have a overdraft facility or even borrow any money from any bank to run our own business. In fact we threatened to take legal action against our CREDIT card provider because they tried to stop our taking card payments from clients who were taking action against banks for mis-sold PPI. Please Contact Us now for further advice on interest rate swap claims.
No Win, No Fee, No Worry, Service
We are confident to offer you a legal service that we are prepared, given the right facts, to offer our clients a no win, no fee, service to claim compensation for mis-sold business interest rate swaps. In short, if you lost your case against the bank and we obtain litigation insurance, you will not have to pay for any costs as the litigation insurance pays the banks legal costs. If you win, you are likely to recover all or the vast majority of your legal costs from the bank. In most cases, win or lose you often do not have to pay a penny.
If court action is not right for you, the Financial Service Authority has provided a free service to make a claim, but you must make a claim yourself. Alternativiely for a fee of 25% plus vat, we would be able to represent you make a claim through the scheme under a no win no fee service. Thus if you fail in your claim under the scheme, you pay us nothing; if you win, you pay us 25% of the financial benefit of the claim plus vat.
Without fear or favour, conflict or prejudice we are equipped to take action on your behalf.
Please CONTACT US NOW for initial free advice on interest rate swap claims.
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