CML welcomes government information scheme to help borrowers in difficulty

The CML welcomes the launch today of a new national campaign by the government to provide information to help home-owners struggling to meet their mortgage payments. The information campaign, which seeks to help borrowers stay in their homes by taking control of their payment problems, reinforces key messages from lenders to mortgage customers:

• Don't ignore the problem.
• Get help by talking to your lender.
• It's never too early to contact your lender to talk about your worries.

Endorsing the launch of today's campaign, the CML's director general Michael Coogan said:

"We welcome this additional initiative by the government to remind borrowers to speak to their lender at the earliest possible opportunity, and preferably as soon as they think they might miss a payment. Avoiding possession is as important to lenders as it is to borrowers, and an early warning will help reduce the risk of this worst-case outcome.

"Most customers who are committed to resolving their problems and working with their lender can successfully manage their way through a period of short-term payment difficulty and avoid possession."