Homeowners may be being treated unfairly

Homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage payments may be being treated unfairly, according tot the Financial Ombudsmen (FO).

Complaints made by borrowers to the ombudsmen service have increased by 50 per cent since 2007.

Tony Boorman, decisions director and principal ombudsmen, said: "The application of extensive fees for customers already experiencing debt problems may not be fair treatment."

He added that it does not always "sit well" with the "sympathetic and positive treatment of those in hardship".

Mr Boorman was talking to the Council of Mortgage Lenders and also spoke on the subject of mortgages being mis-sold.

He said that the consumer should be able to readily access how affordable a mortgage is for them if they know their won financial situation and the cost of the mortgage is clearly explained.

The FO considers complaints for a wide range of financial matters including mortgages, insurance and credit.

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