My ex did mortgage fraud in my name but NatWest won’t write it off

Four years ago I discovered that my then partner had taken out more than £120,000 in fraudulent loans in my name without my consent.

He had gone to almost every bank on the high street and had built up a huge debt without my knowledge.

This included a £40,000 mortgage with NatWest for the house my aunt gave me.

He has since been found guilty of fraud and is now in jail. After his conviction, all debts in my name were written off by the banks, except the mortgage with NatWest.

The amount owed has now risen to £51,000 as interest has accrued as a result of missed payments.

I’ve done as much as possible to resolve the situation with NatWest, including instructing a lawyer and sending any information about the crime.

But I haven’t heard back and it’s now threatening to take over my house. I am a single mother with a 9 year old.

My ex-partner lied about my salary on the application and I can’t afford to keep track of the payments. I don’t know what else to do – please help. LD by email

Fran Ivens, of This is Money, answers: I am incredibly sorry to hear about your situation.

It must have been a stressful time learning about the fraudulent loans taken out in your name and trying to repair the damage done by your ex-partner.

Financial abuse in relationships takes many forms and is often difficult to escape.

>> Are you or do you know someone who is being financially abused? How to recognize the warning signs and where to turn for help

The fact that you’ve been dealing with the worry of a mortgage that you haven’t taken out in so many years must have only added to your stress.

The thought of losing your home in which you are raising a young child has undoubtedly caused many sleepless nights.

Of all the lenders he has defrauded, NatWest is the only one who hasn’t written off the debt.

The mortgage was taken out through a broker and your ex-partner initially repaid it.

Before contacting the banking giant on your behalf, I spoke to a lawyer who specializes in fraud cases.

Now that your ex-partner has been convicted and is in jail, he was also surprised that NatWest still didn’t know what he thought you owed.

He also clarified that the fact that your ex-partner went through a broker to take out the mortgage does not affect whether the bank correctly charged you for the repayment.

I should mention here that NatWest refutes the claim that it has had no contact with you and your attorney.

It says the case was on hold pending the outcome of the police investigation and the Financial Ombudsman’s complaint that you lodged.

It also made it clear that it is standard practice to take the time to gather information relevant to a case of fraud before making a decision.

When you attended a recent seizure hearing, the judge granted a 56-day reprieve to allow the bank to review new information.

It is in response to this new information, the bank says, that it has finally decided to write off the mortgage in full.

And it will contact your representative to ensure that you are reimbursed for the costs incurred while dealing with the bank, as well as for compensation.

A NatWest spokesperson said: “Your reader has fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud and we sympathize with their experience.

“Following a review of more details recently provided, we are pleased to confirm that we will be amortizing the mortgage debt and associated interest.

“We also offer your reader a fee for their experience.”

“In all cases of fraud and scams, we will collect information from the victim to understand what happened and enable us to achieve a fair outcome.

‘We are committed to supporting victims of fraud.’

Fran Ivens adds: While this is a great result, I am sorry for the years of pain this process has caused.

I hope you can now take some time with your child and the rest of the family without the stress of this fraudulently obtained mortgage – and repossession – hanging over your head.