Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Regarding write-downs and management of the bank's clients, my office regularly deals with approximately 100 cases of mortgage distress. I do not say this lightly or take any pleasure in doing so, but some of PTSB's clients have had a difficult call centre experience. A client might be dealt with by six or seven staff members who do not know the details of the case and instead have short briefing notes on their computers before the client rings them. Often, those members of staff give incorrect and contradictory information. I know of one such case involving pensioners. After they went to the Financial Services Ombudsman's office, the PTSB immediately started legal proceedings that prevented that office from investigating the matter further. In my general experience with the banks, some of the most difficult situations have involved PTSB. There are good staff and good examples as well, but I wanted to give the witnesses this feedback.

Regarding write-downs and residual debt, the bank is known to be particularly harsh. An interesting question was put to Bank of Ireland last week. If a homeless person gave a house back to the bank, would he or she be chased by the bank for the residual debt?