Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank

3:10 pm

Mr. Stephen Bell:

There is a combination of answers to that question. I am trying to answer it directly. Engagement can mean many things. If somebody offers to pay €50 a month towards a monthly mortgage payment of €500, they are technically engaging but it is not meaningful engagement. It is not a meaningful offer of any kind of payment. We are trying to work with customers over a medium-term period. As I said to the Chair in response to an earlier question, we are not looking to repossess anybody's house. It appears that we have a group of customers who will not take this matter seriously until that threat is put in front of them. This time last year less than 10% of customers responded when we threatened legal action, but now almost half of all customers are responding. We think that is a very positive move. It is a shame it has taken legal action to make it happen. We think it is very positive that we are finally getting-----