Choice says mortgage brokers not up to standard

Consumer group Choice has released the results of a shadow shop of mortgage brokers, reporting that there were problems with disclosure, product recommendations and client assessments.

Choice sent five home buyers to Aussie Home Loans, Mortgage Choice and AFG.

The customer mix included a first-home buyer, a self-employed contractor looking to refinance, a young family refinancing, a couple buying an investment property and a person looking for a loan for construction of a property.

Among the problems encountered was advice to a customer seeking to refinance a mortgage while in an insecure employment position to use the equity in the home to borrow more and pay for a holiday or make investments.

One broker pushed his company's own product, while acknowledging that other lenders offered better loans.

A couple wanted A$600,000, secured against their home, to buy an investment property but were advised to borrow $1 million instead.

Two brokers used standard estimates of expenses instead of the customer's own data.

When the home builder went to AFG he was not given a commission disclosure, a lender panel disclosure or a credit guide.

The first-home buyer and the investors received inadequate disclosure from all three brokers.

Choice's overall assessment was that there were few examples of good practice.