Mortgage Monster

Mortgage Monster: mortgage and protection brokerage in Southend-on-Sea

Mortgage Monster is a mortgage brokerage based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, that states it covers the whole of the UK. The firm presents itself as a guide through the mortgage and purchase or remortgage process, from the first mortgage until the client is mortgage-free, and also advises on protection products to help clients keep their property if the worst happens.

Mortgage Monster Limited is an appointed representative of Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The company is registered in England under number 11726196, with its registered office at 120 Prince Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England SS0 0NW.

Mortgage and protection services

The brokerage handles mortgages and protection. On the mortgage side, it addresses the range of options, schemes and terminology involved in borrowing, and offers to explain the process from start to finish. It also works with clients on remortgaging and Buy to Let investment. The firm states that it is upfront and impartial about what it can offer and how it earns fees, and that it provides a list of the commissions received from each lender along with the list of lenders it works with; this is also declared on mortgage key fact illustrations.

After a mortgage is arranged, Mortgage Monster explains how clients can protect their home and family in the event of death, illness or inability to work, and offers solutions from a panel of insurers. It also offers home and contents insurance from a range of insurers, describing the option as quality 5 star defacto rated.

Online tools and resources

The website includes a set of tools: a Mortgage Finder, an Affordability Calculator, a Repayment Calculator, a Borrowing Power tool, a Stamp Duty Calculator and a Mortgage Jargon Buster. It also publishes a blog with articles such as “What does an Estate Agent do?”, “What Paperwork Do I Need To Apply For A Mortgage?” and “12 Ways to Boost Your Credit Score”. Visitors can sign up for email updates.

The team

The firm lists eight team members with their roles and professional backgrounds:

• Barry Clark, Founder and Mortgage & Protection Broker, has worked in property since leaving university in 2002 and in financial services for the last 14 years.
• Richard Catling, Senior Mortgage & Protection Broker, has been in mortgages for more than 20 years and previously worked at Barclays for just over a decade. He also heads up the Southend Chapter of the Business over Breakfast Club, a bimonthly business get-together for local business owners.
• Sarah Horne, Mortgage Office Manager, has years of experience managing brokers and assists clients with getting mortgages offered, negotiating with underwriters, surveyors and solicitors through to exchange and completion.
• Leonie Grieg, Mortgage Administrator & Trainee Broker, has been in financial services for over six years and started on an apprenticeship scheme; she assists with paperwork, mortgage submissions and compliance.
• Mike Nankivell, Mortgage & Protection Advisor, handles all types of mortgages and protection.
• Grant Daines, Mortgage & Protection Advisor, spent more than 20 years in the technology sector in B2B and B2C roles before moving into financial services.
• Adam Crawford, Marketing Guru, manages social media accounts, email marketing, blogging and design.
• Victoria Clark, Mortgage & Protection Advisor, is described as the happiest member of the team and the first to help anyone in the office.

Client approach and coverage

Mortgage Monster describes its team as approachable and down to earth, and says it listens to what clients want to achieve and sets out a plan to get there. It invites clients to visit its office in Southend and notes that it serves Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, Essex and anywhere in the UK.

The website carries the warning that a home may be repossessed if repayments on a mortgage are not kept up.