Quick Summary
Founded
2000
Owned by:
FSA Group, which is ASX Listed
Funded by:
Pepper Home Loans, FSA (Westpac institutional)
LMI Provider:
Self-insured
Lender type:
Non Banks, Specialist Lender, Debt Agreement
Fox Symes was originally a company that specialised in debt solutions such as debt agreements, personal insolvency and debt negotiations as well as being a mortgage broker themselves.
However, they’ve now branched out into being a lender themselves.
Their focus is primarily on helping clients who have too much debt and want to consolidate it into one easy repayment.
Fox Symes offers a range of debt solutions to customers to resolve their debt and take financial control.
How do FoxSymes’ home loans compare?
Pros
- Consolidating debt
- Solutions for borrowers with a bad credit history including debt agreements, debt negotiation, and personal insolvency (bankruptcy)
- Low doc loans for self-employed borrowers
- Assessing loans using common sense instead of credit scoring
- Home loan refinance
- Free debt analysis to help you find the best product as per your needs
Cons
- They have a bad reputation with debt agreements
- They’re not focused on people buying a home or investors
- Interest rates and fees are not always competitive
- Their risk fee, which is similar to LMI, can be expensive
- People who want branch access
- Their loans aren’t available through most mortgage brokers
- A risk some of their smaller brands may hike interest rates after your loan is advanced
- They’re not experts in construction loans
Why do Fox Symes have a bad reputation?
In 2006 they settled a claim with the ACCC about the claims they made and fees charged to customers entering into Part IX debt agreements.
There were also many complaints or reports from customers about not being given other options aside from entering into a debt agreement or declaring bankruptcy. Potentially, many people who entered into these agreements would have had better options that didn’t damage their credit history.
We cannot comment on if these allegations are fair or not as we do not have first-hand experience dealing with Fox Symes for a debt agreement.
However, it looks to us like Fox Symes is now operating ethically and gives customers who are struggling with their debts a range of options including Part IX debt agreements as well as the ability to refinance their debts into a home loan.
In this day and age of credit licensing and the regulation of the debt agreement industry, we doubt that Fox Symes is operating unethically.
Please keep in mind that any lender that helps people with a bad credit history or who helps people to consolidate debt will have more loans in arrears and more customer complaints on social media. So you have to take the online customer reviews with a grain of salt.
What home loans types do they have?
Fox Symes has their own specialist lending products through FSA which are funded via the wholesale money markets in conjunction with Westpac.
In addition to this, they also partnered with Pepper Home Loans, a specialist lender for people with bad credit or who cannot prove their income.
Their three main home loans are their Bad Credit Home Loan, Self Employed Home Loan and their Debt Consolidation Loan.
Making sure you get a good deal
Under the NCCP Act, a lender or mortgage broker has to recommend a loan to you that is ‘not unsuitable’.
What that means for you as a customer is if you apply with someone who offers their own home loans and is a mortgage broker as well, then they don’t have to offer you a home loan from another lender if their own home loan meets your needs.
In other words if you want to get a good deal, then you have to compare Fox Symes Home Loans to options available from a mortgage broker.
Compare Fox Symes to other lenders
Not sure which lender is right for you? Our Home Loan Experts can help!
Talk to one of our mortgage brokers by calling us on 1300 889 743 or complete our free assessment form.
Find out if you are qualified to apply with this lender
GET A FREE ASSESSMENTQuick tip when applying with this lender
- If you want to get a good deal, then you have to compare Fox Symes Home Loans to options available from a mortgage broker.