The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2016 - Issue 44 | Page 11

Farm News Were you a victim of banking scandals? Northern firm Butterworths Solicitors is changing the fortunes of farmers through its specialist banking team. »»ACTING FOR FARMERS WHO HAVE taken out fixed rate loans often with high break costs attached, Butterworths is restructuring deals and often recovering £1000s in a bid to help those famers hit by one of the latest scandals to hit the banking industry. Senior Partner and head of litigation, Tony Butterworth said: “2015 saw almost £1.5 million recovered by Butterworths in relation to the mis-selling of Fixed Rate Loans. “The majority of the fixed rate claims represent the return of breakage fees and interest charges wrongly charged on the repayment of fixed rate loans. We are encouraging any farmer who has taken out a fixed rate loan to take advantage of our free initial consultation with a view to establishing whether they have a claim”. With pay-outs ranging from £8,000.00 - £520,000.00 and made to farmers from North Yorkshire up to the Scottish Borders, Butterworths is keeping up the fight to ensure as many farmers as possible are recompensed and in many cases, thrown a financial lifeline. For those farmers who have had, or continue to have a fixed rate loan and are unsure of whether they have a claim or not, Butterworths has released the following checklist: • Did you receive mis-leading advice? • Were potential break costs explained to you? • Are you aware of increased costs on your loans? • Have you already paid, or face paying, some sort of break cost if you repay the loan early? • Have you had or still got any loans in €? • Did you take a loan linked to the Single Farm Payment? • Did your bank put pressure on you to change agreed loan terms? Fat Cattle Scales If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the following questions you should seek advice straight away. Tony added: “We know that farmers are busy running their businesses and that’s why we want to make access to help as easy as possible. We will visit farmers at their place of work or home and at a time to suit them. Opportunity to take action will not last forever. We need to help as many farmers as we can in the time available to us”. Last month, the team held a successful seminar promoting this service and continues to do so via attendance at the Hexham Mart. If you are affected by these issues, call Tony on 07711 992843 or Vikki Todd on 07817 015103, or email farming@ butterworths-solicitors.co.uk www.butterworths-solicitors.co.uk Sheep Scales For ALL Your Weighing Requirements SPECIALISTS in Livestock Weighing • All Types of Livestock Weighing • Platform Scales • Bagging Scales • Forklift and Pallet Truck Weighing • Silo, Hopper and Tank Weighing Weighbridges • Portable and Fixed Weighbridges • Wheel and Axle Weighers • Yield Software • Livestock Scanning Interface Systems • Repair, Service and Calibration Note: We Are Now In Our New Premises At: Unit 3 A & B Muirhall Road, Larbert FK5 4RF Weighing Terminals Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Email: [email protected] Web: www.weighingsolutions.co.uk www.farmers-mart.co.uk Feb/Mar 2016 11