An industry source told Mortgage Introducer: “IMLA has been inclined to take a negative view of releasing client data. It’s a very odd stance to take, as it represents the very lenders that rely wholly on brokers for business. How can they be anti-intermediary?”
But John Heron, deputy chairman at IMLA, denied any formal stance had been reached. “It’s a matter we have discussed and I think it’s fair to say there is a range of opinion among members. By no means is there a fully formed position. There are certainly data protection issues that are not easily overcome and there are questions over the definition of what information would be released.
“It’s an interesting area for debate that is going to need more work. I don’t think IMLA has got to a point of having a definite position, as it’s not clear how it could be achieved. Customer confidentiality must be a priority and the challenge is finding a route through it.”
Rob Griffiths, associate director of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI), said: “If you look at it from a ‘Treating Customers Fairly’ stance, the clients of IMLA lenders are brokers, so you’d expect lenders to ensure they can offer the best service. We understand individuals will have their own opinion, but if a broker uses client authorisation as a matter of course, we would find it odd if lenders don’t give access. They must look at their key distribution channel and keep them happy.”
