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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society: Mortgages reviews

4.64
Based on 104 reviews, last reviewed 18th Jun 2025
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Latest highest rating:

5

SBS just make my life easier. SBS just make my life easier. Every communication I have them is explained so easily and straightforward. Always helpful in every way . I just sp... Read more Reviewed on: 18th June 2025
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Gerry

Latest lowest rating:

1

Incompetent, frustrating and time-wasters Utterly incompetent. Took 2 months to event get our re-mortgage application processed (costing time, and money) and then every single thing we put was... Read more Reviewed on: 13th March 2025
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Clare R

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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society Mortgages reviews (104)

Review of the Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society, Mortgages:

Beware false promises from this lender!

1
We were pre-approved for a loan, which was a 35% loan to value purchase. With our large down payment and small loan we felt comfortable making an offer on a home we liked and expected a fairly simple closing process. Then we were told the parameters of our loan had changed despite already being pre-approved. We agreed to the change, though it put a bit of strain on us. Now, we believed we could proceed, but after foot dragging by the lender, once again they changed the terms, and once again we reluctantly found a way to make it work. And then, after all our capitulations, we found out that our loan was denied on a technicality we had never been made aware of. So we have a contract with no lending secured after weeks thinking that approval was already somewhat assured. We feel deceived and cheated out of precious time which might result in us losing our contract on our purchase and out the fees we incurred from this lender and our solicitors. Reviewed on: 12th August 2024
Reply from Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society Hi Valerie, we are sorry that our services have not met your expectations. Please can you get in touch with us on [email protected] or 0330 123 0723 so we can discuss the matter further with you. Response date: 19th August 2024
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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society

WORST MORTAGE COMPANY...

1
In my personal and financial career spanning over 40 years, this is the WORST organisation that I have ever had the misfortune to be involved with. They are inefficient, poor-quality staff, take time to make decisions (many weeks), constantly going back and forth mostly on nit-picking matters (why not ask all or any questions early on / up-front?). I am a credible person, no financial issues and approved mortgage in principle. But they and the surveyor constantly mess around. Also, if they have issues with expats, then they should get out of that part of the business. So much stress for me and my broker, waisted my money on costs, and my time. People do not deserve to be treated this way, and they don’t care! As a consequence of what I have been through with them, I have given up on a future retirement in UK and changed my plan and not go back home to where I was brought up in Cornwall. Keep away from them and go to another mortgage company. Reviewed on: 6th June 2022
Reply from Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society Thank you for your review and we are very sorry to hear about your recent experience with us. This is certainly not the service we strive for, so we are very disappointed to hear we did not meet our, or your, expectations. Please be assured that we are conducting an internal review so we can learn what went wrong and how we can improve our service. Response date: 7th June 2022
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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society

efficient,understanding flexible

5
Helped us get a short term mortgage when we were close to retirement when other agencies were less flexible in light of lack of a final pension calculation for a final salary pension which was still pending but subsequently agreed. Reviewed on: 16th March 2022

Mortgages for older people

5
My husband and I sought a short term (5 year) mortgage when we decided to move into a new build house some years after retirement. We were given every consideration and the mortgage was explained clearly. We will have paid it off later this year. It has enabled us to have the benefits of a warm, easy to run house in our later years. Thank you Suffolk Building Society. Reviewed on: 15th March 2022

Brilliant to deal with, from start to finish!

5
As per the title - friendly, helpful people who made obtaining a mortgage for an "older" retired person possible, where so many others would not even have the conversation. Thank you all for doing exactly what you promised - every time! A little more, in the end, too! Reviewed on: 15th March 2022

Amazing efficient service

5
Staff are accessible and person centred and their exceptional customer care make money issues a joy not a headache to manage x Reviewed on: 14th March 2022

Great service when getting a mortgage offer

5
Great service when getting a mortgage offer Reviewed on: 14th March 2022

Excellent Service

5
From start to finish mortgage application seamless. Everything easy and staff polite and efficient. Wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend Reviewed on: 11th March 2022

Extremely helpful and efficient

5
Having moved to Austria for a few years and rented out our house we needed an ex pat landlord mortgage. Despite the claims of several providers many could not help us or not without unreasonable conditions. But the Suffolk Building Society did! The process was straightforward and staff were and are always very helpful! Reviewed on: 26th February 2022

Amazing service with friendly staff

5
I have been with the Suffolk building society for four years and they are always there to help with what ever you need. Lovely people Reviewed on: 12th February 2022
Reply from Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society Thank you so much for your review, we are so glad you like our service, and our people are definitely what make us. Response date: 15th February 2022
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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society

Great personal service

5
How refreshing to speak to real people who have the time and knowledge to deal with your application in a personal and professional manner. A real change from the "Dial 1 for this and 2 for that" and being stuck in a loop like you get at so many places these days. Please don't change - this is a rare commodity in today's world. As a local building society you feel they are working for the benefit of their members (upholding the original mission of building societies). Reviewed on: 10th February 2022
Reply from Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society Thank you so much for your fantastic review. We are really glad that you like the personal nature of our service and we absolutely are always working for the benefit of our members. Response date: 15th February 2022
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Suffolk Building Society, formerly Ipswich Building Society

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