COVID-19: Update from Start Mortgages DAC - September 2020
Start has a dedicated internal COVID-19 working group in place to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 situation and to ensure continued service
for our customers and to protect our employees. Start are adhering to advice from the HSE and relevant Government Departments. Start is also
working with our industry representative body known as the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) who are engaging with industry
stakeholders, the HSE and Government on a co-ordinated plan to respond to the risks related to COVID-19 in Ireland.
Many of you may be facing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19 and Start will work with you to help you to manage these difficulties.
To assist you Start have put the following measures in place in line with industry practice:
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Start are offering mortgage payment breaks of up to three months to certain customers impacted by COVID-19 with the ability to extend them for a further three months,
allowing a break of up to six months in total where required.
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Payment deferrals or other changes to your payment amount are subject certain criteria and approval by Start; documentation may be required.
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Please be aware that taking a break in your mortgage repayments will mean you will pay more interest over the remaining term of the loan.
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The deadline for requesting your first payment break is 30th September 2020
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For more information on payment breaks, please read the BPFI's document
A Guide to the COVID-19 Payment Break.
You can find additional information in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
If you have already availed of a Payment Break you may be eligible to extend it for a period of 3 months. Start will contact you before the end of your existing
Payment Break to advise you of your options. There is no need to reapply.
Customers Exiting Extended Payment Breaks
If you have availed of an extended Payment Break (a total Payment Break of 6 months) and are due to return to repaying your mortgage, you can refer to our
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document or to the BPFI’s
paymentbreak.ie website for more information. We will also communicate the next steps to you directly, in
advance of the Payment Break ending.
If you believe that you may not be in a position to return to your pre-covid repayment terms, we encourage you to visit the
Arrears Help section of our website and our
Covid FAQ document where you will find more information.
Important Information
Protecting your account: Please be alert to any suspicious phone calls, text messages or emails from anyone with a message about COVID-19. Start
will always ask security questions with you before discussing any details of your mortgage account with you and will never ask you for your
bank PIN number or personal password.