The Mortgage Mole

19 July 2010

FRINGE MEETING The Mortgage Strategy crew was feeling a little self-conscious last week after meeting a celebrity hairdresser.

The team was treated to dinner by Exact at a fancy restaurant in Soho when they spotted stylist to the stars Nicky Clarke across the room. The crimper sported a flawlessly coiffed mane, leaving the Strategy team - with notably less lustrous hair-dos - a touch embarrassed. “Do you think he noticed that I trim my own fringe?” worried hackette Natalie Martin later asked Mole.

PAPER CHASE Last week saw the publication of the Mortgage Market Review consultation paper but the release didn’t quite go to plan, as the Financial Services Authority appeared to leak its own document. The FSA apparently decided to give the paper to a handful of journalists before the publication date. What it failed to realise was that since this was the most anticipated publication since the last Harry Potter book, news spread like wildfire.

It was inundated with calls and eventually had to release the paper ahead of schedule. Oops!

DRIP BLIP While the FSA was dealing with one kind of leak the Building Societies Association was battling another. Last week, staff turned up to work to find the offices smelling foul. Apparently water had been leaking into the trade body’s headquarters, creating the stench. The mutual sector hasn’t had the best of luck recently and Mole hopes this blip will be the last.