Swaine Solicitors

30/04/2020

The Refund Rip-Off by Airlines

Airlines illegally withholding refunds that should be paid in a week.
Some victims being bullied into accepting credit-note vouchers
Refund process being made intentionally difficult and time consuming
Customers being offered alternative flights which are unsuitable
Airlines are using all sorts of underhand tactics to make it almost impossible for holiday makers and other travellers to claim refunds for cancelled flights.
Vouchers offer little or no protection for consumers if an airline went bust.
Under European Law, passengers are entitled to a full refund on the cost of a cancelled flight within seven days, or 14 days if booked as part of a holiday. In some case you may be entitled to damages.
If you have been denied a refund please contact us on [email protected]

06/04/2020

We want to let you know that despite the uncertainty and difficulties we are all facing we are still open for business and available to help you. We have adapted and tailored our services to better serve you when you need us. We have created new ways on how we can offer our services remotely. Our team are working as diligently as always and are on hand to assist you with any issues or problems you may have.
Stay safe and well.

31/03/2020

Protect your loved ones - Passing your assets to the next generation and making a Will

Many people will die as a result of this terrible virus. The elderly and those with underlying health issues are most at risk however, this virus can kill anyone irrespective of your age or health. People often, regrettably, do not think about passing wealth/assets to the next generation until it is...

16/12/2019

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a Different Approach for First-Time Buyers and Subsequent Borrowers?

A first-time buyer may be defined as a party who has never received a housing loan before. When more than one person forms the borrower party, all individuals involved must have never previously received a housing loan.

So, if one or more of those persons has previously been advanced a housing loan, none of those persons is a first-time buyer.

Based on empirical research and the nature of mortgage defaults occurring since 2013, first-time buyers are less likely default than subsequent borrowers.

As a result, there exists a higher limit of 90% LTV for first-time buyers.

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/. Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

16/12/2019

A mortgage with a variable interest rate that is subject to alteration in accordance with certain conditions can only be altered in accordance with those conditions. However, a bank cannot simply pay lip service to a contractual requirement.

The tracker mortgage scandal shook the country’s already fragile faith in our banks, raising concerns regarding possible overcharging with more complicated (and less noticeable) interest rates.

Read the full article here: https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/legal-analysis/expressions-of-interest/

Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

15/12/2019

Mortgage Measures are designed to limit the extent to which house buyers can borrow more than they can afford. They enhance the resilience of borrowers and the banking system, so that they can better withstand any future economic shocks.

Introduced in February 2015, these measures are reviewed on an annual basis in order to reduce the risk of an unsustainable credit-fuelled housing boom from developing in the future. The Central Bank is better able to respond to emerging risks in lending and housing markets, and adjust measures accordingly. This, in turn, promotes the long-term sustainability of Irish mortgage lending, and safeguards wider financial stability.
Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

11/12/2019

The LTI limit restricts the amount of money you can borrow to a maximum of 3.5 times your gross income. Banks and other lenders have the freedom to lend a certain amount above these limits. In any one calendar year they can give an allowance to:

1. Up to 20% of the value of mortgages to first time buyers
2. Up to 10% of the value of mortgages to second and subsequent buyers
3. Up to 10% of the value of mortgages to buy-to-let buyers.

Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

11/12/2019

The LTV limit requires you to have a minimum deposit before you can get a mortgage. The size of this deposit depends on what category of buyer you are.

1. First-time-buyers need to have a minimum deposit of 10%
2. Second and subsequent buyers need to have a minimum deposit of 20%
3. Buy-to-let buyers need to have a minimum deposit of 30%

Banks and other lenders have the freedom to lend a certain amount above these limits. In any one calendar year they can give an allowance to:

1. Up to 5% of the value of mortgages to first time buyers
2. Up to 20% of the value of mortgages to second and subsequent buyers
3. Up to 10% of the value of mortgages to buy-to-let buyers.
Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

10/12/2019

What are Mortgage Measures?

Mortgage measures determine the amount of money that an individual/couple may borrow to buy residential property. These limits are based on the income of the borrower (loan-to-income limit), and the value of the property (loan-to-value limit).

The measures were introduced by the Central Bank of Ireland in 2015 and are now a permanent feature of the Irish mortgage market. They ensure that banks and other lenders lend money prudently, and limit the extent to which house buyers can borrow more than they can afford. This in turn increases the resilience of both borrowers and the banking system, so that they can better withstand any future economic shocks.
Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/ (*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

05/12/2019

Ms Justice Mary Irvine now chairs the Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee of the Judicial Council. She has been described as someone who takes a 'realistic' approach to injury compensation rates.The committee, whose first meeting took place early this week, intends to set its own agenda and not be "railroaded" by government or business agendas.

Read the full article here: https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/ms-justice-mary-irvine-to-chair-personal-injuries-guidelines-committee2/

Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

04/12/2019

The Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019 came into operation this week, just in time for the holiday season. Ireland is the first country to enact such protections. This act will ban contract terms that require gift vouchers to be spent in one transaction, and enable a five-year expiry date. Also banned will be contract terms that limit the number of vouchers that can be used in a single transaction. The law will also ban the practice of airlines cancelling gift vouchers where the name differs from that on a passport.

Read the full article here: https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/gift-voucher-law-takes-effect-on-monday/

Swaine Solicitors specialise in all areas of the law, including Personal Injury* Law, Litigation, Employment Law, Probate, Family Law, Banking, Conveyancing & Education Law. Our solicitors have vast experience in the local courts in Galway, as well as the higher courts in Dublin.

Call us now at +353 91 861382 or email us at [email protected] .

For more information about us and our legal services, visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)

03/12/2019

If an injured party is not entirely blameless for an accident, or fails to seek immediate medical attention, they may be accused of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence influences the time taken to resolve a personal injury* claim, and the amount of compensation awarded.

If an injured party's actions resulted in an increase in the severity of injuries suffered, it may reduce their potential pay-out. It is recommended to consult an experienced solicitor, to minimise any such contributory negligence which may prevent one from receiving the maximum entitled pay-out.

Examples of personal contributory negligence include not wearing one's seatbelt, failing to seek professional medical attention at the earliest possible opportunity after sustaining an injury, etc. Oftentimes multiple parties may have contributed to an accident (e.g. pile up road traffic accident). In this case, liability for the cause of an accident is distributed among the negligent parties on a percentage basis – with each responsible for that percentage of the resulting compensation settlement.

Swaine Solicitors ethos is to work with you - for you. We are committed to helping you achieve the best result, while ensuring you understand the legal process you are going through.

For more information, contact us at +353 91 861382, email [email protected], or visit our website at http://www.swainesolicitors.ie/

(*In contentious matters, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.)