I'm currently with PTSB.
I am in some negative equity as my house is worth €85k at best but the outstanding loan is €115k. The interest rate is 4.55%.
I rent out my house and it currently covers the mortgage (although repairs, insurance, tax and impending water charges and property tax will remain my burden).
I have been forced to come to Canada to work but would equally consider living and working in the UK. I'm pretty annoyed that PTSB are increasing their variable rate on what they would consider a performing loan, especially given that the ECB rate has not budged.
How much negotiating can one do with the banks?
For example, if I told them I would have no problem ceasing payments, allow them to liquidate the property at a knockdown price leaving me with say €50k unsecured debt, and I could simply get a part-time job and a lease in England and declare myself bankrupt (proving the outflows of the property pushed me over the edge)... would that be enough to change their mind about bumping up the interest rate on my loan?
Note: I'm not looking for a discussion on either ethics, responsibility or bankruptcy tourism. Simply an opinion on whether individuals can negotiate interest rates with banks.