Radisson SAS Portman Hotel

Advantages: Location, Location, Location
Disadvantages: Pricey-ish

...This weekend just gone me and the missus thought we'd go off on a short break in London. We chose the SAS Portman Hotel since its location was fab and the price fell within our budget of £300 for 2 nights. We had heard only good things about this one so we booked at Lastminute and paid £240 for a Superior room with breakka. Or breakfast, in English. If we had booked through the hotel's own website it would be nearer £300. Where is it, then? The hotel is located just off Oxford Street, opposite Marble Arch tube station. It has easy access by tube, since Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus are within walking distance, and many buses stop nearby. Even night buses! I don't need to tell you how good Oxford Street is for shopping.... but I will. All the major chains are there, plus its home to some of the biggest department stores...

rickyshah 03.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, London

Unaccountable Portman

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Arrogant, listens to no-one

...Portman, like all mutual societies, is owned by its members. This means that members do vote on who becomes a director, and can recommend and vote on changes to the business. A while ago over 500 members got together and invited the directors of the Portman to consider demutualising and becoming a bank - and in the process paying a windfall to members. Now the pros and cons of demutualisation are complex, and you may or may not think that Portman should demutualise. But Portman responded not by having a vote, or by the directors saying they would indeed consider demutualising, but by kicking out 500+ of their members. In theory a legal challenge could be brought against the Portman, because the members own the society. But in fact its horrendously expensive, and may not happen. I suggest that the actions of the Portman in...

Aquila 06.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society

Portman rate best

Advantages: great rate of interest, variety of products, prompt service.
Disadvantages: Hidden cost of local searches.

...How long did I search the internet for the best mortgage rate for remortgaging?! I had found what I thought was the best deal and then I stumbled upon Portman. Their rate was the best and, in a strange way, I liked that they were little known, were not amongst the big players in terms of lots of TV or other advertising and were not in with all the big financial institutions, like Charcol. The particular product I chose was a tracker - they are favourable at the moment anyway and Portman were offering 2 years at Base Rate then the remainder of the term at Base Rate +0.75%. I moved from Halifax (also a tracker) that was costing Base Rate +1.05%. Costs were covered by cashback and free valuations etc. The one thing to watch out for (and I got caught out here) is the cost of the local searches that were done when I moved into...

DarrenMoore 08.06.2001 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society Mortgages

Remortgaging to another lender from Portman

Advantages: Good customer service, upfront about all fees
Disadvantages: Charges for redemption statements

...I am writing numerous reviews on mortgage lenders similar to this review as I am giving an inside respective on how certain lenders treat their customers and how their processes work in regard to repaying your mortgage. I do not own this product, but work to remortgage Portman Building Society mortgages on an everyday basis. The Portman are generally quite efficient when it comes to the process of you wishing to remortgage, but there are a few points that people must take note of when repaying their mortgage. Early repayment charges which apply when you wish to repay your mortgage within your fixed term tend to be very high with the Portman in relation to the size of your mortgage. Obviously they are a percentage of your mortgage, but the percentage (I cannot tell you what this in a numerical format, simply check your original...

heavenlie 28.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society Mortgages

Derby Day

Advantages: We Won, Good View
Disadvantages: Tight Concourses

...Sorrow weeps within my heart when I see the plight of our arch rivals down the A140. At the turn of the century they were going strong but then they spent some money, didn't do too well and have ended up in a bit of a financial pickle. The cream of the playing squad has been sold off but Portman Road stands strong as testament to the multi-million pound loan they're struggling to pay off. Anyway the one plus point of being relegated from the Premiership was that fact that we were going to meet up with our rivals once more in the local derby. The computer threw up an away trip to Ipswich in September, which meant getting up before 8am on a Sunday in time to make a midday kickoff. If you're looking to take a trip to the ground then it's fairly easy to get to. It's located in close proximity to the river and the train station is...

utero 26.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Portman Road

LEON (Reno, Jean and Portman Natalie)

Advantages: Heart Warming, Action Packed, AMAZING!
Disadvantages: Makes you cry everytime! without fail!

...This is without a doubt my favourite movie. Its a love story and an action movie all rolled into one. However, its not the type of love story that you would expect. There is no romance involved. Natalie Portman in her earlier stages of her career plays the part of a young and vibrant girl who has had a very hard time growing up. Her father being a drug dealer and coming from a very modest background. The film is set in Little Italy in america and jean reno plays the part of a heroic hit man. It tells a truely heart warming tale about a man who never knew the meaning of family or friends until he meets Natalie Portman. There is enough violence and action in there to keep the guys interested and depth and meaning beyond expectation from an action movie. Great for a first date or a movie for both sexes. It brings a tear to...

Giggles_1004 22.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Leon (DVD)

High-handed

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Directors are unaccountable

...Portman is a mutual organisation, owned by its members. A little while back over 500 of the members of Portman got together and asked the directors of the company they own to consider demutualising. Portman responded by throwing these members out of the society. It seems to me that the arguments for or against demutualising are almost irrelevant here - in a free society 500 of the members of a mutual organisation should be able to have an idea considered. Portman has thrown them out, knowing that a legal challenge by the members would be very expensive. It seems to me that the directors are acting without any control from anyone at all. The market is full of banks and building societies. I advise use one that is not tarnished by such arrogance....

Aquila 29.09.2000 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society

Good rate and resonable on credit rating

Advantages: Excellent service and human-based credit scoring
Disadvantages: Not full range of products offered

...Portman is one of the building society that does credit-checking instead of credit scoring. They will make sure your credit background is clean and they judge their lending based on your circumstances in a humanly manner. This is different from some lenders such as Natioanl Wide Building society which placed more importance on computer-based scoring then human wisdom. For those who have been unfortunately branded as 'credit-unworthy' by those unworthy computer scoring system, you should check out with portman building society. They offer very good rates and has very good customer service after the mortage has been arranged. Also, there is not penalty for over payment (up to a certain amount) for most mortages. They only weaknesses is that Portman do not provide full range of financial services - e.g. current account and open...

casper77 28.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society

Good rate but you need to be clean

Advantages: Good friendly service, No credit scoring
Disadvantages: Based in Portsmouth so you have to use postal service

...IN January i found the house i'd been looking for and had my offer accepted on it,. then it was the hard task of finding the right mortgage. I contacted a finance broker (waverly brokers in Sheffield) who advised to try the portman, we looked into what they could offer me as i wanted a fixed rate on a 2 year term on a repayment mortgage, the portman came up trumps although they don't offer the frills and freebies that some mortgage companies offer. I applied and after 2 week thought that they were going to turn me down after not hearing anything, i latyer found out that they were doing searches on me and looking into my financial history most of whiuch i hadn't got. Anyone thats been refused a mortgage because of a low credit score like i was with the fisr company i applied to, The Portman really is one company you need to check...

prouk 19.10.2000 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society Mortgages

Old fashioned and no frills

Advantages: Competitive-ish
Disadvantages: Inflexible, old fashioned approach

...I have been with Portman for several years having previously been with C&G. I was attracted to their low cost deals and lack of redemption penalties which offered a great deal more transparency than the likes of C&G. I have, generally, been pleased with the service and product offered although have found that their competitiveness has slipped considerably since taking out my product. In particular, it is disappointing to note that the flexibility offered by other lenders in things like daily interest calculation, ability to overpay and borrow more against the security of the property is seriously lacking. I am currently seeking a further advance and have been disappointed by how inflexible the Society is. I have nearly 50% equity in the property, have an unblemished repayment record and yet am experiencing problems in obtaining...

Kristian 25.03.2001 · Read review
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Review of Portman Building Society