During the boom personal guarantees were given by numerous individuals to facilitate borrowing by corporate entities and dependent relatives. Now many of those guarantors are in difficulty and their personal guarantees are outstanding. They are trying to negotiate debt settlements and the existence of their personal guarantees further weakens their bargaining position. This article highlights what guarantors need to know.

A contract of guarantee normally has to be in writing but there are limited exceptions to this rule. The courts recognise that there is usually an imbalance between the bank seeking the guarantee and the guarantor so guarantees are strictly interpreted against the bank. After all, the guarantor is exposing himself to a significant liability usually in return for very little.

The guarantor’s liability cannot exceed that set out in the contract. If there is any doubt or ambiguity as to a term of the contract the courts will interpret the term in favour of the guarantor. That is because the bank usually drafts the terms of the contract.

The courts have found that certain actions by banks will discharge the guarantees and relieve the guarantor of his obligations completely. These include:

• breaching the terms of the contract with the principal debtor
• altering the terms of the underlying loan contract
• agreeing to the give the principal debtor time to pay the debt
• committing an act of gross negligence or misconduct

There are several grounds on which the courts have refused to enforce guarantees:

• If the guarantor was put under unfair pressure or influence (undue influence) to the extent that he didn’t use his free and independent will. This has been considered where a wife has guaranteed her husband’s business loans. As the wife would ultimately benefit from the business’s profit the court has upheld the guarantee. In Ireland a bank is only on notice of undue influence if it has actual knowledge of the fact that undue influence or misrepresentation was used to get the guarantee.
• If the contract of guarantee was so disadvantageous to the guarantor that it effectively takes unfair advantage of him it is an unconscionable bargain. This will only happen in the rarest circumstances.
• Where a guarantor offers his family home as security, then unless the spouse has given fully informed consent, the security will be unenforceable. The court has also considered the position in respect of personal guarantees where an elderly man guaranteed his son’s liabilities and gave his home as security. The security was void because no family home declaration was obtained from the guarantor and he was never advised to get independent legal advice even though he was offering up his only asset and getting nothing in return.
• Where the guarantor has not been informed of any unusual aspects of the overall transaction to the extent that he is ill-informed and has a very different understanding of it. The bank may have a positive obligation to bring these unusual aspects specifically to the attention of the guarantor
• Bank guarantee contracts contain a boiler plate clause that provides that the guarantee is ongoing. For example the guarantor continues to guarantee an overdraft even though account balance will sometimes be zero. A specific guarantee covering a term loan is extinguished once paid. If the principal debtor is to be given a new loan then a fresh guarantee must be given. It can’t be that an old guarantee will over a new loan, notably, even if the guarantor thought that it did.

Legislation has undermined the validity of guarantees in certain circumstances. The Unfair Contract Terms Regulations and The Consumer Credit Act, 1995 both have elements that could be used by guarantors to avoid liability. These are some common clauses that could be unfair under the Regulations:

1. The guarantor will pay amounts due without set-off or counterclaim;
2. The guarantor may not exercise any right to claim by way of subrogation to the securities held by the bank until the principal debtor has discharged in full his obligations to the bank; and
3. The guarantor shall not be discharged by any granting of time by the bank to the principal debtor, or the variation of the contract between the bank and the principal debtor.

The Consumer Credit Act, 1995 (and subsequent Regulations and Codes of Conduct introduced on foot of the Credit Crisis) has given the banks a real headache. The bank is obliged to ensure that the borrower gets a copy of the credit agreement; that the agreement contained the names of and was signed by all the parties; that it informed the borrower of a cooling-off period; and that it contains a statement of any costs and penalties the borrower will be liable for. If these obligations have not been complied with then there is a real risk that the agreement and associated guarantee will be unenforceable.

Similarly, where for example a parent guaranteed the purchase by an adult child of a property, the parent may have presented the security and charge documents to the child at home. In those circumstances the loan contract may come within the scope of the Distance Marketing Regulations where the mortgagor is a consumer. Under those Regulations a distance contract may not be enforceable against a consumer if the supplier has failed to give certain information to the consumer. This information includes details of certain contractual terms and conditions and the total price to be paid by the consumer. If the bank did not the Courts may find that the relevant mortgage or loan contract and the associated guarantee are unenforceable.

This is a complicated area of law. Every case must be dealt with on its specific facts. You should not act on the information contained in this note. Instead you should seek our specific advice.

Disclaimer
This publication is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. No liability is accepted by Ogier Leman for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information set out in this publication. Professional or legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this publication. Any and all information is subject to change.