Consumers outraged by judge’s bank charge decision
June 12, 2007 by admin
Filed under News, News-Banking
A number of consumers in the UK are outraged at the decision of a judge in Hull who plans to dismiss their court cases against a number of banks.
Around twenty customers who have taken their banks to court over reclaiming bank charges have been told that the cases are likely to be dismissed as a result of the recent case won by Lloyds TSB. Lloyds was the first bank to win a case, when the Birmingham judge ruled in the banks favour rather than in favour of the plaintiff, Kevin Berwick, who was seeking over £2500.
Despite officials from the Financial Ombudsman Service stating that the Lloyds TSB case is not a definitive one, the judge from Hull, Ian Besford, has cited this case in his decision to dismiss the cases against Lloyds TSB, Barclays, and HSBC. The cases are due to be heard on July 4th. A number of the consumers concerned have contacted the BBC with regards to the issue.
A spokesperson from Consumer Action Group stated: ‘Kevin Berwick lost in his case in Birmingham because he didn’t supply enough evidence. This judge in Hull seems to be striking out the claims before he has even seen the detailed evidence of each claimant.’
However, the judge has stated that he plans to dismiss the cases because there appears to be ‘no reasonable prospect of success in the light of the recent decision’ regarding the Lloyds TSB case.
This is the first judge to have referred to the Birmingham Lloyds TSB case in his decision. A court official from Hull stated: ‘It is entirely up to each judge to decide for himself if the Birmingham judgement is an interpretation of the law he agrees with.’
Tom Smith
12th June 2007
