OFT test case

[Bookworm]

Obadiah, his servants. There shall, in that time, be rumours of things going astray, erm, and there shall be a great confusion as to where things really are, and nobody will really know where lieth those little things wi-- with the sort of raffia work base that has an attachment. At this time, a friend shall lose his friend's hammer and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight o'clock. Yea, it is written in the book of Cyril that, in that time, shall the third one...

 

[johnnymitch]

It was the wording of Bob Egerton, ginan, not the press release . He said,

 

"Bob Egerton, bank charges campaigner, said, "This case is a great embarrassment to the OFT. It has exposed the institutional weakness within the OFT where it is effective at curbing unlawful behaviour by small businesses, but it does not have the stomach for a fight against the big corporations like the banks. By holding the case in such a small room, no member of the public will be able to sit through the whole case; and much of Britain's media will be excluded.

 

Hope that puts this to bed!

 

Sorry bookworm, I didn't realise you had waxed lyrical when I first posted this............

[ginan]

It was the wording of Bob Egerton, ginan, not the press release . ,:

 

I'm not sure if I quite understand as it was Bob's wording that formed the press release. And it can't been described as ''such a small room'' as it hold 100 people.

 

Although the 11 public places is correct there'll be a feed into a retiring room at the venue.

[JOSH_IOU]

no but this thread dose

[johnnymitch]

And it can't been described as ''such a small room'' as it hold 100 people.

 

Although the 11 public places is correct there'll be a feed into a retiring room at the venue.

 

Thanks for that info ginan, where did that come from.. ?

 

Does that mean other members of the public/press can have access to the retiring room - how does it work?

[Castlebest]

 

Does that mean other members of the public/press can have access to the retiring room - how does it work?

 

Only if you have retired, so you and Van better get your a*ses down there quick

[alecmac18]

Am I right in thinking that even though the main room is closed (except for 11 press and/or members of the public), there is an overflow room available with CCTV where you can observe proceedings?

 

Its a bit difficult to tell from this thread - can anyone clarify?

[stevokenevo]

First of all, correct me if i am wrong. Is the High court not currently hosting the inquiry into the death of Diana Princess of Wales?

 

Perhaps that could provide the simple explanation for the change of venue?

 

 

Thanks for that info ginan, where did that come from.. ?

 

Does that mean other members of the public/press can have access to the retiring room - how does it work?

 

As far as i am aware, members of the public, and other credible consumer groups including the one refered to as 'disneyland' have secured a room at the conference centre hosting the OFT test case, from where they will be providing updates as the case develops.

[Castlebest]

 

Although the 11 public places is correct there'll be a feed into a retiring room at the venue.

 

I think we are waiting for Ginan to clarify.

 

It would make sense to make further viewing facilities available for the press at least.

[johnnymitch]

So , while we're waiting this is for you pete on behalf of me and van ;

 

 

Only if you have retired, so you and Van better get your a*ses down there quick :grin:

 

Any more and I'll tip your scales or set PD onto you!

[ukaviator]

Press release from the OFT today:

 

The Office of Fair Trading: OFT test case on unauthorised overdraft charges - hearing commences in High Court

 

Just released on the Legal week website:

 

City elite battle OFT in overdraft fees test case - Legal Week, legal news, comment, events and legal jobs

[ginan]

As I understand it the live feed is a recent development but it is an overspill

for press and public. The parties will have their own feeds to their retiring

rooms on the 5th floor for the hoards of QCs they can't squeeze into the hearing.

 

No decision has yet been made to the alocation of the feed places but I'd imagine it will be no different to the 11 court places. I'm also unsure if the feeds are audio of visual.

[jazzorgan]

Is anybody here going to phone into "Moneybox live" programme on Radio 4 - starts very soon at 3pm, lines close at half past

[johnnymitch]

Thanks for your info ginan, sounds a bit better if they're going to use the 'feeds'..........................

[JOSH_IOU]

Politically this is an amazing case.

 

Financially ..... Is it business as usual for direct debit charges?

[mattyb13]

I'd be interested to see where claims that were made before banks re-branded them as 'fees for a service' would stand after this case.

 

Lets call a spade a spade, this 'fee for a service' crap is a clear admission from bankers that they were lying when they claimed charges were to cover their costs (of course you know that), and the OFT have thus far only served to protect the banks from the consumer & justice. Irony or design?

 

If they settle on 'fair fee' figure then it will be clear in my mind at least, that the purpose of the test case was to prevent the consumer from getting the chance of a ruling on the legality of the charges in the event that the courts ordered a 'test case' (a real test using a real case) which was close to happening IMO.

 

So if the OFT do grow a tooth & use it to bite us on the arse, and a 'fair fee' is agreed between the them & the banks, then presumably those, (of which I am one) who started a claim when the banker's T&Cs still stated that charges were to cover costs, can still ignore the OFTs deal & proceed to trial if they don't get settlement in full (as opposed to the difference between 'fair fee' & amount claimed) because these claims will have to be defended on the basis that they were to cover admin costs. I still have the original overdraft agreement which clearly states this, and it was still in effect when I started my last claim.

 

Unfortunately, this would still only be at county court level. This is another angle that fills me with suspicion about this case because they becaue there could be an opportunity for the OFT to make something of those cases which are a clear cut case of penalty charges, but they're not interested in retrospective action are they..

 

My thoughts excactly. I was due in court with Abbey and received a stay on the day I was due in court, I still have Abbey's defence which states the charge is to recoup losses not a service fee. I beleive their new defence is that the charge is a service fee.

[Giveitback]

has anyone managed to collect a host of leaflets over the years from banks explaining their charges?

[JOSH_IOU]

The CAG are currently asking the community to send all letters and TOC's into them at the specified address.

 

Maybe you could ask a mod if they can come up with something for you.

 

Because this community is so vast it may be that someone already has.

[alecmac18]

Dunno if this has been posted already but its quite a good article of the arguments the OFT are making.

 

Director of Finance Online - OFT rejects banks’ defence on charges

 

Edit: Its not current: From Nov 07

[Mr. Kipling]

Well, wherever it is, here we go. Hold on tight it`s going to be one interesting couple of weeks...

[ginan]

Obadiah, his servants. There shall, in that time, be rumours of things going astray, erm, and there shall be a great confusion as to where things really are, and nobody will really know where lieth those little things wi-- with the sort of raffia work base that has an attachment. At this time, a friend shall lose his friend's hammer and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight o'clock. Yea, it is written in the book of Cyril that, in that time, shall the third one...

 

 

 

I'll ask again: What does that have to do with the court case and the size of the courts? It seems to me some people are intent on dragging this thread away from its topic and for the life of me, I can't understand why.

 

Beats me

[Alphageek]

Just released on the Legal week website:

 

City elite battle OFT in overdraft fees test case - Legal Week, legal news, comment, events and legal jobs

 

 

Let's hope the good Doctor is up to the job.

[joe1965]

One thing which is worrying me about this test case is that OFT will have talks with bank share holders if it goes against the banks before issuing their report.

[patrickq1]

Politically this is an amazing case (posted by james)

it will be even more interesting if the goverment take NORTHERN ROCK and nationalise in the next week or so i wonder if political pressure will take place behind closed doors ,and MR BROWNS baby the FSA ,where will this leave them and where will we stand i have yet to see the report that the FSA made concerning NR as it has not yet been released and looks unlikely to see the light of day...

just a thought

patrickq1

[Alphageek]

I wonder if a nationalised NR would dare charge £35 penalty fees?