| Many consumers are aware of the huge court case | | | | and be processed straight away. |
| brought by the Office of Fair Trading in relation to | | | | Customers are being advised to use companies that |
| customers reclaiming up to six years of back charges | | | | do not take an upfront fee for processing the claim |
| from banks. The initial jubilation of Justice Andrew | | | | as, with any large legal case, the actual date that |
| Smith's ruling that these cases could continue was | | | | claims can be processed cannot be guaranteed. |
| tempered slightly by the banks decision to appeal in | | | | Following this method will mean that customers do |
| against this decision and cause more delays for | | | | not get into further financial difficulties with money |
| people waiting to reclaim monies they believe are | | | | tied up with a claims company as well as waiting for |
| owed to them. | | | | a refund. With the vast majority of companies |
| However consumers should not be put off in any | | | | offering their service on a no win no fee basis, there |
| way and should still try and reclaim bank charges as | | | | is little to lose for the consumer by getting there |
| they would have done previously and can still register | | | | claim in as soon as possible. |
| a claim with a claims management companies as soon | | | | Despite the above advice it is likely that some |
| as possible. These companies are still processing | | | | consumers will defer putting in a claim until the |
| claims and logging them with the relevant banks so | | | | outcome of the appeal is published. This will inevitably |
| that when the floodgates open again these | | | | lead to a bottleneck in claims as thousands of people |
| customers will be first in line to receive their | | | | rush to reclaim their charges. It is likely that national |
| payments. Some claims can even be processed now | | | | media will once again be encouraging people to |
| despite the appeal in cases of severe financial | | | | reclaim and could lead to lengthy delays in processing |
| difficulties or hardship. A reputable claims | | | | by the banks. As banks are obligated to process |
| management company will use its legal teams to | | | | claims in the order that have been logged with them, |
| advise if your case qualifies under these | | | | it makes the advice on claiming now more valid than |
| circumstances and whether it can bypass the "queue" | | | | ever. |