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NatWest wins bank charge case

30/07/2007

A junior lawyer has lost his legal challenge on overdraft charges against NatWest bank.

The judgment, given today at the City of London county court, found that the bank's imposition of a penalty charge on Tom Brennan did not break regulations on fairness in contracts with consumers

Mr Brennan's challenge demanded damages for the "stress, inconvenience and injured feelings" he encountered because he was unable to access his money.

But, he told BBC News 24, the judge rejected the application because the bank had already paid him the money he requested.

"I'm not surprised at the outcome. It's a little disappointing, but not surprising," he said.

"The judge said that it was appropriate for the bank to pay the money back into my account and close that account. I don't agree with that."

Mr Brennan added that he will be appealing the case.

Today's judgment means high street banks have avoided the setting of a legal precedent which could have exposed them to customers demanding the refund of billions of pounds of previously imposed charges.

Despite today's victory the issue is by no means settled. Legal proceedings are currently underway in the high court in an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) application which banks have agreed will act as a test case.

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