OFT TEST CASE change of venue

[Nattie]

The test case on unauthorised bank charges will now commence next Wednesday 16th January

(the judge has asked for two days reading)

it will now take place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, 70 Fleet Street EC4Y 1EU - and NOT at the High Court.

This announcement is on Penalty Charges and was posted by Stephen Hone.
http://www.penaltychargesforum.co.uk...ad.php?t=43589

[Celestine]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Hmmmm...are the public still allowed in?

IDRC - Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation & Conferencing Facilities

[Amethyst]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

hmmmm indeed.

[EXC]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Hmmmm...are the public still allowed in?

IDRC - Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation & Conferencing Facilities

I bloody hope so, I'll get on the blower to them first thing. What worries me is that the location appears to be made up of small to medium size conference suites. To accomodate the 8 armies of defence lawyers and a few coach loads of hacks in a single room they'll be precious little room for the public.

My only other hope is to sweet talk Kate Farrow into giving me some kind of OFT guest pass. I just only hope that the flowers we sent her for Christmas are enough to swing it.

[TUTTSI]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

If this Test Case is not to be heard in the High Court how can this be a TEST CASE!
DSxx

[Nattie]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

interesting point and I am sure we will get the answers soon. Maybe another OFT/Banks deal???

[TUTTSI]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Exactly what I was thinking.

Funny I have searched all over and the OFT site and so far cannot find and press releases regarding this, so I am now wondering if this is correct!! I wonder where Stephen Hone got his information.

DSxx

[Nattie]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

I doubt he would post it if he did not have good information. There is due to be a Which? Demo outside the high court so maybe reason for change.

[Celestine]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Price List as at 1st January 2008:
Arbitration Room Hire: Up to 100 people - £840.00 p/day
Up to 50 people - £640.00 p/day
Up to 30 people - £575.00 p/day
Up to 20 people - £515.00 p/day
Up to 15 people - £485.00 p/day Mediation/Retiring Room Hire: Extra Large Mediation room
Large Mediation room -
Mediation room -
Large Retiring room -
Retiring room - £475.00 p/day
£399.00 p/day
£325.00 p/day
£195.00 p/day
£165.00 p/day
Refreshments: All day coffee, tea, mineral water & biscuits - £ 7.25 p/cover Lunches: Sandwiches, fruit & beverages -
1 course hot or cold (in dining area) -
1 course hot or cold (in retiring room) -
2 course hot or cold (in dining area) -
2 course hot or cold (in retiring room) - £ 9.95 p/cover
£16.95 p/cover
£17.95 p/cover
£20.95 p/cover
£21.95 p/cover
Hmmmmmm

Maximum capacity 100???? How many can the High Court handle?

[TUTTSI]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

I doubt he would post it if he did not have good information. There is due to be a Which? Demo outside the high court so maybe reason for change.

I had wanted to start a demonstration outside the High Court, I thought that thousands of us would come and protest about the way we have been treated, but I really do not have the guts to put whats in my head to practice. But the Fleeet Street venue is exceptionally close to where I work in the City on Friday, so I will take a walk and take a peep at what is going on!!

DSxx

[Celestine]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

can we give you a Legal Beagles banner to wave about!?

[TUTTSI]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

can we give you a Legal Beagles banner to wave about!?

It would be my pleasure

[TUTTSI]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Apparently there is another thread going about on Beagles where it states that the case will be heard at Admiralty & Commercial Court in the Strand and kicks off at 10.30 on Wednesday 16th. This Court would make much more sense than the Arbitrators conferencing facilities, which are extremely small. I have not found this thread myself, someone over on CCS told me about it.

DSxx

[Tools]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

Mediation ............... conference ..................... sounds to me that my suspiscions are about to be realised.

I remember this ......and I quote from Questions and answers for OFT personal current account work

20. Does reference to voluntary cooperation mean that the OFT may simply do a deal with the banks behind closed doors?
No. The OFT wants to see fair treatment of consumers. Its position is simply that, if any concerns it has about the fairness of the relevant charges can be resolved without the need for further lengthy court action, then this would be in the best interest of consumers. This would be the case if, for example, the banks provided the necessary undertakings as to their conduct. This is no different to the approach the OFT would take in any case.
In any event, before the OFT could seek an injunction or enforcement order under the Enterprise Act 2002, it is required by that legislation to consult with the banks for the purpose of bringing any unlawful charges to an end. This is a statutory reinforcement for the idea that court proceedings could (indeed, should) be avoided if the OFT’s concerns about the charges are resolved successfully without the need for those proceedings.
These points are entirely consistent with our determination to secure successful resolution of these charges for the benefit of consumers.

I do honestly feel that the OFT wants to clear up the legal situation regarding whether UTCCR applies, but suspect that the Banks will back them into a corner and hoodwink them into agreeing with their arguements by agreeing a lesser figure for charges.

Surely the overriding objective is to disclose what their actual costs are wether they are regarded as penalties or not is something the OFT really should be pushing. IMO yes they are pnalties for breach of contract , but also that the contracts (T&C`s) in essence contain unfair terms such as un negotiable terms,

[EXC]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

This is a comlplete mess.

There are only 11 places for the the public and press combined on a first come first serve basis. Security passes are then issued but only for the duration of one session so even if you can get in it'll only be for the morning, and for the afternnon sessions you go through the same proccess again. This applies daily.

A proper start date has still not been set. Monday is a ''setting up'' day and it ''could start Tuesday'' though I'm not sure if this is for readings or the case proper. It will be held under High Court rules and not arbitration rules.