OFT TEST CASE change of venue

[EXC]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

According to Kate Farrow the venue switch was made by the court themselves as they were unable to guarantee the start date at the High Court and the switch was made to facilitate the earliest possible start.

[Amethyst]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

I don't think they expected it to get into court tbh. Everyone expected a deal to be made prior. Whether it is a good or bad thing that it hasn't is anyone's guess.

[EXC]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Egerton
To: bobegerton@mac.com
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 1:56 PM
Subject: Public will be excluded from OFT/Banks test case because of small room


NEWS RELEASE FROM BOB EGERTON (BOB THE BANKBUSTER)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11 January 2008

OFT/BANKS TEST CASE TO BE HELD IN SMALL ROOM - OFT SPOKESMAN "DID NOT REALISE" ROOM ONLY BIG ENOUGH FOR 6 MEMBERS OF PUBLIC

Next Wednesday 16 January, the OFT and Britain's high street banks are due to meet in a High Court battle which will decide whether or not the banks are operating an unlawful charging regime. The case is of great public interest as it could result in the banks having to repay £20 billion or more to about 10 million customers. It has now been revealed that the case will be heard in a room at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in Fleet Street and that there will be space for precisely 11 members of the press and the public. A spokesperson for the centre said that entry will be on a first come first served basis but that the space will be divided roughly equally between the press and the public; and passes will be issued separately for morning and afternoon sessions. This means that, at most, 6 members of the public will be able to attend and no-one will be able to attend a full day. It will be impossible, therefore, for any one person to obtain a complete picture of the proceedings. It will also mean that many newspaper and television/radio reporters will excluded.

A spokesperson for the OFT claimed today that he "did not realise that the room would only hold this number of people".

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. The OFT is no doubt hoping that the case will receive little press coverage and that it will all quietly fizzle out. However, I and the many other campaigners will ensure that this issue does not die. We will continue to fight the banks over this issue whatever the outcome of a meeting in a tiny room in London."

For further information, contact:
Bob Egerton 07785 748844
Rob Williamson, leader of the case team at the OFT
International Dispute Resolution Centre, who can confirm the details of the room, 020 7936 7000
IDRC - Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation & Conferencing Facilities

ENDS

Issued by Bob Egerton

Bob the Bankbuster
Penalty bank charges
Email: bankbuster@mac.com
Trevillick House, Fore Street, Grampound, Truro TR2 4RS
Tel: 01726 884451 Mobile: 07785 748844
This business is regulated by the Ministry of Justice in respect of regulated claim management activities.
See CMR: Claims Management Regulation. Authorisation number: CRM1856

[Amethyst]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

He's good at press releases isnt he....

[EXC]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

According to Tom Brennan the new venue is actually part of the Royal Courts of Justice and is bigger than the RCoJ courtroom the case was switched from. So far from the case being moved to a smaller venue, it would appear to be the other way round.

He has been inundated with requests for interviews about the case, the first of which will be screened on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning.

[Tools]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

OFT Test Case NEWSFLASH!!!!!

[Amethyst]

Re: OFT TEST CASE change of venue

The High Court test case, which is a key part of the investigation, is seeking to establish the preliminary legal principle of whether the provisions of the UTCCRs that deal with unfairness apply. It will also address the additional point of law of whether the charges can be a penalty at common law. It will not lead to a judgment as to whether charges themselves are fair or not. The OFT will decide after the initial judgment what steps to take should it win the test case and conclude from its financial investigation that any of the charges are unfair. The hearing, due to begin on 16 January, is being held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, 70 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1EU.

...................................