These are my thoughts and my thoughts alone. We have failed in many aspects of the campaign. We have a rise in Bankruptcies and we have an increase in IVA's. There are some that argue that the Middle Classes and the Working Classes have regained their right to reclaim the charges and that we now have the OFT suing the banks to clarify the Law of Contract on Bank Charges. That in itself is a success and one which we all need to pat each other on the back. The problem is that I deal with more and more people who are in the margins of society, what some would call 'the underclass' or others, those people who's first language is not English. We continue to fail these people and so while the banks refunding a quarter of the estimated 4.6billion pounds taken in penalty charges(and this for only on year), it does mean that thousands of people did not listen to the messages or that those messages were not uniform enough to get through to people who maybe mostly needed it.
Now the next stage of the campaign would appear to be to get consumer representation when the OFT sue the banks. We must realise that while this is going on the charges mount up, and there is no moratorium on charges while it goes ahead. The OFT and its 'treating customers fairly' approach does not seem to be reciprocated by the Financial Services Authority who have decided that all the banks can stop dealing with complaints while the test case goes ahead. That is perverse. While they do that the banks are changing their terms and conditions to make their charges into service charges cloaking penalty charges. Yet, no one seems to give a damn about it. The next stages of the campaign must be more focused. As mentioned already, consumer representation at the trial, maybe variances in consumer contracts nullifying charges giving the required 30 days notice, lobbying MP's with regards to the issues, clarifying the term 'Hardship Cases'(do you know what type of cases this actually is? I am sure the banks will treat everyone the same). The information at the moment is that Credit Card cases are being stayed when they have already had an OFT ruling and the test case will not be dealing with that issue specifically. This is where we are at as it stands as i write this, on 14th August 2007, and one person's view of the current situation.
This is my view and mine alone hearing on and off charges sites and within the enemy's lair.
Now the next stage of the campaign would appear to be to get consumer representation when the OFT sue the banks. We must realise that while this is going on the charges mount up, and there is no moratorium on charges while it goes ahead. The OFT and its 'treating customers fairly' approach does not seem to be reciprocated by the Financial Services Authority who have decided that all the banks can stop dealing with complaints while the test case goes ahead. That is perverse. While they do that the banks are changing their terms and conditions to make their charges into service charges cloaking penalty charges. Yet, no one seems to give a damn about it. The next stages of the campaign must be more focused. As mentioned already, consumer representation at the trial, maybe variances in consumer contracts nullifying charges giving the required 30 days notice, lobbying MP's with regards to the issues, clarifying the term 'Hardship Cases'(do you know what type of cases this actually is? I am sure the banks will treat everyone the same). The information at the moment is that Credit Card cases are being stayed when they have already had an OFT ruling and the test case will not be dealing with that issue specifically. This is where we are at as it stands as i write this, on 14th August 2007, and one person's view of the current situation.
This is my view and mine alone hearing on and off charges sites and within the enemy's lair.
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