Friday, December 16, 2011

Four more Australian banks face giant class lawsuit

Four more Australian banks face giant class lawsuit

An Australian category movement opposite bank fees grew to embody 4 some-more institutions Friday, with lawyers observant they are now behaving for some 150,000 consumers over claims value tighten to US$200 million.

Proceedings opposite Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank and Citibank follow a box opposite extreme patron fees during ANZ, pronounced Andrew Watson, from lawyers Maurice Blackburn.

"These class actions are about bringing integrity to tens of thousands of Australians, from mums and dads to tiny business owners who have all been strike with unreasonable fees from a vital banks," Watson said.

"Just like a ANZ category movement launched in Sep final year, these cases lay fees imposed on business for overdrawn accounts, late payments, honour and stigma charges do not simulate a tangible cost to a bank."

Earlier this month a decider presiding over a ANZ category movement ruled that several of a chastisement fees could be deliberate astray to customers, clearing a approach for identical actions opposite other Australian banks.

In her halt ruling, Judge Michelle Gordon found that some charges descending underneath ANZ's late remuneration fees report were "capable of being characterised as a penalty".

But she privileged a bank over 4 other classes of fees -- covering over-drawing from accounts and carrying deficient supports to make scheduled payments -- in a Federal Court.

ANZ has pronounced a bank will energetically urge a case.

The latest cases lodged in a Federal Court in Melbourne on Friday are on interest of 45,000 business of Commonwealth Bank, 30,000 business of Westpac, 30,000 business of NAB, and 10,000 business of Citibank.

Adding to a 38,000 business in a ANZ case, record have now been released for some-more than 150,000 bank customers, Maurice Blackburn said.

The value of a claims opposite a 5 banks sum Aus$197 million (US$196 million) -- trimming from Aus$56 million opposite Commonwealth Bank to Aus$15 million for Citibank.

The Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac and ANZ are Australia's biggest banks and famous collectively as "the Big Four".

The class actions are being saved by IMF (Australia) Ltd, on a no win no price basis.


News referensi http://news.yahoo.com/four-more-australian-banks-face-giant-class-lawsuit-063618259.html