The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

• Our impact report

• Our service strategy 2008-2011

Response to today’s High Court ruling on bank charges

24-04-2008

Citizens Advice Director of Policy, Teresa Perchard, said:

“Following today’s ruling it would be in all consumers’ best interests for both sides to come to an agreement instead of letting the case drag on through the courts.

“Until the case is resolved complaints remain on hold and charges continue to be applied to accounts, unless a customer is considered to be in financial hardship. This is why it’s important that people in difficulties let their bank know and that banks take a broad view of what financial hardship means. We see many cases where bank charges have made people’s financial difficulties much worse, so we need to see banks sticking to their own code of practice by ensuring they don’t impose unreasonable charges on people already in debt, people on benefits and customers with basic bank accounts.”

Notes to editors on Citizens Advice

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales; www.citizensadvice.org.uk
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Advice and information  www.adviceguide.org.uk
5. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
6. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089

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