Bank fees test case needed - judge - News in brief

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District Judge Stephen Gerlis, who speaks for all district judges in London, told the BBC the number of cases was "unprecedented".

He was speaking after a judge in Hull reportedly threatened to strike out 20 claims, despite most previous rulings having gone in favour of customers.

Judge Gerlis said all sides should let a case reach the Court of Appeal.

He told BBC Radio 4's Money Box programme the legal system currently had no mechanism to quickly resolve the issues emerging from the "mass litigation".

So far banks have shied away from contesting hearings to avoid setting a legal precedent that could cost them millions of pounds.

Their absence has meant judges have automatically tended to find in favour of the claimant.