Stuttgart The legal dispute between the consumer center of Baden-Württemberg and a Volksbank about the reimbursement of account fees is entering a new round. As the expert Niels Nauhauser from the consumer advice center announced on Monday in Stuttgart, his organization had already appealed against a judgment of the Stuttgart Regional Court last week (file number: 2 U 34/22).
Before the regional court, the consumer advocates had taken a defeat. The court dismissed a lawsuit that had attacked the business practices of Volksbank Welzheim. The competition law is not violated. As the consumer advocates announced, the Higher Regional Court is now in demand.
The case in Stuttgart was a legal aftermath of a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on the fee practices of banks. In April 2021, the BGH decided that banks must obtain the consent of their customers when changing general terms and conditions. Many banks then introduced new fee models. According to consumer advocates, the judgment is the first following the landmark decision of the Federal Court of Justice.
The Volksbank in the Rems-Murr district had suggested to around 7,000 customers that they forego the reimbursement of fees that had already been paid. In return, they are allowed to continue their current account at the previous price of five euros per month. Otherwise the termination of the account threatens. An affected customer turned to the consumer advocates.
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More: More complaints from bank customers – trouble about BGH fee judgment.