Bank customers in Northern Ireland could have paid out up to £210m in unauthorised overdraft charges in the past six years, a consumer group warned today.
The Consumer Council is urging more customers to challenge their bank for a refund.
It said many had successfully done so but the true payout level may never be known because some customers were being asked to sign a confidentiality agreement with the bank.
Eleanor Gill, CEO at the council, said: 'Consumers do not dispute having to pay a penalty for going into the red without permission; what they are disputing is the size of the penalty'.
She said this campaign of secrecy is a particularly disturbing development given that all big four banks have chosen to pay out and not go to court to openly and transparently justify their charges.
Seventy-five ripped off customers had come back to the council to tell them they had recovered money - more than £42,000 between them, she said.
