Court ruling goes against banks

A Balearic judge has ruled against banks' practice of charging commission on returned effects such as cheques. The court upheld a case brought by a customer who was fighting against a bill for commission which came to 172'084 pesetas for a cheque which later bounced. Carlos Hernandez, representative of Ausbanc (Association of Bank Service Users) in the Balearics said that this practice was illegal. Although the court decision can still be appealed, the grounds for appeal have already been rejected in 30-odd sentences in the rest of Spain, he claimed. He said that last year, banks in the Balearics made 4'500 million pesetas from this type of commission.