Attention borrowers: repayments on processing fees now possible!

Attention borrowers: repayments on processing fees now possible!

Wien, Österreich - In Austria, a wave of recovery is made after the Supreme Court (OGH) has declared loan processing fees illegal. An example that illustrates the potential financial effects is the case of an Austrian who has paid 1,880 euros for processing a loan for 47,000 euros. This fee, which is considered disproportionately high, now creates great interest because consumers can insist on their right to reclaim. According to the Consumer Protection Association (VSV)

The topic of credit processing fees has received new explosiveness through a fundamental decision by the OGH of February 19, 2025. This decision is based on recent judgments by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which clarifies that such fees should be considered additional charges and not as main performance fees. This interpretation questions the previous practice of the banks and could result in a legal discussion in billions of billions, such as OTS reported.

legal foundations and consequences

The recent judgments of the OGH state that processing fees that exceed the bank's actual effort are inadmissible. The VSV estimates that the effort for processing a loan is around 480 euros. For banks, this means that the paid fees must be provided with 4 percent interest for the past three years, which further complicates the repayments. This new legal situation could revive many existing lawsuits against banks after the district court for trading matters Vienna had previously rejected similar complaints. Appeals are now pending.

The banking industry is now faced with a high risk of process. Richard Eibl, Managing Director of Padronus, mentions that several thousand consumers are already interested in collecting lawsuits. Both Padronus and the VSV are increasingly preparing association lawsuits against large banks. Padronus takes over the cost risk and finances the legal proceedings for the injured borrowers, who only have to pay a commission in the event of success.

support for consumers

The VSV is currently supporting over 3,000 borrowers in the recovery of illegal fees. Among other things, this support includes the organization of collection campaigns in order to make the reclaims efficient. It is now of central importance for borrowers to inform themselves about their rights and to actively reclaim the money that has been illegally calculated. With a loan amount of 400,000 euros, a fee of 2% could be up to 8,000 euros, for example, which creates clear financial incentives for affected customers to act legally against these fees.

Overall, the legal examination of credit processing fees is a developing area that could have far -reaching consequences for both consumers and banks. The situation remains exciting, since further complaints and legal clarifications can be expected in the coming months. Consumers are well advised to inform themselves in good time about their possibilities and, if necessary, take legal support.