An Australian ruling on illegal bank fees has prompted a group staging similar class actions in New Zealand to widen its claims.
Fair Play on Fees says bank customers will now be able to try to reclaim penalty fees beyond the statutory six-year limit.
It claims customers face unreasonable charges for unauthorised overdrafts, honour and dishonour fees and late and over-limit fees for credit cards.
The group's lawyer, Andrew Hooker, says charges were a lot higher before a Commerce Commission investigation in 2009, so bank customers could double their potential claims by looking at older bank statements.
He says an Australian ruling on a case brought against banks there opens the door to older charges being reclaimed.