The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection attacked four banks. PLN 150 million fine

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection questioned the clauses used by Bank Pocztowy, Erste Bank Polska, ING Bank Śląski and Plus Bank, which allowed unilateral changes to the terms of concluded contracts and increases or introduction of fees and commissions. The provisions concerned, among others, bank accounts, payment and credit cards, loans and credits, including mortgages.

Each bank received two penalties - for clauses regarding changes to contract terms and fees and commissions. The decisions are not final and banks may appeal to court.

Fees and commissions 200 percent higher

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection gave an example of one of the challenged clauses, which "enabled an increase in fees and commissions by up to 200%, among others, after an increase in inflation by 0.30 percentage points or the average salary by 1%."

"In the opinion of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, such small changes in indicators do not constitute a sufficient justification for unilaterally changing the contract with the consumer. The mechanism allowed the bank to increase prices almost every month," the Office added.