Kenny MacDonald, in the fourth year of an engineering degree, has become the first student from the university to secure a rebate for all charges he had been made to pay during his time studying.
Thousands of students at the university are currently campaigning against what they feel are excessive bank fees in an attempt to encourage banks and building societies to rethink their charges.

 

Laura Wilson, director of representation at the Students' Association, said the university had contacted its 7000 students to offer them advice on how to ask for rebates from their bank.
Bank branches in the town have also been warned that action to recover charges will be forthcoming.
She added that the association had drafted a letter with relevant information, which could be adapted by each student to allow them to claim back money they had paid through bank charges. "It will take the bravery of students like Kenny to get banks to give in," she said.

Many students claim bank charges breach the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999, which states that consumers must not be charged "a disproportionately high sum."
In addition, the Consumers' Association has asked the Financial Services Authority to investigate whether banks and building societies are acting unfairly following a string of complaints from the public.

Tom d'Ardenne, president of St Andrews University Students' Association, told the Citizen that he welcomed the award made to Kenny MacDonald, and said the association would continue to support students attempting to secure rebates.

"Banks make enough money without having to needlessly overcharge students," he said.
"Many students easily run up debts of over £15,000 during their studies and the last thing they need to worry about is unnecessary penalisation by banks.

"Many students are especially vulnerable to these sorts of charges as they are unsure of their legal rights, and the abuse of this vulnerability is something which the students' association condemns.
"That's why it's great news to hear that Kenny has been refunded money that should never have been taken from him in the first place."

-- Fife Today