Man blacklisted over laptop in Supreme Court win

A MAN placed on a credit blacklist after a row over payments for a laptop computer has won a Supreme Court fight.

Richard Durkin. Picture: HeMedia

Richard Durkin bought the laptop at a PC World store in Aberdeen in 1998 and signed a credit agreement with lender HFC Bank for about £1,500, Supreme Court justices heard.

He returned the computer the next day because it did not have an internal modem, and asked for the credit agreement to be cancelled.

HFC said he had to keep making payments and after he refused the bank issued a default notice.

Picture: Newsline

It told credit reference agencies he had defaulted and his name remained on a credit register for several years, justices heard.

Mr Durkin took legal action, arguing that he had “validly rescinded” the credit agreement.

The Supreme Court today ruled his favour, saying he was entitled to rescind the credit agreement and had done so “validly”.

Five justices delivered their decision at a hearing in London.

Mr Durkin took his fight to the Supreme Court - the highest in the UK - after losing an appeal in a Scottish court.