Once upon a bank statement, the British public rose in collective fury because their overdrafts were swallowing them whole. The banks, ever generous, were charging folks £35 for the crime of spending £3 they didn’t have. “Unfair!” cried the people. “Perfectly fair!” said the banks, polishing their top hats and dividend cheques.
But then something remarkable happened: the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) took the banks to court in OFT v Abbey National & Others. The goal? Prove that these sneaky overdraft fees were unfair under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. Sadly, the legal fairies didn’t grant the people their wish. The courts held that as long as the charges were “clearly stated” and formed part of the “core bargain” (read: the banks told you you’d be mugged), they were legally untouchable.
Still, the public outcry eventually shamed regulators into action. By 2020, the FCA slapped new rules on banks, banning exploitative overdraft charges. The people sort of won. Kind of.
Now Let’s Talk About Visa Fees… 🥴
Dear reader, if you thought overdraft charges were spicy, let me introduce you to the United Kingdom Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Fee Catalogue of Doom.
Picture this: a Nigerian applicant is charged £1,846 to bring their spouse to the UK. That’s before paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £624 per year, which you must pay upfront for 2.5 years—roughly £1,560.
Visa fee + IHS = £3,406 (₦3.9 million in today’s Nigeria).
Now ask yourself: what does it actually cost the UK Home Office to process that visa?
Spoiler: According to earlier leaked figures (from naturalisation cases), some Home Office services have profit margins of up to 800%. But they’re “clearly stated” and “legally allowed”—just like those overdraft charges once were.
Same Logic, Same Legal Loophole?
Let’s play courtroom bingo:
Overdraft Case
“Price term” exempt from fairness
“Clearly stated in contract”
Can’t challenge cost if transparent
Public outrage followed ruling
Visa Case
“Visa fee” is a government fee, not service
“Displayed on gov.uk before payment”
Can’t challenge visa fee if pre-declared
Public shrugs while sweating in biometrics queue
The sad legal truth is: just like overdraft fees, visa fees are arguably immune from fairness tests under consumer law. Why? Because they’re government-set and “transparent.” The same Regulation 6(2) of the UTCCR (and now Consumer Rights Act 2015) likely applies.
But Wait… There’s a Twist
Banks eventually changed—not because they lost in court, but because regulators acted and the public roared.
So here’s the million-pound question (which is coincidentally what it costs to bring a family of four to Croydon):
If banks were eventually forced to change excessive charges after public pressure, why is the Home Office allowed to overcharge migrants—especially from developing nations—with impunity?
Why should a Skilled Worker from Lagos pay more than £2,600 to work in your NHS, while a Frenchman waltzes in with a baguette and a smug grin?
A Call to Satirical Arms (Or Legal Reform, Whatever Comes First)
If the courts can’t protect us from fee exploitation, then maybe Parliament should. Or maybe we just need a new OFT—Office of Fair Treatment of Immigrants.
Until then, visa applicants from Nigeria and beyond will keep paying:
£115 for a 6-month visa that might take 3 months to approve. £1,846 to join their spouse, with no refund if refused. £55 “user fee” just for applying in Ikeja, because paying for the privilege of paying is so British it hurts.
Final Word: Legalised Mugging by Direct Debit
Banks got their day in court. Migrants, sadly, just get their day at TLS Contact with biometric ink still wet on their fingerprints.
One day, maybe someone will challenge the Home Office v Humanity. Until then, let us marvel at how the UK turned the act of visiting, loving, studying, or healing others into a premium service. With no refund, no explanation, and no remorse.
Have you been mugged by a visa fee lately? Share your story in the comments. Or just send us your account number—we’ll direct debit you emotionally.
#VisaFeesMatter
#OverdraftingYourDreams
#LawakhigbeUnfiltered
Centre for Nigeria Progress 