VANCOUVER (CP) - A B.C. Supreme Court judge says a B.C. payday loan company was charging "criminal" rates of interest to clients borrowing to make it through to their next paycheque. In the first class-action civil ruling of its kind in Canada, the multimillion-dollar decision is expected to create a ripple effect for payday loan companies across the country. Justice Brenda Brown has ruled the processing fees and late fees charged by the A OK Payday Loans Inc. were interest. The court heard during the trial in April that A OK charges a 21 per cent interest rate and a processing fee of $9.50 for every $50 borrowed. There is $75 fee if a cheque is returned and if the borrower wants put off a loan payment, A OK charges $25 for every $100 deferred.