Introduction On 18 December 2018, the FCA announced the next package of measures forming part of its high-cost credit review. It has announced proposals to change how banks charge for overdrafts. It has also made new rules strengthening the protections for consumers using home-collected credit (doorstep lending), catalogue credit and store cards and it is … Continue Reading
On 27 November 2018, the FCA published a press release announcing that it will be delaying the launch of its Credit Information Market Study (CIMS) Terms of Reference until June 2019 in order to prioritise its market study on general insurance pricing. The CIMS is intended to help the FCA gain a better understanding of the … Continue Reading
On 9 November 2018, the Treasury Committee (the Committee) announced the launch of a new inquiry (the Inquiry) into consumers’ access to financial services. The Committee will scrutinize whether certain groups of consumers are excluded from obtaining a basic level of service from financial services providers. It will also examine whether vulnerable consumers pay more … Continue Reading
On 30 October 2018, HM Treasury published a consultation (the Consultation) on the policy proposal for the implementation of a breathing space and statutory debt repayment plan, both announced in the 2017 Conservative party manifesto. The two proposals should be viewed separately. The first proposal, breathing space, would give an individual in problem debt the … Continue Reading
On 15 October 2018, the FCA published a Dear CEO letter regarding an increase in complaints about unaffordable lending and setting out how the regulator expects high-cost short-term credit (HCSTC) firms to manage the impact. The Dear CEO letter begins by stating that firms should take prompt action to: assess their lending activity to determine … Continue Reading
Introduction On 5 October 2018, the FCA published a Dear CEO letter to debt packager firms. The service that these firms provide include: gathering customer information; providing debt counselling advice on the debt solutions available; recommending a debt solution for the customer; and, referring on to a third party provider. Upon this referral, the firm … Continue Reading
On 27 September 2018, the FCA published Thematic Review 18/2: Impact of credit broking remuneration models at the point of sale (TR18/2). The FCA review considered whether inter-firm commission affects how consumers are sold credit and whether commission arrangements are resulting in consumer harm. The FCA’s research as part of the review did not find … Continue Reading
On 12 September 2018, there was presented in the House of Commons the Creditworthiness Assessment Bill 2017-19 (the Bill), where it received its first reading. The Bill, a private members bill, if enacted, will amended the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to require the FCA to ensure that firms carrying on credit-related regulated activities … Continue Reading
On 2 August 2018, the FCA published Discussion Paper 18/7: Review of retained provisions of the Consumer Credit Act: Interim report (DP18/7). The FCA is required by statute to review the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) and to report to HM Treasury by 1 April 2019. The review must consider whether the repeal of CCA … Continue Reading
Introduction On 30 July 2018, the FCA published Policy Statement 18/19: Assessing creditworthiness in consumer credit – Feedback on CP17/27 and final rules and guidance (PS18/19). In PS18/19 the FCA summarises and responds to feedback to Consultation Paper 17/27: Assessing creditworthiness in consumer credit (CP17/27). It also publishes final rules and guidance in its Consumer … Continue Reading
On 25 July 2018, the FCA published final notices that it has issued to four former directors and shareholders of Secure My Money Limited (now dissolved), prohibiting them from performing any function relating to any regulated activity: Mark Kennedy. David Mullins. Edward Booth. Christopher Brotherton. The final notices state that that between November 2013 and … Continue Reading
On 10 July 2018, the FCA published the outcomes of its pawnbroking sector review. The review itself highlighted a number of positive aspects of the sector as well as risks. Positive features included: business models focused heavily on customers with quality of service and relationships being paramount; product terms were flexible and personalised in the … Continue Reading
The European Commission has published an evaluation roadmap of the Consumer Credit Directive (CCD). The evaluation of the CCD is expected to conclude in 2019. The evaluation will gather evidence regarding the functioning of the CCD in its totality and in particular, regarding the following aspects: design and distribution phases of credit products; cross-selling of … Continue Reading
On 31 May 2018, the FCA announced proposals designed to protect consumers who use overdrafts and high-cost credit. The proposals are contained in: Consultation Paper 18/12: High-cost Credit Review: Consultation on rent-to-own, home-collected credit, catalogue credit and store cards, and alternatives to high-cost credit, discussion on rent-to-own pricing (CP18/12); and Consultation Paper 18/13: High-cost Credit … Continue Reading
On 2 May 2018, the FCA published a speech by its CEO Andrew Bailey, entitled High-cost credit: what next? At the beginning of his speech Mr Bailey explains that the FCA’s current focus is on overdrafts, rent-to-own, home collected credit and catalogue credit because of their particular risks to consumers. In terms of the FCA’s … Continue Reading
On 27 March 2018, the FCA published Policy Statement 18/17: Staff incentives, remuneration and performance management in consumer credit (PS18/17). In PS18/7 the FCA provides its response to the feedback it received to Consultation Paper 17/20: Staff incentives, remuneration and performance management in consumer credit. It also publishes the final rules for consumer credit firms. … Continue Reading
On 15 March 2018, the FCA published a speech given by Jonathan Davidson (Director of Supervision – Retail and Authorisations, FCA) at the Credit Summit in London. The speech is entitled Getting affordability right in consumer credit. Key messages in Mr Davidson’s speech to consumer credit firms include: business models that are predicated on selling … Continue Reading
The FCA has published a speech by its CEO, Andrew Bailey, which is entitled The consumer credit landscape today. Highlights in the speech include the FCA: has been regulating consumer credit for almost four years and it continues to be a key sector for the regulator; is looking at developments in consumer credit to ensure … Continue Reading
The FCA has published Policy Statement 18/4: Credit card market study: Persistent debt and earlier intervention – feedback to CP17/43 and final rules (PS18/4). In PS18/4 the FCA sets out the responses it received to Consultation Paper 17/43: Credit card market study – persistent debt and earlier intervention remedies (CP17/43). In CP17/43 the FCA set … Continue Reading
In July 2017, the FCA published Feedback Statement 17/2: High cost credit and review of the high-cost short-term credit price cap, setting out its response to the Call for Input issued in November 2016 and identifying key areas of concerns for consumers. Our blog is here. The FCA has now published an update on its … Continue Reading
On 4 July 2017, we blogged that the PRA published a Dear Chair letter which follows up on its Statement on consumer credit. The PRA statement raised ten issues for firms to consider and firms with material consumer credit exposures were required to respond to the PRA by September 2017, with responses to be approved by … Continue Reading
The FCA has published its latest insight article entitled Who’s driving consumer credit growth? To build a better picture of what is driving consumer credit growth the FCA requested credit reference agency data for one in ten UK consumers. Having examined this data to assess possible risks from recent credit growth, the article summarises three … Continue Reading
In April 2017, we blogged that the FCA published Consultation Paper 17/10: Credit card market study: consultation on persistent debt and earlier intervention remedies (CP17/10). CP17/10 proposed measures to tackle persistent credit card debt and encourage earlier intervention. In particular, the FCA set out proposed new rules about the treatment of customers whose debt persists … Continue Reading
In September 2017, we blogged that the Law Commission published a report on Bills of Sale following an earlier consultation on the reform of Bills of Sale Acts. The Law Commission has now published a report on its proposed Goods Mortgages Bill, together with a final version of the draft Bill. When finalised the draft … Continue Reading
