Subjects:

Blackstone Legislation Guides, Consumer Law

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Scope of the Act

3. Licencing of credit businesses

4. Financial Ombudsman

5. Statements

6. Agreements

7. Default and Enforcement

8. Early settlement

9. Unfair relationships

10. Advertisements

11. Elevtronic Communications

Appendix 1 - Consumer Credit Act 2006

Appendix 2 - The Consumer Credit (Advertisements) Regulations 2004

Appendix 3 - The Consumer Credit (Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Appendix 4 - The Consumer Credit (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2004

Appendix 5 - The Consumer Credit (Early Settlement) Regulations 2004

Appendix 6 - The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004

Appendix 7 - The Consumer Credit (Enforcement, Default and Termination Notices) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Appendix 8 - The Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations 2004

The Department of Trade and Industry has been conducting a major revision of consumer credit law over the past few years. Its proposals on substantial changes to existing law were contained in its White Paper published in December 2003: Fair, Clear and Competitive - The Consumer Credit Market in the 21st Century.

Since then, this programme has been implemented by a series of new statutory instruments and a major new Consumer Credit Act which runs to 70 sections and revolutionises the present law and practice of consumer credit. The new Act principally amends the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which is the statute governing the licensing of, and other controls on, traders concerned with the provision of credit or the supply of goods on hire or hire-purchase to individuals. Significant changes brought in by the new Act include the following:-

• The re-definition of "consumers" whose agreements are to be regulated by the Act and financial ceilings on consumer credit and hire agreements removed
• The consequences of trading without a license are to be made more severe and the whole process of licensing to be modernised
• Consumer credit is to be brought within the remit of the Financial Ombudsman

This Guide covers all of these new provisions, together with the growing importance of the internet and electronic technology to this area of the law, whilst also placing the new Act in the context of what has gone before. The commentary in the Guide is structured in a clear and logical way, thus enabling readers to quickly access the information they require.

• Examines the growing importance of the internet and electronic technology to this area of the law, and places it in the context of what has gone before
• Provides comprehensive commentary on the Consumer Credit Act 2006
• Structured in a clear and accessible way, logically following the structure of the Act
• Contains the full text of the Act