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Consumer Credit

EU rules on consumer credits to strengthen consumer rights when concluding a credit agreement.

Your consumer rights

EU rules on consumer credit are designed to strengthen your consumer rights and to help you make an informed choice if you sign up to a credit agreement.  

Before you sign an agreement, the lender must

  • give you standardised informationto make it easy for you to compare offers
  • tell you the annual percentage rate of charge (APR) – this tells you the total cost of the credit
  • assess your creditworthiness i.e. your ability to pay back the credit in a sustainable way

You can cancel the agreement within 14 days of signing. You can also repay the loan or credit at any time.

New proposal for a Directive on consumer credits repealing and replacing the Consumer Credit Directive (2008/48/EC)

EU consumer credit law

Reports on the Consumer Credit Directive 2008/48/EC

Related studies

REFIT Review of the Consumer Credit Directive

Study on possible impacts of a revision of the Consumer Credit Directive - Final report 2021

Study on possible impacts of a revision of the Consumer Credit Directive - Annexes to the Final report 2021

REFIT Evaluation of the Consumer Credit Directive

Study conducted on the current legal framework of the Consumer Credit Directive and its fitness for purpose, via an assessment of its effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, EU added value and potential for simplification and burden reduction.

5 NOVEMBER 2020
Supporting study of the evaluation of Directive 2008/48/EC on credit agreements for consumers
English
(5.32 MB - PDF)
Download

Study on the over-indebtedness of European households

Updated mapping of the situation, nature and causes, effects and initiatives for alleviating its impact.

4 DECEMBER 2013
The over-indebtedness of european households: Updated mapping of the situation, nature and causes, effects and initiatives for alleviating its impact (Synthesis of findings)
English
(2.75 MB - PDF)
Download
18 DECEMBER 2013
The over-indebtedness of european households: Updated mapping of the situation, nature and causes, effects and initiatives for alleviating its impact (Country reports)
English
(10.21 MB - PDF)
Download