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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 information free of charge to 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.

EU consumer credit law

The Consumer Credit Directive was revised in 2023 to ensure comprehensive consumer protection. The new Directive is broader in scope as it also applies to credit agreements whose amount is lower than the former EUR 200 threshold and to so called “Buy now, pay later” schemes.  In order to support consumers with financial difficulties, member states are now obliged to establish debt advisory services.

2021 proposal for a Directive on consumer credits repealing and replacing the Consumer Credit Directive (2008/48/EC)

Related studies

REFIT Review of the Consumer Credit Directive

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.

Study on the over-indebtedness of European households

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