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2004 No. 1482

CONSUMER CREDIT

The Consumer Credit (Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

  Made 5th June 2004 
  Laid before Parliament 9th June 2004 
  Coming into force 31st May 2005 

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred upon her by sections 60, 61(1)(a), 105(9), 114(1), 182(2) and 189(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974[1], hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement
     1. These Regulations may be cited as the Consumer Credit (Agreements) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and shall come into force on 31st May 2005.

Amendment of the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983
    
2. The Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983[2] shall be amended as follows.

     3.  - (1) Regulation 1(2) (interpretation) shall be amended as follows.

    (2) Insert at the appropriate place - 

    (3) In the definition of "total charge for credit" after the words "Total Charge for Credit Regulations" insert "and Schedule 7 to these Regulations".

    
4. For regulation 2 (form and content of regulated consumer credit agreements) substitute - 

     5.  - (1) Regulation 3 (form and content of regulated consumer hire agreements) shall be amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph 4 substitute - 

    (3) In paragraph 5 for the words "paragraphs 4 to 8 of Schedule 3" substitute "paragraph (4)(c) above".

    
6. In regulation 4(b) (pawn-receipts) for the words "numbered 16" substitute "numbered 18".

    
7. In regulation 5(4) (statutory forms) omit the words "the APR,".

    
8. For regulation 6(2) (signing of the agreement) substitute - 

     9.  - (1) Regulation 7 (modifying agreements which are, or are treated as, regulated agreements) shall be amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph (3) substitute - 

    (3) For paragraph (4) substitute - 

    (4) In paragraph (5) for the words "remaining financial and related particulars" to the end of the paragraph substitute "the information required by paragraph (4)(d) above.".

    (5) For paragraph (6)(b) substitute - 

    (6) For paragraph 11 substitute - 

     10.  - (1) Schedule 1 (information to be contained in documents embodying regulated consumer credit agreements other than modifying agreements) shall be amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph 1 substitute - 

1. All types.     " (1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, a heading in one of the following forms of words - 

    (a) "Hire-Purchase Agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974";

    (b) "Conditional Sale Agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974";

    (c) "Fixed-Sum Loan Agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974"; or

    (d) "Credit Card Agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974",

as the case may require.

    (2) If none of the headings in 1(a) to (d) above are applicable a heading in the following form of words - "Credit Agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974".

    (3) Where the document and a pawn-receipt are combined, the words ", and Pawn Receipt," shall be inserted in the heading after the word "Agreement".

    (4) Where the document embodies an agreement of which at least one part is a credit agreement not regulated by the Act, the word "partly" shall be inserted before "regulated" unless the regulated and unregulated parts of the agreement are clearly separate.

    (5) Where the credit is being secured on land the words "secured on" followed by the address of the land shall be inserted at the end of the heading.

".


    (3) After paragraph 8 insert - 


    (4) For paragraph 9 substitute - 


    (5) For paragraph 10 substitute - 


    (6) After paragraph 14 insert - 


    (7) For paragraph 22 substitute - 


    (8) After paragraph 22 insert - 


    
11. For Schedule 2 (forms of statement and remedies available under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to debtors under regulated consumer credit agreements) substitute - 




    
12.  - (1) Schedule 3 (information to be contained in documents embodying regulated consumer hire agreements other than modifying agreements) shall be amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph 1 substitute - 


    (3) For paragraph 10 substitute - 


    (4) After paragraph 10 insert - 


    
13. For Schedule 4 (forms of statement of protection and remedies available under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to hirers under regulated consumer hire agreements) substitute - 




    
14. After Part II of Schedule 5 (forms of signature box) insert - 




    
15. In Schedule 7 (provisions relating to the disclosure of the APR) for paragraph 1 substitute - 

     16.  - (1) Schedule 8, part 1 (information to be contained in documents embodying regulated modifying agreements varying or supplementing earlier credit agreements) is amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph 1 substitute - 

1 All types     " (1) A heading in one of the following forms of words - 

    (a) "Agreement modifying a Hire-Purchase Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974";

    (b) "Agreement Modifying a Conditional Sale Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974";

    (c) "Agreement modifying a Fixed-Sum Loan Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974";

    (d) "Agreement modifying a Credit Card Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974"; or

    (e) "Agreement modifying a Credit Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974"

as the case may require.

    (2) Where the document and a pawn-receipt are combined, the words ", and Pawn-Receipt," shall be inserted in the heading after the word "Agreement" in the second place that it occurs.

    (3) Where the document embodies an agreement of which at least one part is a credit agreement not regulated by the Act, the word "partly" shall be inserted before "regulated" unless the regulated and unregulated parts of the agreement are clearly separate.

    (4) Where the loan is being secured on land the words "secured on" and the address of the land shall be inserted at the end of the heading.

".


    (3) In paragraph 5 - 

    (4) For paragraph 6 substitute - 

6 Modifying agreements both under which the amount of credit to be provided under an earlier agreement for fixed-sum credit is varied or supplemented and where the earlier agreement is an agreement excluded from the scope of the Consumer Credit (Early Settlement) Regulations 2004 by regulation 2(2) of those Regulations. " The total amount of the credit to be provided under the modified agreement calculated as follows, namely the total of - 

    (a) the balance of the credit outstanding under the earlier agreement at the relevant date;

    (b) any charges thereon (included in the total charge for credit in relation to the credit to be provided under the earlier agreement) due and unpaid at the relevant date;

    (c) the amount of any additional credit to be provided under the modifying agreement, with a list of its constituent parts.

    ".


    (5) After paragraph 7 insert - 

Term of the agreement
7A Modifying agreements under which the duration of an earlier agreement for running account credit of fixed duration is varied. The duration of the modified agreement.
7B Modifying agreements under which the duration of an earlier agreement for fixed-sum credit is varied. The duration or minimum duration of the modified agreement.".


    (6) For paragraph (8) substitute - 

8 " Modifying agreements under which any charge included in the total charge for credit in relation to an earlier agreement for fixed-sum credit is varied or supplemented, except modifying agreements - 

    (a) which do not specify either the intervals between repayments under the modified agreement or the amounts of repayments or both the intervals and the amounts;

    (b) under which the total amount payable by the debtor under the modified agreement to discharge his indebtedness in respect of the amount of credit provided may vary according to any formula specified in such agreement having effect by reference to movements in the level of any index or to any other factor;

    (c) which provide for a variation of, or permit the creditor to vary, (whether or not by reference to any index) the amount or rate of any item included in the total charge for credit in relation to the modified agreement after the relevant date; or

    (d) under which the total amount payable by the debtor under the modified agreement is not greater than the total cash price under that agreement .

    (1) The total charge for credit in relation to the credit to be provided under the modified agreement, with a list of its constituent parts.

    (2) The varied or supplemented rates of any interest on the credit to be provided under the modified agreement quoted on a per annum basis, or a statement that the rates of interest under the earlier agreement are unchanged.

    (3) A statement explaining how and when interest charges are calculated and applied under the modified agreement.

".


    (7) For paragraph 9 substitute - 

9 " Modifying agreements under which - 

    (a) any charge included in the total charge for credit in relation to an earlier agreement for fixed-sum credit is varied or supplemented and which fall within the exceptions in paragraph 8 (a) to (c); or

    (b) the rate of any other charge included in the total charge for credit in relation to an earlier agreement for running-account credit is varied or supplemented.

    (1) The total charge for credit in relation to the credit to be provided under the modified agreement with a list of its constituent parts and in the case of running-account credit, the total charge for credit shall be calculated on the same assumptions as are set out in paragraph 1 of Schedule 7 for the purpose of calculating the APR in place of the assumptions in Part 4 of the Total Charge for Credit Regulations that might otherwise apply.

    (2) The varied or supplemented rates of any interest on the credit to be provided under the modified agreement quoted on a per annum basis, or a statement that the rates of interest under the earlier agreement are unchanged.

    (3) A statement whether the interest rates to be shown under (2) above are fixed or variable

    (4) A statement explaining how and when interest charges are calculated and applied under the modified agreement.

".


    (8) After paragraph 13 insert - 

13A. " Modifying agreements under which - 

    (a) an earlier agreement is varied or supplemented so that different interest rates or different charges forming part of the total charge for credit or both are payable in respect of - 

      (i) credit provided under the agreement for different purposes; or

      (ii) different parts of the agreement,

    whether or not the agreement is a multiple agreement; or

    (b) an earlier agreement is varied by varying the order or proportions in which any amount paid by the debtor which is not sufficient to discharge the total debt then due under the agreement will be applied or appropriated by the creditor towards the discharge of the sums due - 

      (i) in respect of the amounts of credit provided for different purposes, or

      (ii) under each of the different parts of the agreement,

    as the case may require.

A statement of the order or proportions in which any amount paid by the debtor which is not sufficient to discharge the total debt then due under the agreement will be applied or appropriated by the creditor towards the discharge of the sums due - 

    (a) in respect of the amounts of credit provided for different purposes, or

    (b) under each of the different parts of the agreement,

as the case may be.

"


    (9) For paragraph 22 substitute - 

Charges
22 Modifying agreements under which any provision for charges under an earlier agreement are varied, including a variation to or from there being no such charges.     " (1) A list of any charges payable under the modified agreement to the creditor upon failure by the debtor or a relative of his to do or refrain from doing anything which he is required to do or refrain from doing, as the case may be, or a statement indicating that no such charges are payable as the case may be.

    (2) A statement indicating any term of the modified agreement which provides for charges

    (a) not required to be shown under (1) above; or

    (b) included in the total charge for credit."


    (10) After paragraph 22 insert - 

Cancellation rights
23 Modifying agreements that are not treated as cancellable agreements under section 82(5) of the Act. A statement that the modifying agreement is not cancellable.
Amount payable on early settlement
24 Agreements for fixed-sum credit for a term of more than one month.     " (1) Examples based on the amount of credit to be provided under the agreement or the nominal amount of either £1000 or £100, showing the amount that would be payable if the debtor exercised the right under section 94 of the Act to discharge his indebtedness on the date when - 

    (a) a quarter of the term of the agreement elapses;

    (b) half of the term elapses; and

    (c) three quarters of the term elapses,

or on the first repayment date after each of those dates.

    (2) A statement explaining that, in calculating the amounts shown, no account has been taken of any variation which might occur under the agreement, and that the amounts are accordingly only illustrative.".


    
17.  - (1) Schedule 8, Part 2 (information to be contained in documents embodying regulated modifying agreements varying or supplementing earlier hire agreements) is amended as follows.

    (2) For paragraph 1 substitute - 

1 All types     " (1) A heading in the following form of words - "Agreement modifying a Hire Agreement and regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974".

    (2) Where the credit is being secured on land the words "secured on" followed by the address of the land shall be inserted at the end of the heading.".


    (3) In column 2 of paragraph 10 for the words "An indication of any" substitute "A list of all".

    (4) After paragraph 10 insert - 

Cancellation rights
11 Modifying agreements that are not treated as cancellable agreements under section 82(5) of the Act. A statement that the modifying agreement is not cancellable.".


Transitional provision
    
18.  - (1) This regulation applies to documents embodying regulated agreements, and modifying agreements treated under section 82(3) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974[4] as regulated agreements, which have

    (2) The Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983 as they have effect immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations shall continue to apply in relation to transitional agreements.

    (3) Accordingly the amendments and repeals made by these Regulations shall not apply in respect of transitional agreements and for the purposes of section 61(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 such agreements shall be properly executed if they conform to the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983[5] as they have effect immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations and otherwise comply with that subsection.


Gerry Sutcliffe,
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Competition and Consumer Affairs, Department of Trade and Industry

5th June 2004



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations amend the Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 1983 ("the 1983 Regulations") with effect from the 31st May 2005 subject to a transitional provision in regulation 18. The principal amendments made by the Regulations are as follows - 

    (1) they substitute a new paragraph (4) in each of regulations 2, 3 and 7 of the 1983 Regulations. The new paragraphs (4) set out the order in which the prescribed content of documents embodying a regulated consumer credit agreement, a regulated consumer hire agreement and a modifying agreement treated as a regulated agreement under section 82(3) of the Act is to be given and the place of the signature and separate boxes required under the Regulations;

    (2) they amend regulation 2(7) by providing for an additional form of consent to be signed by a debtor in specified circumstances where the debtor is purchasing certain insurance products on credit;

    (3) they substitute regulation 2(8) and (9) for regulation 2(7A) of the 1983 Regulations which provides that documents embodying certain consumer credit agreements (the principal agreements) and embodying, or containing the option of, certain agreements (the subsidiary agreements) relating to contracts of insurance against accident, sickness, unemployment or death or any contract relating to a guarantee of goods may contain with one minor exception only the information, statements and signature boxes relating to the principal agreement. The new provision extends the meaning of "subsidiary agreements" to cover contracts of shortfall insurance as now defined in regulation 1(2);

    (4) they strengthen the legibility and prominence requirements in regulation 6(2) of the 1983 Regulations;

    (5) they amend Schedule 7 to the 1983 Regulations by providing for the use of particular assumptions in calculating the APR and the Total Charge for Credit to be stated in running-account credit agreements;

    (6) they amend Schedules 1, 3 and 8 by requiring certain additional information to be included in an agreement; and

    (7) they amend Schedules 2 and 4 by simplifying the language used.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on costs to business is available from the Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET.


Notes:

[1] 1974 c. 39.; section 189(1) is cited for the definitions of "prescribed", and "regulations".back

[2] S.I. 1983/1553, amended by S.I. 1984/1600, 1985/666, 1988/2047, 1999/3177 and 2001/3649.back

[3] 1983/1558.back

[4] 1974 c. 39.back

[5] S.I. 1983/1553, amended by S.I. 1984/1600, 1985/666, 1988/2047, 1999/3177 and 2001/3649.back



ISBN 0 11 049370 2


  © Crown copyright 2004

Prepared 15 June 2004


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