(1) After any contravention of section 123 has occurred in relation to a sum payable as mentioned in section 123(1)(a), the agreement under which the sum is payable is enforceable against the debtor or hirer on an order of the court only.
(2) After any contravention of section 123 has occurred in relation to a sum payable by any surety, the security is enforceable on an order of the court only.
(3) Where an application for an order under subsection (2) is dismissed (except on technical grounds only) section 106 shall apply to the security.
(1) A person who takes a negotiable instrument in contravention of section 123(1) or (3) is not a holder in due course, and is not entitled to enforce the instrument.
(2) Where a person negotiates a cheque in contravention of section 123(2), his doing so constitutes a defect in his title within the meaning of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882.
(3) If a person mentioned in section 123(1)(a) or (b) ( “the protected person ”) becomes liable to a holder in due course of an instrument taken from the protected person in contravention of section 123(1) or (3), or taken from the protected person and negotiated in contravention of section 123(2), the creditor or owner shall indemnify the protected person in respect of that liability.
(4) Nothing in this Act affects the rights of the holder in due course of any negotiable instrument.
(1) A land mortgage securing an agreement of one the following types is enforceable (so far as is provided in relation to the agreement) on an order of the court only—
(a) a regulated agreement;
(b) a regulated mortgage contract;
(c) a consumer credit agreement which would, but for article 60D of the Regulated Activities Order (exempt agreements: exemption relating to the purchase of land for non-residential purposes), be a regulated agreement.
(2) Subject to section 140A(5) (unfair relationships between creditors and debtors), a regulated mortgage contract which would, but for article 60C(2) of the Regulated Activities Order (exempt agreements: exemption relating to the nature of the agreement), be a regulated agreement is to be treated for the purposes of Part 9 (judicial control) as if it were a regulated agreement.
(3) In this section, “regulated mortgage contract” has the meaning given by article 61(3) of the Regulated Activities Order (regulated mortgage contracts).
(1) In the case of an application for an enforcement order under—
(za) section 55(2) (disclosure of information), or
(zb) section 61B(3) (duty to supply copy of overdraft agreement), or
(a) section 65(1) (improperly executed agreements), or
(b) section 105(7)(a) or (b) (improperly executed security instruments), or
(c) section 111(2) (failure to serve copy of notice on surety), or
(d) section 124(1) or (2) (taking of negotiable instrument in contravention of section 123),
the court shall dismiss the application if, but . . . only if, it considers it just to do so having regard to—
(i) prejudice caused to any person by the contravention in question, and the degree of culpability for it; and
(ii) the powers conferred on the court by subsection (2) and sections 135 and 136.
(2) If it appears to the court just to do so, it may in an enforcement order reduce or discharge any sum payable by the debtor or hirer, or any surety, so as to compensate him for prejudice suffered as a result of the contravention in question.
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
128 Enforcement orders on death of debtor or hirer.
The court shall make an order under section 86(2) if, but only if, the creditor or owner proves that he has been unable to satisfy himself that the present and future obligations of the debtor or hirer under the agreement are likely to be discharged.
(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, if it appears to the court just to do so—
(a) on an application for an enforcement order; or
(b) on an application made by a debtor or hirer under this paragraph after service on him of—
(i) a default notice, or
(ii) a notice under section 76(1) or 98(1); or
(bza) on an application made by a debtor under this paragraph after the creditor has informed the debtor of the creditor’s intention—
(i) to enforce a term of a regulated deferred payment credit agreement by—
(aa) demanding earlier payment of any sum,
(bb) treating any right conferred on the debtor by the agreement as terminated, restricted or deferred, or
(ii) to terminate a regulated deferred payment credit agreement, or
(ba) on an application made by a debtor or hirer under this paragraph after he has been given a notice under section 86B or 86C; or
(c) in an action brought by a creditor or owner to enforce a regulated agreement or any security, or recover possession of any goods or land to which a regulated agreement relates,
the court may make an order under this section (a “time order ”).
(2) A time order shall provide for one or both of the following, as the court considers just—
(a) the payment by the debtor or hirer or any surety of any sum owed under a regulated agreement or a security by such instalments, payable at such times, as the court, having regard to the means of the debtor or hirer and any surety, considers reasonable;
(b) the remedying by the debtor or hirer of any breach of a regulated agreement (other than non-payment of money) within such period as the court may specify.
(3) Where in Scotland a time to pay direction or a time to pay order has been made in relation to a debt, it shall not thereafter be competent to make a time order in relation to the same debt.
129A Debtor or hirer to give notice of intent etc. to creditor or owner
(1) A debtor or hirer may make an application under section 129(1)(ba) in relation to a regulated agreement only if—
(a) following his being given the notice under section 86B or 86C, he gave a notice within subsection (2) to the creditor or owner; and
(b) a period of at least 14 days has elapsed after the day on which he gave that notice to the creditor or owner.
(2) A notice is within this subsection if it—
(a) indicates that the debtor or hirer intends to make the application;
(b) indicates that he wants to make a proposal to the creditor or owner in relation to his making of payments under the agreement; and
(c) gives details of that proposal.
(1) Where in accordance with rules of court an offer to pay any sum by instalments is made by the debtor or hirer and accepted by the creditor or owner, the court may in accordance with rules of court make a time order under section 129(2)(a) giving effect to the offer without hearing evidence of means.
(2) In the case of a hire-purchase or conditional sale agreement only, a time order under section 129(2)(a) may deal with sums which, although not payable by the debtor at the time the order is made, would if the agreement continued in force become payable under it subsequently.
(3) A time order under section 129(2)(a) shall not be made where the regulated agreement is secured by a pledge if, by virtue of regulations made under section 76(5), 87(4) or 98(5), service of a notice is not necessary for enforcement of the pledge.
(4) Where, following the making of a time order in relation to a regulated hire-purchase or conditional sale agreement or a regulated consumer hire agreement, the debtor or hirer is in possession of the goods, he shall be treated (except in the case of a debtor to whom the creditor’s title has passed) as a bailee or (in Scotland) a custodier of the goods under the terms of the agreement, notwithstanding that the agreement has been terminated.
(5) Without prejudice to anything done by the creditor or owner before the commencement of the period specified in a time order made under section 129(2)(b) ( “the relevant period ”),—
(a) he shall not while the relevant period subsists take in relation to the agreement any action such as is mentioned in section 87(1);
(b) where—
(i) a provision of the agreement ( “the secondary provision ”) becomes operative only on breach of another provision of the agreement ( “the primary provision ”), and
(ii) the time order provides for the remedying of such a breach of the primary provision within the relevant period,
he shall not treat the secondary provision as operative before the end of that period;
(c) if while the relevant period subsists the breach to which the order relates is remedied it shall be treated as not having occurred.
(6) On the application of any person affected by a time order, the court may vary or revoke the order.
(1) If the creditor or owner under a regulated agreement wants to be able to recover from the debtor or hirer post-judgment interest in connection with a sum that is required to be paid under a judgment given in relation to the agreement (the ‘judgment sum’), he—
(a) after the giving of that judgment, shall give the debtor or hirer a notice under this section (the ‘first required notice’); and
(b) after the giving of the first required notice, shall give the debtor or hirer further notices under this section at intervals of not more than six months.
(2) The debtor or hirer shall have no liability to pay post-judgment interest in connection with the judgment sum to the extent that the interest is calculated by reference to a period occurring before the day on which he is given the first required notice.
(3) If the creditor or owner fails to give the debtor or hirer a notice under this section within the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on which such a notice was last given to the debtor or hirer, the debtor or hirer shall have no liability to pay post-judgment interest in connection with the judgment sum to the extent that the interest is calculated by reference to the whole or to a part of the period which—
(a) begins immediately after the end of that period of six months; and
(b) ends at the end of the day on which the notice is given to the debtor or hirer.
(4) The debtor or hirer shall have no liability to pay any sum in connection with the preparation or the giving to him of a notice under this section.
(5) A notice under this section may be incorporated in a statement or other notice which the creditor or owner gives the debtor or hirer in relation to the agreement by virtue of another provision of this Act.
(6) Regulations may make provision about the form and content of notices under this section.
(7) This section does not apply in relation to post-judgment interest which is required to be paid by virtue of any of the following—
(a) section 4 of the Administration of Justice (Scotland) Act 1972;
(b) Article 127 of the Judgments Enforcement (Northern Ireland) Order 1981;
(c) section 74 of the County Courts Act 1984.
(8) This section does not apply in relation to a non-commercial agreement or to a small agreement.
(9) In this section ‘post-judgment interest’ means interest to the extent calculated by reference to a period occurring after the giving of the judgment under which the judgment sum is required to be paid.
The court, on the application of the creditor or owner under a regulated agreement, may make such orders as it thinks just for protecting any property of the creditor or owner, or property subject to any security, from damage or depreciation pending the determination of any proceedings under this Act, including orders restricting or prohibiting use of the property or giving directions as to its custody.
(1) Where the owner under a regulated consumer hire agreement recovers possession of goods to which the agreement relates otherwise than by action, the hirer may apply to the court for an order that—
(a) the whole or part of any sum paid by the hirer to the owner in respect of the goods shall be repaid, and
(b) the obligation to pay the whole or part of any sum owed by the hirer to the owner in respect of the goods shall cease,
and if it appears to the court just to do so, having regard to the extent of the enjoyment of the goods by the hirer, the court shall grant the application in full or in part.
(2) Where in proceedings relating to a regulated consumer hire agreement the court makes an order for the delivery to the owner of goods to which the agreement relates the court may include in the order the like provision as may be made in an order under subsection (1).
133 Hire-purchase etc. agreements: special powers of court.
(1) If, in relation to a regulated hire-purchase or conditional sale agreement, it appears to the court just to do so—
(a) on an application for an enforcement order or time order; or
(b) in an action brought by the creditor to recover possession of goods to which the agreement relates,
the court may—
(i) make an order (a “return order ”) for the return to the creditor of goods to which the agreement relates;
(ii) make an order (a “transfer order ”) for the transfer to the debtor of the creditor’s title to certain goods to which the agreement relates ( “the transferred goods ”), and the return to the creditor of the remainder of the goods.
(2) In determining for the purposes of this section how much of the total price has been paid ( “the paid-up sum ”), the court may—
(a) treat any sum paid by the debtor, or owed by the creditor, in relation to the goods as part of the paid-up sum;
(b) deduct any sum owed by the debtor in relation to the goods (otherwise than as part of the total price) from the paid-up sum,
and make corresponding reductions in amounts so owed.
(3) Where a transfer order is made, the transferred goods shall be such of the goods to which the agreement relates as the court thinks just; but a transfer order shall be made only where the paid-up sum exceeds the part of the total price referable to the transferred goods by an amount equal to at least one-third of the unpaid balance of the total price.
(4) Notwithstanding the making of a return order or transfer order, the debtor may at any time before the goods enter the possession of the creditor, on payment of the balance of the total price and the fulfilment of any other necessary conditions, claim the goods ordered to be returned to the creditor.
(5) When, in pursuance of a time order or under this section, the total price of goods under a regulated hire-purchase agreement or regulated conditional sale agreement is paid and any other necessary conditions are fulfilled, the creditor’s title to the goods vests in the debtor.
(6) If, in contravention of a return order or transfer order, any goods to which the order relates are not returned to the creditor, the court, on the application of the creditor, may—
(a) revoke so much of the order as relates to those goods, and
(b) order the debtor to pay the creditor the unpaid portion of so much of the total price as is referable to those goods.
(7) For the purposes of this section, the part of the total price referable to any goods is the part assigned to those goods by the agreement or (if no such assignment is made) the part determined by the court to be reasonable.
134 Evidence of adverse detention in hire-purchase etc. cases.
(1) Where goods are comprised in a regulated hire-purchase agreement, regulated conditional sale agreement or regulated consumer hire agreement, and the creditor or owner—
(a) brings an action or makes an application to enforce a right to recover possession of the goods from the debtor or hirer, and
(b) proves that a demand for the delivery of the goods was included in the default notice under section 88(5), or that, after the right to recover possession of the goods accrued but before the action was begun or the application was made, he made a request in writing to the debtor or hirer to surrender the goods,
then, for the purposes of the claim of the creditor or owner to recover possession of the goods, the possession of them by the debtor or hirer shall be deemed to be adverse to the creditor or owner.
(2) In subsection (1) “the debtor or hirer ” includes a person in possession of the goods at any time between the debtor’s or hirer’s death and the grant of probate or administration, or (in Scotland) confirmation.
(3) Nothing in this section affects a claim for damages for conversion or (in Scotland) for delict.
135 Power to impose conditions, or suspend operation of order.
(1) If it considers it just to do so, the court may in an order made by it in relation to a regulated agreement include provisions—
(a) making the operation of any term of the order conditional on the doing of specified acts by any party to the proceedings;
(b) suspending the operation of any term of the order either—
(i) until such time as the court subsequently directs, or
(ii) until the occurrence of a specified act or omission.
(2) The court shall not suspend the operation of a term requiring the delivery up of goods by any person unless satisfied that the goods are in his possession or control.
(3) In the case of a consumer hire agreement, the court shall not so use its powers under subsection (1)(b) as to extend the period for which, under the terms of the agreement, the hirer is entitled to possession of the goods to which the agreement relates.
(4) On the application of any person affected by a provision included under subsection (1), the court may vary the provision.
The court may in an order made by it under this Act include such provision as it considers just for amending any agreement or security in consequence of a term of the order.
140A Unfair relationships between creditors and debtors
(1) The court may make an order under section 140B in connection with a credit agreement if it determines that the relationship between the creditor and the debtor arising out of the agreement (or the agreement taken with any related agreement) is unfair to the debtor because of one or more of the following—
(a) any of the terms of the agreement or of any related agreement;
(b) the way in which the creditor has exercised or enforced any of his rights under the agreement or any related agreement;
(c) any other thing done (or not done) by, or on behalf of, the creditor (either before or after the making of the agreement or any related agreement).
(2) In deciding whether to make a determination under this section the court shall have regard to all matters it thinks relevant (including matters relating to the creditor and matters relating to the debtor).
(3) For the purposes of this section the court shall (except to the extent that it is not appropriate to do so) treat anything done (or not done) by, or on behalf of, or in relation to, an associate or a former associate of the creditor as if done (or not done) by, or on behalf of, or in relation to, the creditor.
(4) A determination may be made under this section in relation to a relationship notwithstanding that the relationship may have ended.
(5) An order under section 140B shall not be made in connection with a credit agreement which is an exempt agreement for the purposes of Chapter 14A of Part 2 of the Regulated Activities Order by virtue of article 60C(2) of that Order (regulated mortgage contracts and regulated home purchase plans) .
(6) An order under section 140B shall not be made in connection with a credit agreement entered into under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
(7) In subsection (6) “the Bounce Back Loan Scheme” means the scheme of that name operated from 4 May 2020 by the British Business Bank plc on behalf of the Secretary of State.
140B Powers of court in relation to unfair relationships
(1) An order under this section in connection with a credit agreement may do one or more of the following—
(a) require the creditor, or any associate or former associate of his, to repay (in whole or in part) any sum paid by the debtor or by a surety by virtue of the agreement or any related agreement (whether paid to the creditor, the associate or the former associate or to any other person);
(b) require the creditor, or any associate or former associate of his, to do or not to do (or to cease doing) anything specified in the order in connection with the agreement or any related agreement;
(c) reduce or discharge any sum payable by the debtor or by a surety by virtue of the agreement or any related agreement;
(d) direct the return to a surety of any property provided by him for the purposes of a security;
(e) otherwise set aside (in whole or in part) any duty imposed on the debtor or on a surety by virtue of the agreement or any related agreement;
(f) alter the terms of the agreement or of any related agreement;
(g) direct accounts to be taken, or (in Scotland) an accounting to be made, between any persons.
(2) An order under this section may be made in connection with a credit agreement only—
(a) on an application made by the debtor or by a surety;
(b) at the instance of the debtor or a surety in any proceedings in any court to which the debtor and the creditor are parties, being proceedings to enforce the agreement or any related agreement; or
(c) at the instance of the debtor or a surety in any other proceedings in any court where the amount paid or payable under the agreement or any related agreement is relevant.
(3) An order under this section may be made notwithstanding that its effect is to place on the creditor, or any associate or former associate of his, a burden in respect of an advantage enjoyed by another person.
(4) An application under subsection (2)(a) may only be made—
(a) in England and Wales, to the county court;
(b) in Scotland, to the sheriff court;
(c) in Northern Ireland, to the High Court (subject to subsection (6)).
(5) In Scotland such an application may be made in the sheriff court for the district in which the debtor or surety resides or carries on business.
(6) In Northern Ireland such an application may be made to the county court if the credit agreement is an agreement under which the creditor provides the debtor with—
(a) fixed-sum credit not exceeding £15,000; or
(b) running-account credit on which the credit limit does not exceed £15,000.
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8) A party to any proceedings mentioned in subsection (2) shall be entitled, in accordance with rules of court, to have any person who might be the subject of an order under this section made a party to the proceedings.
(9) If, in any such proceedings, the debtor or a surety alleges that the relationship between the creditor and the debtor is unfair to the debtor, it is for the creditor to prove to the contrary.
(1) In this section and in sections 140A and 140B ‘credit agreement’ means any agreement between an individual (the ‘debtor’) and any other person (the ‘creditor’) by which the creditor provides the debtor with credit of any amount.
(2) References in this section and in sections 140A and 140B to the creditor or to the debtor under a credit agreement include—
(a) references to the person to whom his rights and duties under the agreement have passed by assignment or operation of law;
(b) where two or more persons are the creditor or the debtor, references to any one or more of those persons.
(3) The definition of ‘court’ in section 189(1) does not apply for the purposes of sections 140A and 140B.
(4) References in sections 140A and 140B to an agreement related to a credit agreement (the ‘main agreement’) are references to—
(a) a credit agreement consolidated by the main agreement;
(b) a linked transaction in relation to the main agreement or to a credit agreement within paragraph (a);
(c) a security provided in relation to the main agreement, to a credit agreement within paragraph (a) or to a linked transaction within paragraph (b).
(5) In the case of a credit agreement which is not a regulated consumer credit agreement, for the purposes of subsection (4) a transaction shall be treated as being a linked transaction in relation to that agreement if it would have been such a transaction had that agreement been a regulated consumer credit agreement.
(6) For the purposes of this section and section 140B the definitions of ‘security’ and ‘surety’ in section 189(1) apply (with any appropriate changes) in relation to—
(a) a credit agreement which is not a consumer credit agreement as if it were a consumer credit agreement; and
(b) a transaction which is a linked transaction by virtue of subsection (5).
(7) For the purposes of this section a credit agreement (the ‘earlier agreement’) is consolidated by another credit agreement (the ‘later agreement’) if—
(a) the later agreement is entered into by the debtor (in whole or in part) for purposes connected with debts owed by virtue of the earlier agreement; and
(b) at any time prior to the later agreement being entered into the parties to the earlier agreement included—
(i) the debtor under the later agreement; and
(ii) the creditor under the later agreement or an associate or a former associate of his.
(8) Further, if the later agreement is itself consolidated by another credit agreement (whether by virtue of this subsection or subsection (7)), then the earlier agreement is consolidated by that other agreement as well.
(1) In England and Wales the county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine—
(a) any action by the creditor or owner to enforce a regulated agreement or any security relating to it;
(b) any action to enforce any linked transaction against the debtor or hirer or his relative,
and such an action shall not be brought in any other court.
(2) Where an action or application is brought in the High Court which, by virtue of this Act, ought to have been brought in the county court it shall not be treated as improperly brought, but shall be transferred to the county court.
(3) In Scotland the sheriff court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action referred to in subsection (1) and such an action shall not be brought in any other court.
(3A) Subject to subsection (3B) an action which is brought in the sheriff court by virtue of subsection (3) shall be brought only in one of the following courts, namely—
(a) the court for the place where the debtor or hirer is domiciled (within the meaning of section 41 or 42 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982);
(b) the court for the place where the debtor or hirer carries on business; and
(c) where the purpose of the action is to assert, declare or determine proprietary or possessory rights, or rights of security, in or over moveable property, or to obtain authority to dispose of moveable property, the court for the place where the property is situated.
(3B) Subsection (3A) shall not apply—
(a) where Rule 3 of Schedule 8 to the said Act of 1982 applies; or
(b) where the jurisdiction of another court has been prorogated by an agreement entered into after the dispute has arisen.
(4) In Northern Ireland the county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any action or application falling within subsection (1).
(5) Except as may be provided by rules of court, all the parties to a regulated agreement, and any surety, shall be made parties to any proceedings relating to the agreement.
(1) Where under any provision of this Act a thing can be done by a creditor or owner on an enforcement order only, and either—
(a) the court dismisses (except on technical grounds only) an application for an enforcement order, or
(b) where no such application has been made or such an application has been dismissed on technical grounds only, an interested party applies to the court for a declaration under this subsection,
the court may if it thinks just make a declaration that the creditor or owner is not entitled to do that thing, and thereafter no application for an enforcement order in respect of it shall be entertained.
(2) Where—
(a) a regulated agreement or linked transaction is cancelled under section 69(1), or becomes subject to section 69(2), or
(b) a regulated agreement is terminated under section 91,
and an interested party applies to the court for a declaration under this subsection, the court may make a declaration to that effect.
143 Jurisdiction of county court in Northern Ireland.
Without prejudice to any provision which may be made by rules of court made in relation to county courts in Northern Ireland such rules may provide—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c) for service of process on persons outside Northern Ireland.
Any person dissatisfied—
(a) with an order, whether adverse to him or in his favour, made by a county court in Northern Ireland in the exercise of any jurisdiction conferred by this Act, or
(b) with the dismissal or refusal by such a county court of any action or application instituted by him under the provisions of this Act,
shall be entitled to appeal from the order or from the dismissal or refusal as if the order, dismissal or refusal had been made in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by Part III of the County Courts Northern Ireland) Order 1980 and the appeal brought under Part VI of that Order and Articles 61 and 62 of that Order shall apply accordingly.
(1) An ancillary credit business is any business so far as it comprises or relates to—
(a) credit brokerage,
(b) debt-adjusting,
(c) debt-counselling,
(d) debt-collecting,
(da) debt administration,
(db) the provision of credit information services, or
(e) the operation of a credit reference agency.
(2) “Credit brokerage” means the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified by article 36A(1)(a) to (c) of the Regulated Activities Order (credit broking), disregarding the effect of paragraph (2) of that article.
(5) “Debt adjusting” means the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified by article 39D of that Order (debt adjusting).
(6) “Debt-counselling” means the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified by article 39E of that Order (debt-counselling).
(7) “Debt-collecting” means the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified by article 39F of that Order (debt-collecting).
(7A) “Debt administration” means the carrying on of an activity of the kind specified by article 39G of that Order (debt administration), disregarding the effect of paragraph (3) of that article.
(7B) A person (“P”) provides credit information services if P carries on, by way of business, an activity of the kind specified by article 89A(1) or (2) of that Order (providing credit information services).
(8) A person (“P”) operates a credit reference agency if P carries on, by way of business, an activity of the kind specified by article 89B of that Order (providing credit references).
153 Definition of canvassing off trade premises (agreements for ancillary credit services).
(1) An individual (the “canvasser ”) canvasses off trade premises the services of a person carrying on an ancillary credit business if he solicits the entry of another individual (the “consumer ”) into an agreement for the provision to the consumer of those services by making oral representations to the consumer, or any other individual, during a visit by the canvasser to any place (not excluded by subsection (2)) where the consumer, or that other individual as the case may be, is, being a visit—
(a) carried out for the purpose of making such oral representations to individuals who are at that place, but
(b) not carried out in response to a request made on a previous occasion.
(2) A place is excluded from subsection (1) if it is a place where (whether on a permanent or temporary basis)—
(a) the ancillary credit business is carried on, or
(b) any business is carried on by the canvasser or the person whose employee or agent the canvasser is, or by the consumer.
154 Prohibition of canvassing certain ancillary credit services off trade premises.
It is an offence to canvass off trade premises the services of a person carrying on a business of credit-brokerage, debt-adjusting , debt-counselling or the provision of credit information services.
(1) Subject to subsection (2A),the excess over £5 of a fee or commission for his services charged by a credit-broker to an individual to whom this subsection applies shall cease to be payable or, as the case may be, shall be recoverable by the individual if the introduction does not result in his entering into a relevant agreement within the six months following the introduction (disregarding any agreement which is cancelled under section 69(1) or becomes subject to section 69(2)).
(2) Subsection (1) applies to an individual who sought an introduction for a purpose which would have been fulfilled by his entry into—
(a) a regulated agreement, or
(b) in the case of an individual desiring to obtain credit to finance the acquisition or provision of a dwelling occupied or to be occupied by that individual or a relative of that individual, an agreement for credit secured on land,
(c) a credit agreement which is an exempt agreement for the purposes of Chapter 14A of Part 2 of the Regulated Activities Order, or
(d) an agreement which is not a regulated credit agreement or a regulated consumer hire agreement but which would be such an agreement if the law applicable to the agreement were the law of a part of the United Kingdom.
(2A) But subsection (1) does not apply where—
(a) the fee or commission relates to the effecting of an introduction of a kind mentioned in article 36E of the Regulated Activities Order (activities in relation to certain agreements relating to land); and
(b) the person charging that fee or commission is an authorised person or an appointed representative, within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
(3) An agreement is a relevant agreement for the purposes of subsection (1) in relation to an individual if it is an agreement such as is referred to in subsection (2) in relation to that individual.
(4) In the case of an individual desiring to obtain credit under a consumer credit agreement, any sum payable or paid by him to a credit-broker otherwise than as a fee or commission for the credit-broker’s services shall for the purposes of subsection (1) be treated as such a fee or commission if it enters, or would enter, into the total charge for credit.
(A1) Where a creditor under a prospective regulated agreement, other than an excluded agreement, decides not to proceed with it on the basis of information obtained by the creditor from a credit reference agency, the creditor must, when informing the debtor of the decision—
(a) inform the debtor that this decision has been reached on the basis of information from a credit reference agency, and
(b) provide the debtor with the particulars of the agency including its name, address and telephone number.
(1) In any other case, a creditor, owner or negotiator, within the prescribed period after receiving a request in writing to that effect from the debtor or hirer, shall give him notice of the name and address of any credit reference agency from which the creditor, owner or negotiator has, during the antecedent negotiations, applied for information about his financial standing.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a request received more than 28 days after the termination of the antecedent negotiations, whether on the making of the regulated agreement or otherwise.
(2A) A creditor is not required to disclose information under this section if such disclosure—
(a) contravenes the UK GDPR,
(b) is prohibited by an assimilated obligation,
(c) would create or be likely to create a serious risk that any person would be subject to violence or intimidation, or
(d) would, or would be likely to, prejudice—
(i) the prevention or detection of crime,
(ii) the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or
(iii) the administration of justice.
(3) If the creditor, owner or negotiator fails to comply with subsection (A1) or (1) he commits an offence.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (A1) an agreement is an excluded agreement if it is—
(a) a consumer hire agreement, or
(b) an agreement secured on land.
(1) A credit reference agency, within the prescribed period after receiving,—
(a) a request in writing to that effect from a consumer,
(b) such particulars as the agency may reasonably require to enable them to identify the file, and
(c) a fee of £2,
shall give the consumer a copy of the file relating to it kept by the agency.
(2) When giving a copy of the file under subsection (1), the agency shall also give the consumer a statement in the prescribed form of the consumer’s rights under section 159.
(3) If the agency does not keep a file relating to the consumer it shall give the consumernotice of that fact, but need not return any money paid.
(4) If the agency contravenes any provision of this section it commits an offence.
(4A) In this section ‘consumer’ means—
(a) a partnership consisting of two or three persons not all of whom are bodies corporate; or
(b) an unincorporated body of persons which does not consist entirely of bodies corporate and is not a partnership.
(5) In this Act “file ”, in relation to an individual, means all the information about him kept by a credit reference agency, regardless of how the information is stored, and “copy of the file ”, as respects information not in plain English, means a transcript reduced into plain English.
(1) Any individual (the “objector ”) given—
(a) information under Article 15(1) to (3) of the UK GDPR (confirmation of processing, access to data and safeguards for third country transfers) by a credit reference agency, or
(b) information under section 158,
who considers that an entry in his file is incorrect, and that if it is not corrected he is likely to be prejudiced, may give notice to the agency requiring it either to remove the entry from the file or amend it.
(2) Within 28 days after receiving a notice under subsection (1), the agency shall by notice inform the objector that it has—
(a) removed the entry from the file, or
(b) amended the entry, or
(c) taken no action,
and if the notice states that the agency has amended the entry it shall include a copy of the file so far as it comprises the amended entry.
(3) Within 28 days after receiving a notice under subsection (2), or where no such notice was given, within 28 days after the expiry of the period mentioned in subsection (2), the objector may, unless he has been informed by the agency that it has removed the entry from his file, serve a further notice on the agency requiring it to add to the file an accompanying notice of correction (not exceeding 200 words) drawn up by the objector, and include a copy of it when furnishing information included in or based on that entry.
(4) Within 28 days after receiving a notice under subsection (3), the agency, unless it intends to apply to the the relevant authority under subsection (5), shall by notice inform the objector that it has received the notice under subsection (3) and intends to comply with it.
(5) If—
(a) the objector has not received a notice under subsection (4) within the time required, or
(b) it appears to the agency that it would be improper for it to publish a notice of correction because it is incorrect, or unjustly defames any person, or is frivolous or scandalous, or is for any other reason unsuitable,
the objector or, as the case may be, the agency may, in the prescribed manner and on payment of the prescribed fee, apply to the relevant authority, who may make such order on the application as it thinks fit.
(6) If a person to whom an order under this section is directed fails to comply with it within the period specified in the order he commits an offence.
(7) The Information Commission may vary or revoke any order made by it under this section.
(8) In this section “the relevant authority ” means—
(a) where the objector is a partnership or other unincorporated body of persons, the FCA, and
(b) in any other case, the Information Commission.
(1) The FCA , on an application made by a credit reference agency, may direct that this section shall apply to the agency if it is satisfied—
(a) that compliance with section 158 in the case of consumers who carry on a business would adversely affect the service provided to its customers by the agency, and
(b) that, having regard to the methods employed by the agency and to any other relevant factors, it is probable that consumers carrying on a business would not be prejudiced by the making of the direction.
(2) Where an agency to which this section applies receives a request, particulars and a fee under section 158(1) from a consumer who carries on a business, and section 158(3) does not apply, the agency, instead of complying with section 158, may elect to deal with the matter under the following subsections.
(3) Instead of giving the consumer a copy of the file, the agency shall within the prescribed period give notice to the consumer that it is proceeding under this section, and by notice give the consumer such information included in or based on entries in the file as the FCA may direct, together with a statement in the prescribed form of the consumer’s rights under subsections (4) and (5).
(4) If within 28 days after receiving the information given to the consumer under subsection (3), or such longer period as the FCA may allow, the consumer—
(a) gives notice to the FCA that the consumer is dissatisfied with the information, and
(b) satisfies the FCA that the consumer has taken such steps in relation to the agency as may be reasonable with a view to removing the cause of the consumer’s dissatisfaction, and
(c) pays the FCA the prescribed fee,
the FCA may direct the agency to give the FCA a copy of the file, and the FCA may disclose to the consumer such of the information on the file as the FCA thinks fit.
(5) Section 159 applies with any necessary modifications to information given to the consumer under this section as it applies to information given under section 158.
(6) If an agency making an election under subsection (2) fails to comply with subsection (3) or (4) it commits an offence.
(7) In this section “consumer ” has the same meaning as in section 158.
(1) The following authorities ( “enforcement authorities ”) have a duty to enforce this Act and regulations made under it—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) in Great Britain, the local weights and measures authority,
(c) in Northern Ireland, the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not limit any function of the FCA in relation to the enforcement of this Act or regulations made under it.
(1B) For the investigatory powers available to a local weights and measures authority or the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland for the purposes of the duty in subsection (1), see Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) Every local weights and measures authority shall, whenever the FCA requires, report to it in such form and with such particulars as it requires on the exercise of their functions under this Act.
(4)—(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .