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Consumer credit agreements

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Consumer credit agreements

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Consumer credit agreements

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Internal market > Single market for capital

Consumer credit agreements

Document or Iniciative

Directive 2008/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on credit agreements for consumers and repealing Council Directive 87/102/EEC.

Summary

This Directive aims to harmonise the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States covering credit for consumers, in order to facilitate cross-border services. It shall increase the transparency of contractual conditions and improve the level of consumer protection.

However the Directive is not applicable to credit agreements that are:

  • secured by a mortgage;
  • concluded for the purchase of land or immovable property;
  • whose total amount is less than 200 euros or more than 75 000 euros;
  • relating to lease or hire where there is no obligation to purchase;
  • granted free of interest, without other charges or in the form of an overdraft facility;
  • concluded with an investment company;
  • the result of a judicial ruling;
  • linked to the payment or to the surety of a debt;
  • linked to loans granted to a limited group of the public.

Member States may also apply a less restrictive regime to organisations with social aims and activities that only profit their members, where they offer an annual percentage rate of charge which is lower than the current market rate.

During the pre-contractual phase,the creditor * or their intermediaries * must supply clear information on the main features of the credit offered in due course. In particular, this concerns:

  • the duration of the credit agreement;
  • the total amount of credit;
  • the borrowing rate and rates relating thereto;
  • the annual percentage rate of charge * and the total amount owed by the consumer *;
  • the amount, number and frequency of instalments;
  • the cash price for goods or services supplied against specific payment terms or a linked credit agreement;
  • costs linked to or resulting from the agreement;
  • contractual obligations;
  • consumer rights;
  • the consequences of late payments and defaults;
  • sureties.

Consumers shall receive this information in a standard form as stipulated in Annexe II of the Directive.

Apart from an obligation to supply comprehensive pre-contractual information, creditors must supply consumers with adequate explanations so that the latter may choose a contract which corresponds to their needs and to their financial situation. In addition creditors must evaluate the solvency of their clients before concluding an agreement, whilst also respecting the right of consumers to be informed when their request for credit is rejected.

The contract must restate the main information relating to the credit offer chosen. If the borrowing rate is modified *, the consumer must be informed of the new amount, the number and frequency of instalments.

Consumers may exercise their right to withdraw by notifying the creditor of their intention, without having to justify their decision. This must take place within fourteen days from the conclusion of the agreement.

Consumers also have the right to make early repayment of their debt. They can exercise this right at any time, as long as the creditor receives fair compensation which is objectively justified.

Member States shall ensure that creditors and credit intermediaries fulfil their obligations. They shall ensure that audits are carried out by an independent authority.

Context

This Directive repeals Directive 87/102/EEC in order to strengthen consumer protection. It must be implemented in Member States before 2 May 2010.

Key terms of the Act
  • Creditor: any natural or legal person who grants or promises to grant credit in the course of their trade, business or profession.
  • Credit intermediary: a natural or legal person who does not act as a creditor and who, in the course of their trade, business or profession:
    1. presents or offers credit agreements to consumers;
    2. assists consumers by carrying out preparatory work for agreements;
    3. concludes credit agreements with consumers on behalf of the creditor.
  • Total amount payable by the consumer: the sum of the total amount of the credit and the total cost of the credit to the consumer.
  • Annual percentage rate of charge: the total cost of the credit to the consumer, expressed as an annual percentage of the total amount of credit.
  • Borrowing rate: the interest rate expressed as a fixed or variable percentage applied on an annual basis to the amount of credit drawn down.

References

Act Entry into force Deadline for transposition into the Member States Official Journal

Directive 2008/48/EC

11.6.2008

12.5.2010

L 133/66 of 22.5.2008

Resources

Further Reading

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  • WEIN, TH., Eine ökonomische Analyse der neuen Verbrauchsgüterkaufrichtlinie zum Gewährleistungsrecht, Universität Lüneburg, Fachbereich Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Arbeitsberitch Nr. 228.
  • WEISNER, “Die EG-Kaufrechtsgewährleistungsrichtlinie”, JuS, 2001, pp. 759 y ss.
  • WELSER, R., “Der Vorschlag einer EU-Richtlinie über den Verbrauchsgüterkauf ”, Festschrift Hempe, 1997, pp. 323 y ss.
  • WELSER, R., “Die Verbrauchergüterkauf-Richtlinie und ihre Umsetzung in Österreich und Deutschland”, en P. SCHLECHTRIEM, Wandlungen des Schuldrechts, Baden Baden, 2002, pp. 83 y ss.
  • WELSER, R., “Reform des österreichischen Leistungsstörungsrechts”, en C. FISCHER-CZERMAK (Coord.), Das ABGB auf dem Weg in das 3. Jahrtausend, Wien, Manz, 2003, pp. 63 y ss.
  • WELSER, R./JUD, B., Reform der Gewährleistungsrechts, Verhandlungen des 14. Österreichischen Juristentages, Band II/1, 2000.
  • WELSER, R./JUD, B., Die neue Gewährleistung, 2001.
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  • WESTERMANN, H.-P., “Sondertagung Schuldrechtsmodernisierung – Das neue Kaufrecht einschließlich des Verbrauchsgüterkaufs”, JZ, 2001, pp. 530 y ss.
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    • Public passenger transport service by rail and road

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    Public passenger transport service by rail and road

    Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Public passenger transport service by rail and road

    Topics

    These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

    Competition > Rules applicable to specific sectors > Competition in transport

    Public passenger transport service by rail and road

    Document or Iniciative

    Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road, and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 1191/69 and (EEC) No 1107/70

    Summary

    Public service compensation may be necessary to ensure the provision of services of general economic interest (SGEI) and guarantee safe, efficient, attractive and high quality passenger transport.

    This Regulation applies to regular and non-limited access, national and international public passenger transport services by rail and other track-based modes and by road.

    Public service contracts and general rules

    The competent authority * is obliged to conclude a public service contract with the operator to which it grants an exclusive right and/or compensation in exchange for discharging public service obligations * (PSO). Obligations which aim to establish maximum tariffs for all or certain categories of passengers may be subject to general rules.

    To define the framework for the competent authority, the latter grants compensation for the net positive or negative financial impact on costs and revenue occasioned by compliance with the pricing obligations established in the general rules.

    The public service contracts * and general rules define:

    • the PSO to be fulfilled by the operator and the areas concerned;
    • the parameters based on which compensation must be calculated and the nature and scope of all exclusive rights granted to avoid any overcompensation;
    • the means of distributing the costs linked to service supply (staff costs, energy, infrastructure, maintenance, etc.);
    • the means of distributing income from the sale of transport tickets between the operator and the competent authority.

    The duration of public service contracts is limited and must not exceed ten years for bus and coach services, and fifteen years for passenger transport services by rail or other track-based modes. This period may be extended by up to 50 % under certain conditions.

    Awarding of public service contracts

    Public service contracts are awarded according to the rules laid down in this Regulation. However, for awarding certain passenger transport services by bus or tram, the procedures of Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC apply.

    Subject to certain reservations detailed in Article 5 of the Regulation, local authorities may provide public transport services themselves or assign them to an internal operator over which they have control comparable to that over their own services.

    Any competent authority who uses a third party other than an internal operator must award public service contracts by means of transparent and non-discriminatory competitive procedures which may be subject to negotiation.

    The obligation to instigate competitive procedures does not apply to:

    • low level contracts, the average annual value of which is estimated at less than EUR 1 000 000 or which supply less than 300 000 kilometres of public passenger transport services;
    • where emergency measures are taken or contracts are imposed in response to actual or potential service interruptions;
    • regional or long distance rail transport.

    Terms and conditions

    The Member States have three months to provide the Commission with all the information necessary to determine whether the compensation allocated is compatible with this Regulation.

    Each competent authority must publish a global annual report on the public service obligations incumbent on them and the resultant compensation received by them.

    One year prior to any competitive procedure, the competent authority must ensure that the following information is published in the Official Journal of the European Union: name and contact details of the competent authority, type of allocation proposed and services and territories likely to be affected.

    The Member States must gradually come into line with the Regulation, with the end of the transition period fixed at 3 December 2019.

    Background

    This Regulation forms part of the objectives in the Commission’s white paper of 12 September 2001 entitled “European transport policy for 2010: time to decide” and repeals Regulations (EEC) No 1191/61 and (EEC) No 1107/70.

    Key terms used in the act
    • Competent authority: any public authority or group of public authorities in one or more Member States which can intervene in public passenger transport in a given geographical area, or any body invested with such power;
    • Public service obligation: requirement defined or determined by a competent authority to guarantee general interest services in terms of passenger transport which an operator, in considering its own commercial interest, would not assume or would not ensure in the same measure or under the same conditions, without compensation;
    • Public service contract: all arrangements made between one or more transport operators with one or more responsible authorities for all the rights and obligations of the service in question, including any unilateral public acts.

    Reference

    Act Entry into force Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal
    Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 3.12.2009 – OJ L 315 of 3.12.2007

    Unfair terms

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    Unfair terms

    Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Unfair terms

    Topics

    These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

    Internal market > Single market for capital

    Unfair terms

    Document or Iniciative

    Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts [See amending act(s)].

    Summary

    This Directive does not apply to contractual terms reflecting:

    • mandatory provisions or regulations;
    • provisions arising from international agreements to which the Member States or the Community are signatories.

    A non-negotiated term is unfair when it establishes a significant imbalance, to the consumer’s detriment, between the rights and obligations of the contracting parties.

    A list of terms which may be deemed unfair is annexed to the Directive.

    Assessing the unfair nature of a contractual term takes into account:

    • the nature of the goods or services covered by the contract;
    • the circumstances surrounding the drawing up of the contract;
    • the other terms in the contract or in another contract to which it relates.

    Neither the definition of the main aim of the contract nor the relationship between the price and the service or goods to be provided may be taken into account in assessing the unfair nature of clearly worded contractual terms.

    Where there is doubt as to the meaning of a term, the interpretation most favourable to the consumer will prevail.

    Consumers are not bound by unfair terms in a contract signed with a professional.

    The Member States are to implement the appropriate measures to end the use of unfair terms.

    The Commission is to report to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 1999 on the application of this Directive.

    REFERENCES

    Act Entry into force Deadline for implementation in the Member States Official Journal

    Directive 93/13/EEC

    11.5.1993

    31.12.1994

    OJ L 95, 21.4.1993
    Amending act(s) Entry into force Deadline for implementation in the Member States Official Journal

    Directive 2002/995/EC

    9.12.2002

    1.1.2003

    OJ L 353, 30.12.2002

    Related Acts

    Report from the Commission on the implementation of Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts [COM (2000) 248 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
    The purpose of this report is not only to appraise Directive 93/13/EEC, five years after the deadline for its transposition, but also to raise a number of questions with a view to improving the existing situation.
    According to the Commission, its work since 1993 has had a significant effect: infringement procedures, market studies, subsidies granted with a view to eliminating unfair terms in certain economic sectors, the dialogue between consumers and professionals, information campaigns, the conference organised in Brussels in 1999, and the Clab database.
    Drawing on the experience gained in implementing the Directive in the Member States, the report suggests a number of improvements. The suggestions mainly concern the scope of the Directive and its limitations, the notion of unfair terms, the list in the annex to the Directive, the failure to supervise pre-contractual terms and conditions, the principle of transparency and the right to information, penalties, existing national arrangements for eliminating unfair terms, the problems posed by certain economic sectors, and the future of the Clab database.

    Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law

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    Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law

    Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law

    Topics

    These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

    Employment and social policy > European Strategy for Growth > Growth and jobs

    Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law

    The aim of this Green Paper is to initiate a public debate in the European Union (EU) on the modernisation of labour law in the light of trends in European labour markets. They must become more flexible and guarantee optimum security. Labour law has an essential role to play in this regard. Promoting debate on this issue would allow the implementation of a suitable, proactive regulatory framework. Managing innovation and change well means that labour markets must take on board three main aspects: flexibility, job security and segmentation.

    Document or Iniciative

    Commission Green Paper of 22 November 2006 entitled “Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century” [COM(2006) 708 – not published in the Official Journal].

    Summary

    In this Green Paper, the Commission identifies the main challenges regarding the gap between the existing legal frameworks and the realities of the labour market.

    The aim is to involve the Member States, the social partners and other interested parties in an open debate, in order to look at how labour law can help to promote flexibility in conjunction with security, regardless of the type of employment contract.

    The Commission plans to organise a public consultation over a four-month period based on the questions asked in this Green Paper. A follow-up communication at the end of the public consultation will be adopted by the Commission in 2007.

    The Commission acts as a catalyst to support the action of the Member States, since protection of working conditions depends mainly on national legislation. At EU level, the social acquis supports and complements the action of the Member States.

    Developments in European labour markets

    Labour markets in Europe are changing primarily in line with rapid technological progress, more intensive competition in the face of globalisation and the development of consumer demand. This is leading to changes in the organisation of work and working time, pay and the number of workers employed in various stages of the production cycle.

    This change has led to a diversification in types of employment contracts, with new categories of workers (such as those hired through temporary agencies) being created. The relationship between the law and collective labour agreements is thus developing in parallel. These collective agreements can be used to adapt the legal principles to the specific economic situations and circumstances of particular sectors.

    At Community level, the EU has legislated in order to ensure that the new forms of more flexible working are associated with certain minimum social rights for all workers, in terms of both part-time work and fixed-term work. On the other hand, no common position has been adopted by the Council on a proposal for a directive on working conditions for temporary workers hired through agencies.

    Proliferation of atypical forms of contract

    These contracts include fixed-term and part-time contracts, on-call contracts, zero-hour contracts, contracts for workers hired through temporary employment agencies, and freelance contracts.

    Freelance workers choose to work independently, despite a lower level of social protection, because it offers them more direct control over their conditions of employment and pay. The proportion of total employment represented by workers recruited on atypical contracts has risen from more than 36% in 2001 to almost 40% in EU-25 in 2005. Freelance workers represent 15% of the total workforce. Fixed-term work has risen from 12% of total employment in 1998 to more than 14% of total employment in EU-25 in 2005.

    This greater diversity of contracts has certain negative effects. A succession of short-term, low-quality jobs with insufficient social protection can lead some people into a vulnerable position. The Commission would like to point out that the risk of vulnerability on the labour market affects primarily women, older people and young people recruited on the basis of atypical contracts.

    Modernisation of labour law: questions for discussion

    This Green Paper is intended to promote discussion on various issues associated with the modernisation of labour law, such as:

    • employment transition involving the move from one status to another. The chances of entering the labour market, staying there and making progress vary considerably. Employment protection legislation and the rules on contracts at national level both have a significant impact on transitions between employment statuses, in particular as regards the long-term unemployed or those working in insecure jobs;
    • legal uncertainty associated mainly with these forms of atypical employment. The phenomenon of disguised employment, when an employee is not considered as such in order to hide his real legal situation and avoid certain social costs, is widespread. The lack of legal clarity regarding the definition of freelance workers, for example, may lead to gaps in the application of the law. The idea of “economically dependent work” covers situations coming under neither the concept of regular employment, nor that of freelance work. There is no employment contract drawn up in such a case. Even if these workers are not in a situation of vulnerability, they remain economically dependent on a single customer, employer or principal for their income and may not fall within the scope of labour legislation;
    • temporary agency work is a three-way relationship between a company, a worker and an agency. The complexity of these relationships is compounded when these workers are involved in long subcontracting chains;
    • working time, subject to Community harmonisation, is also influenced by developments on the labour markets. The Directive on certain aspects of the organisation of working time had still not been adopted by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) by the end of 2006;
    • the mobility of workers in the light of the different definitions of a “worker”. The mobility of workers is being jeopardised because the EU leaves it to the Member States to define the term. The Commission takes the view that having to refer constantly to national rather than Community law in this regard could weaken protection for workers;
    • undeclared work is a persistent and worrying aspect of today’s labour markets. As the main factor in social dumping, it is responsible not only for the exploitation of workers but also for distorting competition. In a Resolution adopted in 2003, the Council called on the Member States to resolve this problem by means of preventive measures and penalties, as well as by concluding partnerships between the social partners and the public authorities at national level.

    Distance contracts for financial services

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    Distance contracts for financial services

    Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Distance contracts for financial services

    Topics

    These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

    Internal market > Financial services: general framework

    Distance contracts for financial services

    Document or Iniciative

    Directive 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 concerning the distance marketing of consumer financial services and amending Council Directives 90/619/EEC, 97/7/EC and 98/27/EC [See amending acts].

    Summary

    Scope

    The Directive covers contracts for retail financial services (banking, insurance, payment and investment services, including pension funds) that are negotiated at a distance (e.g. by telephone, fax or over the Internet), i.e. by any means which do not require the simultaneous physical presence of the parties to the contract.

    Right to reflect

    The Directive gives the consumer the right to reflect before concluding a contract with a supplier. The supplier is thus required to transmit a draft contract to the consumer, in writing or on a durable medium (e.g. floppy disk, CD-ROM or e-mail), including all the contractual terms and conditions. The reflection period is 14 days, during which all the terms and conditions remain valid. The parties are nonetheless free to agree on a longer period or to negotiate other conditions.

    Right to withdraw

    The consumer has the right to withdraw within 14 days (30 days in the case of life assurance and personal pension operations) in the following circumstances:

    • when the contract has been signed before the consumer has received prior notice of the contractual terms and conditions (e.g. consumer takes out an insurance policy in order to obtain immediate cover);
    • when the consumer has received the contractual terms and conditions but has been unfairly induced to conclude the contract during the reflection period.

    If the consumer exercises the right of withdrawal after having already agreed to partial performance of the service, he may be required to pay the supplier for the service rendered. If the service has been rendered in its entirety before the right of withdrawal is exercised, that right can no longer be exercised and the consumer will have to pay for the service. Consumers must be informed in advance of the price to be paid (or of the basis on which it will be calculated).

    In order to avoid speculative manoeuvres, the right of reflection or withdrawal does not apply to services whose price is liable to fluctuate as a result of developments on financial markets (e.g. the securities market).

    Right to reimbursement

    Certain financial services, notably futures (e.g. an instruction given by a consumer to purchase a certain number of shares at a fixed price), may sometimes be totally or partially unavailable at the time of performance of the contract. In this case, the consumer is entitled to reimbursement of the sums paid over to purchase the services.

    Cancellation of payment by card in the event of theft

    In the event of fraudulent use of his credit card, the consumer may request cancellation of the payment or reimbursement of any amount already paid.

    Protection against unsolicited supply of services

    Customers are protected by Directive 2005/29/EC, which regards the unsolicited supply of services as an unfair commercial practice. Failure to reply to an offer to supply services does not put the customer under an obligation and does not constitute tacit consent.

    Complaints procedures

    Member States must ensure that adequate and effective complaints and redress procedures (court, administrative and out-of-court) are put in place for the settlement of possible disputes between suppliers and consumers.

    Sanctions

    Member States must also ensure that operators and suppliers of communication means put an end, technology permitting, to illicit activities performed using means of distance communication.

    Background

    The proposal for a Directive is intended to supplement European Parliament and Council Directive 97/7/EC, which ensures appropriate consumer protection in respect of most products and services other than financial services (excluded in view of their specific characteristics). It aims to rectify this legal omission by establishing common rules to govern the conditions under which distance contracts for financial services are concluded.

    References

    Act Entry into force Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal

    Directive 2002/65/EC

    09.10.2002

    09.10.2004

    JO L 271 of 09.10.2002
    Amending act(s) Entry into force Deadline for transposition in the Member States Official Journal

    Directive 2005/29/EC

    12.06.2005

    12.12.2007

    JO L 149 of 11.06.2005

    Directive 2007/64/EC

    25.12.2007

    1.11.2009

    OJ L 319 of 5.12.2007

    Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2002/65/EC have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version  is for reference purpose only.

    Green Paper: European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

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    Green Paper: European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

    Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Green Paper: European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

    Topics

    These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

    Enterprise > Business environment

    Green Paper: European Contract Law for consumers and businesses

    This Green Paper launches a consultation of stakeholders in order to identify solutions which could improve contract law in the European Union (EU). Different national rules effectively hinder the smooth functioning of the European internal market. The proposed options should help to resolve the existing problems.

    Document or Iniciative

    Green Paper from the Commission of 1 July 2010 on policy options for progress towards a European Contract Law for consumers and businesses [COM(2010) 348 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

    Summary

    In this Green Paper, the Commission sets out solutions aimed at improving the coherence of European Contract Law. Some of the options presented concern rules which are mandatory, others concern solutions which are more flexible and may be implemented voluntarily by Member States. Following an assessment of the results of the consultation being launched by this Green Paper, the Commission is to propose new European legislation before the end of 2011.

    New European legislation could facilitate and increase business activity and consumer confidence when concluding contracts of sale in another European country. A new European legal instrument also provides a way to increase legal certainty and to reduce the high transaction costs involved in this type of trade. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly affected by these issues.

    A new legal instrument would enable European businesses to make savings, increase their product offer and provide better value for money to the benefit of European consumers.

    A new European instrument

    The Commission makes a set of proposals on the legal nature of the instrument. It could take the form of:

    • a publication by an Expert Group, whose recommendations could be used in the development of laws and model contracts;
    • a toolbox for legislators, in the form of a Commission act or an interinstitutional agreement (between the Commission, Council and Parliament), to be used as a reference on matters of contract law;
    • a Commission Recommendation, for European Union (EU) countries to gradually and voluntarily adopt a European instrument. This solution would give them the option to either amend their national law or to create an optional regime;
    • a Directive on harmonising national laws, drawn up on the basis of minimum common standards. States could therefore retain more protective rules than those in the Directive;
    • a Regulation setting up an optional instrument, specifically an alternative legal regime could be adopted by every country, providing contracting parties with the option to freely choose between the two regimes;
    • a Regulation establishing European Contract Law, replacing national legislations;
    • a Regulation establishing a European Civil Code, which would replace not only national contract laws, but also the rules applicable to other related fields (such as tort law and benevolent intervention).

    These new standards could relate to:

    • contracts between businesses and consumers. In this area, the applicable law is to be partially harmonised (“minimum harmonisation”), specifically to ensure consumer protection. In the event of dispute between parties from two different countries, businesses shall apply the law of the country of residence of the consumer, or at least the mandatory provisions;
    • business-to-business contracts. In this area, the parties are free to choose the law applicable to the contract.

    In addition, the scope of the new instrument could cover all domestic and cross-border contracts or cross-border contracts only.

    Finally, the content of the instrument could provide:

    • certain rules for general contract law, particularly those relating to the formation and performance of contracts, to the right of withdrawal, to change of parties, etc.;
    • general rules and rules specific to certain types of contracts, for example concerning the most prevalent types of contracts (sale of goods and certain provision of services).