Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003

1: Title
This Act is the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003.
1: Preliminary provisions
2: Commencement
1: This section, section 1 subpart 3 section 138 section 141(2) and (3) Schedule 3
2: Part 1 subpart 4 Parts 4 5 sections 132 to 137
a: for the purpose of applying those provisions to buy-back transactions, on the day after the date on which this Act receives the Royal assent; and
b: for all other purposes, on 1 April 2005.
3: The rest of this Act comes into force on 1 April 2005.
3: Purposes
1: The primary purpose of this Act is to protect the interests of consumers in connection with credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions of land.
2: It is also the purpose of this Act—
a: to promote the confident and informed participation in markets for credit by consumers; and
b: to promote and facilitate fair, efficient, and transparent markets for credit; and
c: to protect the interests of consumers under credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions of land, both when those agreements are entered into and for their duration; and
d: to provide remedies for debtors, lessees, and occupiers (including consumers) in relation to—
i: oppressive credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions of land; and
ii: oppressive conduct by creditors under credit contracts, lessors under consumer leases, and transferees under buy-back transactions of land.
3: To achieve the purposes referred to in subsections (1) and (2), this Act—
a: requires creditors under consumer credit contracts and transferees under buy-back transactions of land to be responsible lenders, both when they provide credit or finance and for the duration of those agreements; and
b: provides for the disclosure of adequate information to consumers under consumer credit contracts and consumer leases (both before entry into, and before variation of, such agreements)—
i: to enable consumers to distinguish between competing credit or lease arrangements; and
ii: to enable consumers to be informed of the terms of consumer credit contracts or consumer leases before they become irrevocably committed to them; and
iii: to enable consumers to monitor the performance of consumer credit contracts; and
iv: in the case of consumer leases, to make clear to consumers that consumer leases are not consumer credit contracts; and
c: provides rules about interest charges, credit fees, default fees, and payments in relation to consumer credit contracts; and
d: enables consumers to seek reasonable changes to consumer credit contracts on the grounds of unforeseen hardship; and
e: provides for the disclosure of adequate information to consumers under buy-back transactions of land and for independent legal advice to those consumers—
i: to inform consumers of the terms, the effects, and the implications of those transactions before they become irrevocably committed to them; and
ii: to enable consumers to monitor the performance of those transactions; and
f: provides rules about fees in relation to buy-back transactions of land; and
g: provides, in relation to credit contracts that include or involve a security interest,—
i: rules that apply in relation to the creditor's rights to repossess consumer goods; and
ii: corresponding rights for consumers and third parties that are affected by the exercise of the creditor's rights; and
h: applies, as appropriate, the requirements, disclosure obligations, rules, and remedies specified in paragraphs (a) to (g) in relation to guarantors; and
i: requires creditors under consumer credit contracts and mobile traders to be certified; and
j: provides for the disclosure of certain information about debt collection to debtors under credit contracts. Section 3 replaced 6 June 2015 section 4 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 3(3)﻿(i) inserted 1 December 2021 section 4 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 3(3)﻿(j) inserted 1 December 2021 section 4 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
4: Overview
In this Act,—
a: this Part deals with preliminary matters, including interpretation and the application of this Act to the Crown:
ab: Part 1A
b: Part 2
c: Part 3
ca: Part 3A consumer credit contracts
d: Part 4 enforceable undertakings, pecuniary penalties,
e: Part 5
ea: Part 5A
f: Part 6 disclosure about debt collection, Section 4(ab) inserted 6 June 2015 section 5(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 4(ca) inserted 6 June 2015 section 5(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 4(ca) amended 13 January 2020 section 18 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 4(d) amended 1 June 2020 section 5(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 4(ea) inserted 1 October 2021 section 5(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 4(f) amended 1 December 2021 section 5(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
5: Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— advance
a: money provided to the debtor or to another person to the order of the debtor:
b: a pre-existing monetary obligation of the debtor that is paid, discharged, or consolidated by the creditor:
c: the cash price of any property or services that are—
i: purchased by the debtor from the creditor; or
ii: the subject of an agreement between the debtor and the creditor under which the debtor either is required to purchase the property or services from the creditor or has an option to make such a purchase:
d: in the case of the use of a credit card to purchase property or services from a person who is not the creditor or to obtain money, the agreed price of the property or services or the monetary amount, as the case may be:
e: in relation to a credit contract to which Part 3A annual interest rate broker buy-back default fees buy-back fees or particular insurers
a: a buy-back default fee:
b: government charges, duties, taxes, or levies buy-back promoter
a: the person receives a fee in connection with the buy-back transaction from the occupier, the transferee, or any other person; or
b: an associated person of that person receives a fee in connection with the buy-back transaction from the occupier, the transferee, or any other person buy-back transaction section 8 cash price
a: the lowest price at which a person could have purchased that property or those services from the vendor, lessor, or provider on the basis of payment in full at the time the contract was made; or
b: if there is no price in accordance with paragraph (a), the fair market value of that property or those services at the time the contract was made certified Part 5A charge for an optional service Commission Commerce Act 1986 consumer credit contract section 11 consumer credit insurance consumer goods consumer lease section 60 costs of borrowing
a: a credit fee:
b: a default fee:
c: interest charges costs of the buy-back transaction
a: the rent payable under the right to occupy:
b: the fees and charges that are payable under the transaction costs of the lease
a: payments to be made by the lessee under the lease:
b: fees or charges that are payable on a breach of the lease by the lessee or on the enforcement of the lease by the lessor court credit section 6 credit contract section 7 credit fees
a: includes—
i: establishment fees:
ii: prepayment fees as defined in section 43(2)
iii: insurance premiums payable for credit-related insurance if the creditor requires the debtor to obtain insurance cover from a particular insurer or particular insurers:
iv: fees and charges payable as referred to in section 45
b: does not include—
i: interest charges:
ii: charges for an optional service:
iii: default fees:
iv: government charges, duties, taxes, or levies:
v: fees and charges payable as referred to in section 45
vi: cancellation charges as referred to in section 36F credit limit credit-related insurance
a: insurance over secured property or leased goods; or
b: insurance that provides cover for the shortfall that occurs if secured property or leased goods are totally or substantially destroyed and the insurance proceeds from another insurance contract are insufficient to pay any outstanding obligations of the debtor under the credit contract or the lessee under the consumer lease; or
c: consumer credit insurance credit sale section 16 creditor
a: means a person who provides, or may provide, credit under a credit contract; and
b: if the rights of that person are transferred by assignment or by operation of law, includes the person for the time being entitled to those rights; and
c: includes a person declared by regulations to be a creditor; but
d: does not include a person exempted by regulations from being a creditor creditor's agent daily interest rate debt collection section 132A debtor default Part 3A default fees default interest charges director section 6(1) dispute resolution scheme section 50 electronic electronic communication establishment fees estate extended warranty family trust
a: a natural person for whom the settlor has natural love and affection:
b: an organisation or a trust whose income is exempt under section CB 4(1)﻿(c) or (e) of the Income Tax Act 1994 financing statement Part 3A section 135 full costs full prepayment goods guarantee guarantor
a: means a natural person who—
i: guarantees the performance of a debtor's obligations under the contract; or
ii: indemnifies a creditor against any loss that the creditor may incur in connection with the contract; or
iii: assumes liability for performing the obligations of a debtor under the contract; but
b: does not include such a person to the extent that the person indemnifies a creditor against any loss that the creditor may incur in connection with the contract under a contract of insurance high-cost consumer credit contract section 45C information system infringement fee infringement notice section 105A infringement offence section 102A interest charge (and includes a default interest charge) lawyer section 6 layby sale agreement section 36B lease lender section 9B lender responsibility principles section 9C(2) Minister Ministry mobile trader
a: under a credit sale (regardless of whether the contract is a consumer credit contract); or
b: where all or a part of the supply of the consumer goods is to be financed by a consumer credit contract under which a creditor is an associated person of that person— (whether or not the business is the provider’s only business or the provider’s principal business) mobile trader service section 5(1) occupier section 8 oppressive section 118 paid adviser part prepayment payment payment reminder section 132A post-repossession notice section 83V prescribed property public holiday section 44(1) purchase money security interest section 16(1) register of financial service providers Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 regulations related company section 2(3) repayment waiver repossession repossess repossession warning notice section 83G residential premises Responsible Lending Code Code section 9G revolving credit contract
a: anticipates multiple advances, to be made when requested by the debtor in accordance with the contract; and
b: does not limit the total amount to be advanced to the debtor under the contract security interest
a: the form of the transaction; and
b: the identity of the person who has title to the property that is subject to the security senior manager section 6(1) standard form contract terms
a: means standard form contract terms that are intended to be contained (in whole or in part) in a class of agreements (as defined in section 9B
i: have been printed or otherwise prepared by, or on behalf of, the lender; and
ii: are used by the lender in concluding, or as a basis for concluding, such agreements; and
b: includes standard form contract terms of a contract, an arrangement, a repayment waiver, or an extended warranty referred to in section 9B(3) or (4) transferee section 8 unpaid balance unpaid daily balance weighted average annual interest rate working day
a: a Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign’s birthday, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki/Matariki Observance Day, and Labour Day; and
ab: if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday; and
b: a day in the period commencing with 25 December in a year and ending with 2 January in the following year; and
c: if 1 January falls on a Friday, the following Monday; and
d: if 1 January falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday. Section 5 advance replaced 6 June 2015 section 6(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 associated person repealed 25 August 2005 section 75 Overseas Investment Act 2005 Section 5 buy-back fees amended 6 June 2015 section 6(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 certified inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 consumer goods inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 costs of borrowing inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 costs of borrowing amended 13 January 2020 section 19 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 costs of the buy-back transaction inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 costs of the lease inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 credit fees replaced 6 June 2015 section 6(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 credit fees inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 creditor replaced 1 May 2020 section 6(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 creditor's agent inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 debt collection inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 default inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 director inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 dispute resolution scheme inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 financing statement inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 guarantee inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 guarantor replaced 6 June 2015 section 6(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 high-cost consumer credit contract inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 infringement fee infringement notice inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 infringement offence inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 interest charge amended 6 June 2015 section 6(5) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 lawyer substituted 1 August 2008 section 348 Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 Section 5 layby sale agreement inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 lender inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 lender responsibility principles inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 Minister inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 Ministry inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 mobile trader inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 mobile trader service inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 payment reminder inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 post-repossession notice inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 prescribed inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 public holiday inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 purchase money security interest inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 register of financial service providers inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 repossession inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 repossession warning notice inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 residential premises inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 Responsible Lending Code Code inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 Responsible Lending Code Code amended 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Section 5 security interest amended 6 June 2015 section 6(6) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 senior manager inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 standard form contract terms inserted 6 June 2015 section 6(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 5 weighted average annual interest rate inserted 1 May 2020 section 6(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 5 working day replaced 12 April 2022 wehenga 7 Te Ture mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki 2022 section 7 Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 Section 5 working day inserted 1 January 2014 section 8 Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013
6: Meaning of credit
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, credit
a: defer payment of a debt; or
b: incur a debt and defer its payment; or
c: purchase property or services and defer payment for that purchase (in whole or in part).
7: Meaning of credit contract
1: In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, credit contract
2: If, because of any contract or contracts (none of which by itself constitutes a credit contract) or any arrangement, there is a transaction that is in substance or effect a credit contract, the contract, contracts, or arrangement must, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as a credit contract made at the time when the contract, or the last of those contracts, or the arrangement, was made, as the case may be.
8: Meaning of buy-back transaction
1: In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, buy-back transaction
a: a person (the occupier transferee
b: the land is the principal place of residence of the occupier at the time that the occupier enters into the transaction; and
c: the occupier, or a person designated by the occupier, has, after the transfer, a right to occupy the whole or any part of the land; and
d: 1 or more of the following applies:
i: the occupier, or a person designated by the occupier, has a right to repurchase the estate in the land in whole or in part:
ii: there is an understanding between the occupier and the transferee that the occupier, or a person designated by the occupier, has a right to repurchase the estate in the land in whole or in part:
iii: there is an understanding between the occupier and any buy-back promoter that the occupier, or a person designated by the occupier, has a right to repurchase the estate in the land in whole or in part; and
e: the occupier is a natural person; and
f: the relevant finance is to be used, or is intended to be used, wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, investment, or household purposes.
1A: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(f), the predominant purpose for which the relevant finance is to be used is—
a: the purpose for which more than 50% of the relevant finance is intended to be used; or
b: if the relevant finance is intended to be used to obtain goods or services for use for different purposes, the purpose for which the goods or services are intended to be most used.
1B: The reference to intention in subsections (1)﻿(f) and (1A) is a reference to the occupier's intention.
1C: In this section, relevant finance
a: the money provided to the occupier or to another person to the order of the occupier in connection with the transaction; or
b: the amount of a payment, discharge, or consolidation of a pre-existing monetary obligation of the occupier in connection with the transaction.
2: If, by virtue of any contract or contracts (none of which by itself constitutes a buy-back transaction) or any arrangement, there is a transaction that is in substance or effect a buy-back transaction, the contract, contracts, or arrangement must, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as a buy-back transaction made at the time when the contract, or the last of those contracts, or the arrangement, was made, as the case may be. Section 8(1)﻿(e) replaced 6 June 2015 section 7(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 8(1)﻿(f) inserted 6 June 2015 section 7(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 8(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 7(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 8(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 7(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 8(1C) inserted 6 June 2015 section 7(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
8A: Meanings of associated and associated person
1: For the purposes of this Act, one person ( A B
a: if A is connected to B by blood relationship, marriage, or adoption or where A is a trustee for B, and for the purposes of this paragraph—
i: persons are connected by blood relationship if they are within the fourth degree of relationship:
ii: persons are connected by marriage if one person is married to the other person or to a person who is connected by blood relationship to the other person, or if one person has a relationship in the nature of marriage with the other person or with a person who is connected by blood relationship to the other person (whether or not the parties to the relationship are of the same or different sex):
iii: persons are connected by adoption if one person has been adopted as the child of the other person or as a child of a person who is within the third degree of relationship to the other person:
b: in the case where B is a company, if A is a director or officer of B, or is associated (within the meaning of paragraph (a)) with a director or officer of B, or is directly or indirectly able to exercise control over the affairs of B:
c: in the case where A is a company, if B is a director or officer of A, or is associated (within the meaning of paragraph (a)) with a director or officer of A, or is directly or indirectly able to exercise control over the affairs of A:
d: in the case where both A and B are companies,—
i: if A is a holding company or subsidiary of B within the meaning of section 5
ii: if A owns or controls shares that in aggregate carry the right to exercise or control the exercise of 20% or more of the voting power at meetings of B; or
iii: if B owns or controls shares that in aggregate carry the right to exercise or control the exercise of 20% or more of the voting power at meetings of A; or
iv: if A and B have the same holding company within the meaning of section 5
v: if a third person owns or controls shares in each of them that carry the right to exercise or control the exercise of 20% or more of the voting power at meetings of each of them.
2: Associated person Section 8A inserted 25 August 2005 section 75 Overseas Investment Act 2005
8B: Provisions affecting application of amendments to this Act
Schedule 1AA see section 141A Section 8B inserted 6 June 2015 section 8 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
8C: Status of examples
1: An example used in this Act is only illustrative of the provision to which it relates. It does not limit the provision.
2: If an example and the provision to which it relates are inconsistent, the provision prevails. Section 8C inserted 1 May 2020 section 7 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
9: Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown.
1A: Lender responsibilities
Part 1A inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9A: Outline of Part
1: This Part provides for lender responsibility principles that must be complied with by creditors under certain credit contracts and transferees under buy-back transactions.
2: In relation to those principles, this Act provides for—
a: the court to make compensation and other orders, or to grant an injunction, in respect of a breach of the principles ( see sections 93(aa) , 96(1)﻿(aa) 98A 98B 107A
aa: the debtor to be entitled to recover statutory damages if the creditor breaches certain of the principles ( see section 88
b: creditors to make decisions on hardship applications under section 55 see section 57A
c: creditors to comply with the principles in relation to a repossession of consumer goods ( see sections 83E(1)﻿(c) 83Q
d: the District Court see section 108(1)﻿(a)﻿(v)
e: the court to have regard to compliance with the principles when deciding whether to reopen an agreement under Part 5 see section 124(1)﻿(b)
3: This Part also provides for requirements to make publicly available standard form contract terms and information about the costs of borrowing. Section 9A inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9A(2)﻿(a) amended 1 June 2020 section 8(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9A(2)﻿(aa) inserted 1 June 2020 section 8(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9A(2)﻿(d) amended 1 June 2020 section 8(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9A(2)﻿(d) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Interpretation Heading inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9B: Interpretation
1: In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,— advertising
a: that is to be, or has been, distributed to a person; and
b: that is reasonably likely to induce a person to inquire about or apply for an agreement; and
c: that is authorised or instigated by, or on behalf of, the lender or an associated person of the lender, or prepared with the co-operation of any of those persons agreement
a: a consumer credit contract
b: a buy-back transaction borrower distribute
a: make available, publish, and circulate; and
b: communicate by letter, newspaper, an Internet site, broadcasting, an audio or visual service, sound recording, television, film, video, or any form of electronic or other means of communication finance lender
a: a creditor under a consumer credit contract
b: a transferee under a buy-back transaction relevant guarantee Partnership Act 1908 relevant insurance contract
a: the borrower has also entered into, or is seeking to enter into, an agreement with the lender; and
b: the insurance is arranged by the lender.
2: For the purposes of this Part, insurance is arranged by the lender if 1 or more of the following applies:
a: the lender is the insurer:
b: the lender acts as the agent of the insurer in relation to the insurance:
c: the lender receives a commission in relation to the insurance:
d: the lender requires the borrower to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers:
e: the lender has in place any arrangement that has the effect of requiring the borrower to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers:
f: the insurance is financed under the agreement entered into by the borrower and the lender.
3: If a security interest is or may be taken in connection with an agreement, the contract or arrangement that creates or provides for the security interest is to be treated as forming part of the agreement for the purposes of this Part.
4: If an agreement involves a repayment waiver or an extended warranty, the repayment waiver or extended warranty is to be treated as forming part of the agreement for the purposes of this Part. Section 9B inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9B(1) advertising inserted 1 December 2021 section 9(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9B(1) agreement amended 13 January 2020 section 20(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 9B(1) distribute inserted 1 December 2021 section 9(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9B(1) lender amended 13 January 2020 section 20(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 9B(1) relevant guarantee replaced 1 June 2020 section 9(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Principles Heading inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9C: Lender responsibility principles
1: Every lender must comply with the lender responsibility principles.
2: The lender responsibility principles are that every lender must, at all times,—
a: exercise the care, diligence, and skill of a responsible lender—
i: in any advertisement for providing credit or finance under an agreement or for providing credit-related insurance under a relevant insurance contract; and
ii: before entering into an agreement to provide credit or finance or a relevant insurance contract and before taking a relevant guarantee; and
iii: in all subsequent dealings with a borrower in relation to an agreement or a relevant insurance contract or a guarantor in relation to a relevant guarantee; and
b: comply with all the lender responsibilities specified in subsections (3), (4), and (5).
3: The lender responsibilities are that a lender must, in relation to an agreement with a borrower,—
a: make reasonable inquiries, before entering into the agreement, and before making a material change referred to in subsection (8),
i: the credit or finance provided under the agreement will meet the borrower's requirements and objectives; and
ii: the borrower will make the payments under the agreement without suffering substantial hardship; and
b: assist the borrower to reach an informed decision as to whether or not to enter into the agreement and to be reasonably aware of the full implications of entering into the agreement, including by ensuring that—
i: any advertising—
A: complies with the advertising standards set out in the regulations; and
B: is not, or is not likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing to borrowers; and
ii: the terms of the agreement are expressed in plain language in a clear, concise, and intelligible manner; and
iii: any information provided by the lender to the borrower is not presented in a manner that is, or is likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing; and
iv: reasonable steps are taken to offer to the borrower information about the agreement in another language ( language A
A: advertising that is wholly or significantly in language A is being, or within the preceding 6 months has been, distributed to the public or a section of the public; and
B: the steps are necessary to ensure that the borrower can reach an informed decision (for example, if the borrower may not have a good understanding of the language in which the lender is otherwise providing information to the borrower under this Act); and
c: assist the borrower to reach informed decisions in all subsequent dealings in relation to the agreement, including by ensuring that—
i: any variation to the agreement is expressed in plain language in a clear, concise, and intelligible manner; and
ii: any information provided by the lender to the borrower after the agreement has been entered into is not presented in a manner that is, or is likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing; and
d: treat the borrower and their property (or property in their possession) reasonably and in an ethical manner, including—
i: when breaches of the agreement have occurred or may occur or when other problems arise:
ii: when a debtor under a consumer credit contract suffers unforeseen hardship ( see section 55
iii: during a repossession process (including by taking all reasonable steps to ensure that goods and property are not damaged during the process, that repossessed goods are adequately stored and protected, and that the right to enter premises is not exercised in an unreasonable manner); and
e: ensure, in the case of an agreement to which Part 5
i: the agreement is not oppressive:
ii: the lender does not exercise a right or power conferred by the agreement in an oppressive manner:
iii: the lender does not induce the borrower to enter into the agreement by oppressive means; and
f: meet all the lender's legal obligations to the borrower, including under this Act, the Fair Trading Act 1986 Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 subpart 5A
i: obligations in relation to disclosure, credit fees, unforeseen hardship applications, and credit repossession under this Act; and
ii: prohibitions on false or misleading representations and unfair contract terms under the Fair Trading Act 1986
iii: the guarantee that the service of providing credit and any other services will be carried out with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
4: The lender responsibilities are also that a lender must, in relation to a relevant guarantee that is taken by the lender,—
a: make reasonable inquiries, before the guarantee is given, so as to be satisfied that it is likely that the guarantor will be able to comply with the guarantee without suffering substantial hardship; and
b: assist the guarantor to reach an informed decision as to whether or not to give the guarantee and to be reasonably aware of the full implications of giving the guarantee, including by ensuring that—
i: the terms of the guarantee are expressed in plain language in a clear, concise, and intelligible manner; and
ii: any information provided by the lender to the guarantor is not presented in a manner that is or is likely to be misleading, deceptive, or confusing; and
iii: reasonable steps are taken to offer to the guarantor information about the guarantee in another language ( language A
A: advertising about the agreement that is wholly or significantly in language A is being, or within the preceding 6 months has been, distributed to the public or a section of the public; and
B: the steps are necessary to ensure that the guarantor can reach an informed decision (for example, if the guarantor may not have a good understanding of the language in which the lender is otherwise providing information to the guarantor under this Act); and
c: treat the guarantor reasonably and in an ethical manner, including when breaches of a credit contract to which the guarantee applies have occurred or may occur or when other problems arise; and
d: ensure, in the case of a guarantee that is to be treated as forming part of a credit contract for the purposes of Part 5 section 119
i: the guarantee is not oppressive:
ii: the lender does not exercise a right or power conferred by the guarantee in an oppressive manner:
iii: the lender does not induce the guarantor to give the guarantee by oppressive means; and
e: meet all the lender's legal obligations to the guarantor, including under the Acts specified in subsection (3)﻿(f).
5: The lender responsibilities are also that a lender must, in relation to a relevant insurance contract,—
a: make reasonable inquiries, before the contract is entered into, so as to be satisfied that it is likely that—
i: the insurance provided under the contract will meet the borrower's requirements and objectives; and
ii: the borrower will make the payments under the contract without suffering substantial hardship; and
b: assist the borrower to reach an informed decision as to whether or not to enter into the contract and to be reasonably aware of the full implications of entering into the contract, including by ensuring that—
i: any advertising
ii: any information provided by the lender to the borrower is not presented in a manner that is, or is likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing.
5A: In subsections (3)﻿(a), (4)﻿(a), and (5)﻿(a), the requirement to make reasonable inquiries section 138(1)﻿(abd)
6: Subsections (3)﻿(b)﻿(iii) and (c)﻿(ii), (4)﻿(b)﻿(ii), and (5)﻿(b)﻿(ii) do not apply to information that is subject to section 32(1)
7:
8: The material changes
a: the parties to the agreement agree to change the agreement by increasing a credit limit under the agreement:
b: the lender exercises a power under the agreement to increase a credit limit under the agreement:
c: the lender makes an additional advance that the lender did not take into account when previously satisfying itself as to the matters in subsection (3)﻿(a). Section 9C inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9C(2)﻿(a) replaced 13 January 2020 section 21 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(3)﻿(a) amended 1 December 2021 section 10(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(3)﻿(b)﻿(i) replaced 1 June 2020 section 10(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(3)﻿(b)﻿(iv) inserted 1 December 2021 section 10(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(3)﻿(f) amended 15 March 2021 section 98 Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(4)﻿(b)﻿(iii) inserted 1 December 2021 section 10(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(5)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 1 December 2021 section 10(5) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(5A) inserted 1 June 2020 section 10(6) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(7) repealed 1 December 2021 section 10(7) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9C(8) inserted 1 December 2021 section 10(8) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
9CA: Records about inquiries made
1: The lender must keep records about the inquiries made by the lender under section 9C
2: Those records must demonstrate how the lender has satisfied itself as to the matters in section 9C(3)﻿(a), (4)﻿(a), and (5)﻿(a)
3: The lender must make those records available to the Commission, on request by the Commission.
4: The lender must make available to a person responsible for an approved dispute resolution scheme, on request by that person, the records that relate to an agreement or a relevant insurance contract that is the subject of a dispute under that scheme.
5: The lender must make available to a borrower, on request by that borrower and free of charge, the records about the inquiries made by the lender under section 9C(3)﻿(a) and (5)﻿(a)
6: The lender must make available to a guarantor, on request by that guarantor and free of charge, the records about the inquiries made by the lender under section 9C(4)﻿(a)
7: The lender must provide the records within 20 working days of the date on which the request is received by the lender or, in the case of records being provided to the Commission, within any longer period of time specified by the Commission.
8: The Commission does not need to use its powers under section 98
9: The lender must keep the records for a period of at least 7 years after the date on which the inquiry was made. Section 9CA inserted 1 December 2021 section 11 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
9D: Proceedings for breach of legal obligations under other Acts
1: This section applies if, in relation to a legal obligation referred to in section 9C(3)﻿(f) or (4)﻿(e)
a: conduct by a person constitutes a breach of an Act (other than this Act); and
b: proceedings have been commenced under that other Act in respect of that conduct.
2: Proceedings may not be commenced under this Act in respect of the same conduct on the basis of a breach of section 9C(3)﻿(f) or (4)﻿(e)
3: Subsection (2) applies unless the court orders otherwise.
4: This section does not prevent proceedings from being commenced as a result of a breach of section 9C(2)﻿(a), (3)﻿(a) to (e), or (4)﻿(a) to (d) Section 9D inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Responsible Lending Code Heading inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9E: Purpose of Responsible Lending Code
1: The purpose of the Responsible Lending Code is to—
a: elaborate on the lender responsibility principles specified in section 9C(2)
b: offer guidance on how those principles may be implemented by lenders.
2: The Responsible Lending Code is not binding.
3: However, in any proceedings relating to this Act, evidence of a lender's compliance with the provisions of the Responsible Lending Code is to be treated as evidence of compliance with the lender responsibility principles. Section 9E inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9F: Content of Responsible Lending Code
1: In order to achieve its purpose, the Responsible Lending Code may set out any, or all, of the following:
a: the nature and extent of inquiries a lender should make before entering into an agreement, before a relevant guarantee is given, or before a relevant insurance contract is entered into:
b: the processes, practices, or procedures that a lender should follow—
i: to ensure that advertising for providing credit or finance under agreements complies with the advertising standards set in the regulations and
ii: when making reasonable inquiries referred to in section 9C(3)﻿(a), (4)﻿(a), and (5)﻿(a) and to comply with the regulations relating to those requirements
iii: to give the assistance referred to in section 9C(3)﻿(b) and (c), (4)﻿(b), and (5)﻿(b) (including where the borrower or guarantor may not have a good understanding of the language in which the lender is otherwise providing information)
iv: to ensure that the lender treats borrowers, guarantors, and their property (or property in their possession) reasonably and in an ethical manner:
v: in the case of an agreement or a guarantee to which Part 5
vi: to promote or facilitate compliance with the legal obligations referred to in section 9C(3)﻿(f) and (4)﻿(e)
vii: to ensure that fees are not unreasonable in terms of section 41 80 82
c: the circumstances in which the lender should require or recommend independent legal advice to be obtained:
d: the processes, practices, or procedures that a lender should follow for the purposes of Part 3A
da: the processes, practices, or procedures that a lender should follow for the purposes of debt collection:
e: any other matter that promotes or facilitates the lender responsibility principles (set out in section 9C(2)
2: The Code may also contain different provisions in relation to particular—
a: lenders or classes of lenders:
b: borrowers or classes of borrowers:
c: guarantors or classes of guarantors:
d: agreements or classes of agreements. Section 9F inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9F(1)﻿(b)﻿(i) amended 1 June 2020 section 12(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9F(1)﻿(b)﻿(ii) amended 1 June 2020 section 12(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9F(1)﻿(b)﻿(iii) amended 1 June 2020 section 12(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 9F(1)﻿(da) inserted 1 June 2020 section 12(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 How Responsible Lending Code made and administered Heading inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9G: Preparation and issue of Responsible Lending Code
1: The Minister must prepare and issue the Responsible Lending Code.
2: The Minister may use any process that the Minister considers appropriate to develop the Code, but must—
a: release a draft Code
b: consult persons, or representatives of such persons, that the Minister considers will be substantially affected by the Code:
c: consider comments received on the draft Code:
d: prepare a revised Code in response to comments received:
e: consult the Minister of Commerce and the Minister of Finance:
f: consider comments received from those Ministers:
g: issue the Code.
3: The Code may specify different commencement dates for different provisions, but no date may be before the 28th day after the date on which the Code is published in accordance with subsection (4).
3A:
3B:
4: The Code is secondary legislation ( see Part 3 2022-01-01 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 Subsection (3A) and (3B) repealed on 1 January 2022 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication The maker must: LA19 ss 73 74(1)﻿(a) cl 14 •	notify it in the Gazette •	ensure that it is available at all reasonable times on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, the Ministry The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade considers that the secondary legislation may have international transparency obligations under the CPTPP s 75 LA19 ss 74(2) 75 Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 9G inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9G(2)﻿(a) amended 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Section 9G(3) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Section 9G(3A) repealed 1 January 2022 Section 9G(3B) repealed 1 January 2022 Section 9G(4) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
9H: Responsible Lending Code comes into force by notice in
Gazette 2020-08-15 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 Section 9H(2A) and (2B) repealed on 15 August 2020. Section 9H repealed 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
9I: Amendment of Responsible Lending Code
1: The Minister may, at any time, amend or replace the Responsible Lending Code.
2: Section 9G
3: However, in the case of a minor amendment that does not materially affect the Code, the Minister need not comply with section 9G(2)﻿(a) to (f) Section 9I inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9I(2) amended 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Publication of standard form contract terms and Heading inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Heading amended 8 September 2018 section 31 Statutes Amendment Act 2018
9J: Publication of standard form contract terms
1: Every lender who, in relation to an agreement, uses standard form contract terms must ensure that those terms are publicly available in accordance with this section.
2: For the purposes of subsection (1), a lender does not use particular standard form contract terms if the lender has ceased to offer agreements that contain those terms.
3: For the purposes of subsection (1),—
a: if the lender has an Internet site, the lender must display prominently and clearly a copy of the standard form contract terms on that site; and
b: if the lender operates from business premises that are accessible to the public, the lender must display prominently and clearly on those premises a notice that a copy of those terms is available on request (free of charge).
4: The lender must, immediately after receiving the request of any person, supply a copy of its standard form contract terms, free of charge, to that person (regardless of whether subsection (3) applies).
5: Section 9J inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9J(5) repealed 1 June 2020 section 13 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
9K: Publication of costs of borrowing
1: Every creditor must ensure that information about all the costs of borrowing in relation to every class of consumer credit contract
2:
3: For the purposes of subsection (1),—
a: if the creditor has an Internet site, the creditor must display prominently and clearly on that site the creditor's credit fees, default fees, and annual rates of interest (and default interest charge rates) in relation to every class of consumer credit contract offered by that creditor
b: if the creditor operates from business premises that are accessible to the public, the creditor must display prominently and clearly on those premises a notice that a copy of the information about those credit fees, default fees, and rates is available on request (free of charge).
4: The creditor must, immediately after receiving the request of any person, supply a copy of the information referred to in subsection (1), free of charge, to that person (regardless of whether subsection (3) applies).
5: Information about rates of interest may be expressed by reference to a range.
6: Information made publicly available under this section must—
a: contain the prescribed information; and
b: be in the prescribed form (if any). Section 9K inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 9K(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 22(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 9K(2) repealed 13 January 2020 section 22(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 9K(3)﻿(a) amended 13 January 2020 section 22(3) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
9L: Extended meaning of business premises
1: In sections 9J 9K business premises
2: In subsection (1), vehicle section 2(1) Section 9L inserted 6 June 2015 section 9 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
2: Consumer credit contracts
1: Application
10: When this Part applies
This Part applies to consumer credit contracts.
11: Meaning of consumer credit contract
1: A credit contract is a consumer credit contract
a: the debtor is a natural person; and
b: the credit is to be used, or is intended to be used, wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, or household purposes; and
c: 1 or more of the following applies:
i: interest charges are or may be payable under the contract:
ii: credit fees are or may be payable under the contract:
iii: a security interest is or may be taken under the contract; and
d: when the contract is entered into, 1 or more of the following applies:
i: the creditor, or one of the creditors, carries on a business of providing credit (whether or not the business is the creditor's only business or the creditor's principal business):
ii: the creditor, or one of the creditors, makes a practice of providing credit in the course of a business carried on by the creditor:
iii: the creditor, or one of the creditors, makes a practice of entering into credit contracts in the creditor's own name as creditor on behalf of, or as trustee or nominee for, any other person:
iv: the contract results from an introduction of one party to another party by a paid adviser or broker.
1A: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(b), the predominant purpose for which the credit is to be used is—
a: the purpose for which more than 50% of the credit is intended to be used; or
b: if the credit is intended to be used to obtain goods or services for use for different purposes, the purpose for which the goods or services are intended to be most used.
1B: The reference to intention in subsections (1)﻿(b) and (1A) is a reference to the debtor's intention.
1C: An arrangement or a facility is also a consumer credit contract if regulations declare it to be a consumer credit contract.
2: This section is subject to sections 14 15 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 6(1) (Qld) Section 11(1)﻿(b) replaced 6 June 2015 section 10(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 11(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 10(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 11(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 10(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 11(1C) inserted 1 June 2020 section 14 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
12: Investment purposes
Investment by the debtor is not a personal, domestic, or household purpose. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 6(4) (Qld)
13: Presumption relating to consumer credit contract
In any proceedings in which a party claims that a credit contract is a consumer credit contract, it is presumed that the credit contract is a consumer credit contract unless the contrary is established. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 11(1) (Qld)
14: Effect of declaration
1: A credit contract is not a consumer credit contract if the debtor makes a declaration before entering into the contract that the credit is to be used wholly or predominantly
2: Subsection (1) does not apply if the creditor, or the person who obtains the declaration, knew, or had reason to believe, at the time the declaration was made, that the credit was in fact to be used wholly or predominantly
3: A declaration is effective only if the declaration is in a separate written document and the debtor confirms that he or she has read and understood the declaration. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 11(2), (3) (Qld) Section 14(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 11 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 14(2) amended 6 June 2015 section 11 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
15: Certain contracts not consumer credit contracts
1: The following contracts are not consumer credit contracts:
a: a contract for the sale of property, or the provision of services, to a person if the total amount payable under the contract by the person (other than any amount payable solely as a result of a default in payment by the person) is the agreed price of the property or services and is to be paid within 2 months from the day the contract is entered into
b: a contract that is a credit contract merely because a person's account with a creditor is debited and—
i: the effect of the debit is to put the account into overdraft; and
ii: the creation of the overdraft has not been agreed between the creditor and the person before the debit of the account:
c: a credit contract under which the debtor is a trustee acting in his or her capacity as a trustee of a family trust:
ca: a loan contract (as defined in section 4(1)
d: a contract of any class prescribed by regulations to be a class of contract that is exempted from being a consumer credit contract if the person who relies on the exemption complies with the terms and conditions (if any) that apply to the exemption.
2: Subsection (1)﻿(b) applies whether or not—
a: the creditor knows at the time the account is debited that the debit would have the effect of putting the account into overdraft; or
b: the creditor makes a charge (whether by way of an interest charge or otherwise) relating to the creation of the overdraft. Section 15(1)﻿(a) amended 6 June 2015 section 12 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 15(1)﻿(ca) inserted 30 August 2011 section 222 Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 Section 15(1)﻿(ca) amended 1 April 2012 section 223 Student Loan Scheme Act 2011
15A: Part does not apply to pawnbroking contract
1: This Part does not apply to a pawnbroking contract if—
a: the contract was entered into by a pawnbroker in the ordinary course of the pawnbroker's business in accordance with the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004
b: in the case that the pledger is in default of his or her obligations under the pawnbroking contract or does not redeem his or her pawned goods on or before the redemption date, the pawnbroker's only right of recourse is under section 63
2: In this section, pawnbroker section 4 Section 15A inserted 6 June 2015 section 13 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
16: Lease of goods treated as consumer credit contract
1: For the purposes of this Act, a lease is to be treated as a credit sale , a credit contract,
a: the lessee is a natural person; and
b: the goods are hired, or intended to be hired, wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, or household purposes; and
c: when the lease is entered into, the lessor, or one of the lessors, carries on the business of leasing goods (whether or not the business is the lessor's only business or the lessor's principal business), or makes a practice of leasing goods in the course of a business carried on by the lessor; and
d: either or both of the following applies:
i: the amount payable by the lessee under the lease is substantially equivalent to, or in excess of, the cash price of the goods (whether or not the lessee has an option to purchase the goods):
ii: the lessee has an option to purchase the goods for no additional amount, for a nominal amount, or for an amount substantially below a reasonable estimate (calculated as at the date the lease is made) of the fair market value of the goods at the end of the term of the lease (whether or not the amount payable by the lessee under the lease is substantially equivalent to, or in excess of, the cash price of the goods).
1A: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(b), the predominant purpose for which the goods are hired is, if the goods are intended to be used for different purposes, the purpose for which the goods are intended to be most used.
1B: The reference to intention in subsections (1)﻿(b) and (1A) is a reference to the lessee's intention.
2: For the purposes of this section, the amount payable by the lessee under the lease does not include—
a: any amount payable for optional services or services that are incidental to the hire of the goods; and
b: any amount payable to exercise an option to purchase the goods; and
c: any amount that would cease to be payable on the cancellation of the lease if the lessee were to exercise a right of cancellation at the earliest opportunity.
3: If subsection (1) applies,—
a: the lessor under the lease is to be treated as a creditor; and
b: the lessee under the lease is to be treated as a debtor; and
c: this Act applies with all other necessary modifications as if the lease were a credit sale, a credit contract, and a consumer credit contract.
4: If a lease is to be treated as a credit contract under subsection (1), then, for the purposes of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
a: the lease is to be treated as a credit contract; and
b: the lessor under the lease is to be treated as a creditor; and
c: that Act applies with all other necessary modifications as if the lease were a credit contract. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 10(1), (4) (Qld) Section 16(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 14(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 16(1)﻿(b) replaced 6 June 2015 section 14(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 16(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 14(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 16(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 14(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 16(3) inserted 6 June 2015 section 14(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 16(4) inserted 6 June 2015 section 14(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
16A: Mobile trader credit sales treated as consumer credit contract
1: For the purposes of this Act, a credit sale under which a mobile trader supplies consumer goods to a natural person is to be treated as a credit contract and a consumer credit contract.
2: If subsection (1) applies,—
a: the mobile trader under the credit sale is to be treated as a creditor; and
b: the person to whom the goods are supplied is to be treated as a debtor; and
c: this Act applies with all other necessary modifications as if the credit sale were a credit contract and a consumer credit contract.
3: This section prevails over section 15 Section 16A inserted 1 June 2020 section 15 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
2: Required disclosure
Initial disclosure
17: Initial disclosure
1: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that disclosure of as much of the key information set out in Schedule 1
2: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that a copy of all of the terms of the contract not disclosed under subsection (1) (other than terms implied by law) is given or sent to every debtor under the contract before the contract is entered into.
a:
b:
3: For the purposes of subsection (2), the copy of the terms of the contract must be given or sent in the same manner that disclosure is made under section 35 1981 No 27 s 16 Section 17(1) replaced 6 June 2015 section 15(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 17(2) amended 6 June 2015 section 15(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 17(2)﻿(a) repealed 6 June 2015 section 15(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 17(2)﻿(b) repealed 6 June 2015 section 15(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Continuing disclosure
18: Continuing disclosure
1: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that disclosure of as much of the information set out in section 19
2: The maximum period for a continuing disclosure statement is,—
a: in the case of a revolving credit contract, 45 working days; or
b: in any other case, 6 months.
3: This section is subject to section 21 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 31 (Qld)
19: Content of continuing disclosure statement
1: Every continuing disclosure statement must contain as much of the following information as is applicable to the consumer credit contract:
a: the opening and closing dates of the period covered by the statement; and
b: the opening and closing unpaid balances; and
c: the date, amount, and a description of each advance during the statement period; and
d: the date and amount of each interest charge debited to the debtor's account during the statement period; and
e: the date and amount of each amount paid by the debtor to the creditor, or credited to the debtor, during the statement period; and
f: the date, amount, and a description of each fee or charge debited to the debtor's account during the statement period; and
g: the amount and the time for payment of the next payment that must be made by the debtor under the contract; and
h: the annual interest rate or rates during the statement period (expressed as a percentage or percentages); and
i: in the case of a credit card contract, a prescribed minimum repayment warning (for example, to warn that if the debtor makes only a minimum payment each month, the debtor will pay more interest and it will take the debtor longer to pay off the unpaid balance) and other prescribed information in connection with payments under a credit card contract.
2: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(i),—
a: a credit card contract
b: a credit card
i: a card of a kind commonly known as a credit card; or
ii: a card of a kind that persons carrying on business commonly issue to their customers, or prospective customers, for use in obtaining goods or services from those persons on credit; or
iii: anything else that may be used as a card referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii). Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 32 (Qld) Section 19(1)﻿(h) amended 6 June 2015 section 16(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 19(1)﻿(i) inserted 6 June 2015 section 16(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 19(2) inserted 6 June 2015 section 16(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
20: Opening unpaid balance must not exceed closing unpaid balance of previous continuing disclosure statement
The opening unpaid balance shown in each successive continuing disclosure statement must not exceed the closing unpaid balance shown in the last continuing disclosure statement. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 33(1) (Qld)
21: Continuing disclosure not required
1: Disclosure under section 18
a:
b: in connection with the consumer credit contract,—
i: the creditor maintains (at all reasonable times) a website that allows the debtor to access the information set out in section 19
ii: the debtor consents to the information set out in section 19
c: neither interest charges nor credit fees are payable under the consumer credit contract.
2: Disclosure under section 18
a: the creditor cannot reasonably locate the debtor; or
b: during the period that would otherwise be covered by a disclosure statement,—
i: there have been no debits or credits to the debtor's account and the unpaid balance is nil; or
ii: the creditor has written off the unpaid balance and there are no subsequent credits or debits to the debtor's account; or
iii: the debtor has breached the consumer credit contract and the creditor has commenced enforcement proceedings; or
iv: the debtor has been declared bankrupt or died and the Official Assignee or executors or trustees or administrator of the debtor's estate have not requested a continuing disclosure statement.
3: If disclosure under section 18 Section 21(1)﻿(a) repealed 6 June 2015 section 17 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Variation disclosure
22: Disclosure of agreed changes
1: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that disclosure of the following information is made to every debtor under the contract if the parties to the contract agree to change the contract:
a: full particulars of the change:
b: any other information prescribed by regulations to be information that must be disclosed under this section.
2: Disclosure under this section must be made before the change takes effect.
3: Despite subsection (2), disclosure may, instead of being made in accordance with that subsection, be made in accordance with subsection (4), but only if the change is one that—
a: reduces the obligations that the debtor would otherwise have, unless the obligations are reduced following an application under section 55
b: extends the time for payment of any payment to be made under the contract, unless the time for payment is extended following an application under section 55
c: releases the whole or any part of a security interest relating to the contract; or
d: increases or decreases
4: The disclosure referred to in subsection (3) may be made, at the creditor's discretion, either—
a: within 5 working days of the day on which the change takes effect; or
b: if the creditor is required to make continuing disclosure under section 18
5: Subsection (4) does not apply to a high-cost consumer credit contract. 1981 No 27 s 17 Section 22(3) amended 6 June 2015 section 18(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 22(3)﻿(d) replaced 6 June 2015 section 18(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 22(3)﻿(d) amended 20 December 2019 section 16(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 22(4) inserted 6 June 2015 section 18(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 22(5) inserted 1 May 2020 section 16(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
23: Disclosure of changes following exercise of power
1: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that disclosure of the information set out in subsection (2) is made to every debtor under the contract if the creditor exercises a power under the contract to change any of the following matters:
a: the amount of an interest rate under the contract or any other particular in relation to how any interest charge under the contract is calculated or applied:
b: the amount, frequency, time for payment, or method of calculation of any payment to be made under the contract:
c: the amount, frequency, time for payment, or method of calculation of any fee or charge payable under the contract:
d: the amount of a credit limit under the contract.
2: The information that must be disclosed is as follows:
a: full particulars of the change:
b: any other information prescribed by regulations to be information that must be disclosed under this section.
3: Disclosure under this section must be made within 5 working days of the day on which the change takes effect.
4: In the case of a change to the amount of an interest rate or in the case of a change to the amount of any fee or charge payable, a creditor may, instead of complying with section 35
5: Despite subsection (3), disclosure may, instead of being made in accordance with that subsection, be made in accordance with subsection (6), but only in relation to—
a: a change that—
i: reduces the obligations that the debtor would otherwise have; or
ii: extends the time for payment of any payment to be made under the consumer credit contract; or
iii:
b: a change of any class prescribed by regulations to be a class of change to which this subsection applies.
6: The disclosure referred to in subsection (5) may be made, at the creditor's discretion,—
a: within 5 working days of the day on which the change takes effect; or
b: if the creditor is required to make continuing disclosure under section 18
7: Disclosure under this section is not required in relation to a particular debtor if the creditor cannot reasonably locate the debtor.
8: Subsections (4) and (6) do not apply to a high-cost consumer credit contract. Section 23(1)﻿(d) inserted 6 June 2015 section 19(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 23(5) amended 6 June 2015 section 19(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 23(5)﻿(a)﻿(iii) repealed 6 June 2015 section 19(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 23(5)﻿(b) replaced 6 June 2015 section 19(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 23(6) inserted 6 June 2015 section 19(5) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 23(7) inserted 20 December 2019 section 17(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 23(8) inserted 1 May 2020 section 17(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Request and guarantee disclosure
24: Request disclosure
1: Every debtor or guarantor under a consumer credit contract may request in writing that disclosure of any or all of the matters referred to in subsection (2) be made to them by the creditor.
2: The matters are as follows:
a: the effect of a part prepayment on the debtor's obligations under the consumer credit contract:
b: full particulars concerning any changes made to the consumer credit contract since the contract was made:
c: the amount of any fee or charge payable on a part prepayment and how that amount is calculated:
d: the amount required for full prepayment at a specified date and how that amount is calculated:
e: the unpaid balance, including the amount of any interest charge outstanding (calculated as at the date that the disclosure statement is prepared):
f: the information specified in paragraph (o) of Schedule 1
g: a continuing disclosure statement containing as much of the information specified in section 19
2A: Subsection (2)﻿(g) does not apply if, under section 21 section 18
2B: Every debtor or guarantor under a consumer credit contract may also request in writing that the creditor provide them with a copy of—
a: any disclosure statement that was provided, or that should have been provided, before the date on which the request is made:
b: the contract between the debtor and the creditor.
3: The creditor must comply with the request for disclosure within 15 working days of the later of—
a: the date that the request is received by the creditor; or
b: the date on which the creditor receives payment of a reasonable fee for the disclosure as specified by the creditor.
4: However, the creditor does not have to comply with the request for disclosure if—
a: disclosure of the matter that is requested has been made to the person making the request during the 3 months before the receipt of the request by the creditor; or
b: the request is received by the creditor more than 1 year after the consumer credit contract has come to an end.
5: See section 9J(4) 1981 No 27 s 19 Section 24(2)﻿(g) replaced 6 June 2015 section 20(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 24(2A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 20(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 24(2B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 20(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 24(5) inserted 6 June 2015 section 20(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
25: Disclosure of guarantee
1: Every creditor who takes a guarantee of a consumer credit contract must ensure—
a: that every guarantor under the guarantee is given or sent a copy of all of the terms of the guarantee (other than terms implied by law); and
b: that disclosure of as much of the key information (set out in Schedule 1
2: The copy of the terms of the guarantee must be given or sent, and disclosure of the key information concerning each consumer credit contract that the creditor and the debtor enter into and to which the guarantee applies at the time the guarantee is given must be made, before the guarantee is given.
3: Disclosure of the key information concerning any subsequent consumer credit contract that the creditor enters into with the debtor and to which the guarantee applies must be made within 5 working days of the day on which the contract is entered into
4: For the purposes of subsection (1), the copy of the terms of the guarantee must be given or sent in the same manner that disclosure is made under section 35 1981 No 27 s 16A Section 25(2) replaced 6 June 2015 section 21(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 25(3) amended 6 June 2015 section 21(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
26: Disclosure of changes to guarantors
1: Every creditor who takes a guarantee of a consumer credit contract must ensure that disclosure of the information set out in subsection (2) is made to every guarantor under the guarantee if—
a: the debtor and the creditor agree to a change to the contract that increases the obligations that the debtor would otherwise have or reduces the time for payment of any payment to be made under the contract; or
b: the creditor exercises a power under the contract that has the effect of increasing the obligations that the debtor would otherwise have or reducing the time for payment of any payment to be made under the contract.
2: The information that must be disclosed under subsection (1) is as follows:
a: full particulars of the change:
b: any other information prescribed by regulations to be information that must be disclosed under subsection (1).
3: Disclosure under subsection (1) must be made within 5 working days of the day on which—
a: the change is agreed to by the debtor and the creditor, in the case of subsection (1)﻿(a); or
b: the change takes effect, in the case of subsection (1)﻿(b).
4: If the creditor has exercised a power under the credit contract to change the amount of an interest rate or to change the amount of any fee or charge payable, the creditor may, instead of complying with section 35
5: Disclosure under this section is not required in relation to a particular guarantor if the creditor cannot reasonably locate the guarantor.
6: Subsection (4) does not apply to a high-cost consumer credit contract. Section 26(5) inserted 20 December 2019 section 18(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 26(6) inserted 1 May 2020 section 18(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
26A: Disclosure of transfer of rights of creditor under consumer credit contract
1: Every creditor who transfers (whether by assignment or operation of law) the rights of that person under a consumer credit contract to another creditor (the new creditor
a: the name, address, and other contact details of the new creditor:
b: the new creditor's registration number under the register of financial service providers and the name under which the new creditor is registered under that register:
c: the name and contact details of the dispute resolution scheme of which the new creditor is a member (unless the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
d: the date on which the rights were, or are to be, transferred to the new creditor:
e: the impact (if any) of the transfer on the debtor:
f: that the transfer does not affect the terms of the contract that the debtor entered into (other than terms relating to the identity of the creditor).
2: Disclosure under this section must be made within 10 working days of the day on which the transfer takes effect.
3: This section does not apply in the prescribed circumstances (being circumstances that relate to securitisation or covered bond arrangements or similar arrangements).
4: Disclosure under this section is not required in relation to a particular debtor or guarantor if the creditor cannot reasonably locate the debtor or guarantor, as the case may be. Section 26A inserted 6 June 2015 section 22 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 26A(4) inserted 20 December 2019 section 19 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
26B: Disclosure about dispute resolution schemes and financial mentoring services: hardship applications, arrears, credit declined, and complaints
1: Information about the creditor’s dispute resolution scheme must be disclosed as follows:
a: by a creditor in every notice required under section 57A(1)﻿(a)
b: by the creditor to the debtor, when the creditor receives a written complaint in relation to any enforcement action under Part 3A
c: by the creditor to the debtor, when the creditor receives any other type of complaint described in the regulations.
2: Information about financial mentoring services must be disclosed as follows:
a: by a creditor, to a debtor who has made a default in payment or has caused the credit limit under the contract to be exceeded:
b: by a creditor in every notice required under section 57A(1)﻿(a)
c: by a creditor who declines an application for a high-cost consumer credit contract, to the applicant.
3: The disclosure must be made—
a: in a prominent manner; and
b: in accordance with regulations made under section 138(1)﻿(dba)
4: Subpart 4 Section 26B inserted 1 December 2021 section 20 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
3: Debtor's right to cancel
27: Right to cancel consumer credit contract
1: A debtor under a consumer credit contract may cancel the contract by giving written notice of the cancellation to the creditor under the contract within 5 working days section 17
a: in the case of a contract referred to in subsection (2), paying the cash price of the property or services (or the balance of the cash price after deducting any amount already paid by the debtor) to the creditor within 15 working days of the day the notice is given; or
b: in any other case, returning to the creditor any advance and any other property received by a debtor under the contract within 5 working days section 17
2: A consumer credit contract for the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(a) is—
a: a credit sale of goods if the debtor has taken possession of the goods and disclosure of the information referred to in paragraph (s) of Schedule 1
b: a credit sale involving a sale of property by auction:
c: a credit sale of property that the debtor wants to keep or of services the debtor wants to obtain:
d: a credit sale of services that have been performed. 1981 No 27 s 22(1), (2) Section 27(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 23 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 27(1)﻿(b) amended 6 June 2015 section 23 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
28: Notice of cancellation, return of property, and payment of cash price
1: Written notice of cancellation may be expressed in any way that shows the intention of the debtor to cancel or withdraw from the consumer credit contract.
2: Written notice of cancellation may be given, property may be returned, and a cash price paid, to a creditor—
a: by giving it to the creditor or any agent or employee of the creditor; or
b: by posting it to the last known place of residence or business of the creditor or any agent of the creditor.
3: Written notice of cancellation may be given in electronic form, whether by means of an electronic communication or otherwise, if the creditor consents to notices or other communications from the debtor being given in electronic form and by means of an electronic communication, if applicable.
4: For the purposes of this section, a creditor may consent to notices or other communications from the debtor being given in electronic form subject to conditions regarding the form of the notice or communication or the means by which the notice or communication is produced, sent, received, processed, stored, or displayed.
5: Written notice of cancellation may be given, property may be returned, and a cash price paid by an agent acting on behalf of a debtor. 1981 No 27 s 22(3)
29: Right of cancellation does not apply in certain situations
1: Section 27
2: Section 27
3: Section 27 1981 No 27 s 22(4), (5) Section 29(3) inserted 1 October 2020 section 21 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
30: Effect of cancellation
1: If a consumer credit contract is cancelled under section 27(1)﻿(b)
a: the rights and obligations of the parties under the contract cease; and
b: the creditor must, as soon as is reasonably practicable,—
i: return any property that the creditor has received under the contract to the party from whom it was received; and
ii: release every security interest taken in connection with the contract, other than any part of a security interest that—
A: relates to obligations of the debtor or guarantor that are not directly related to the contract; and
B: is capable of being enforced despite paragraph (a); and
c: the creditor must calculate—
i: the amounts due to the creditor; and
ii: the amounts due to the debtor; and
d: the difference between the amounts calculated in accordance with paragraph (c) must be paid by the creditor to the debtor, or by the debtor to the creditor, as the case may be.
2: The calculation under subsection (1)﻿(c) must be made on the basis that—
a: no debtor under the contract is liable to pay any part of the interest charges, fees, or charges provided for in the contract other than—
i: interest charges on the unpaid balance for the period during which the credit was provided (at the same rate that would have been payable over that period if the contract had not been cancelled); and
ii: any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by the creditor in connection with the contract and the cancellation of the contract; and
iii: if property is returned to a creditor that has been damaged while in the possession of a debtor, the cost of repairing the damage; and
b: if the debtor has already paid any interest charges, fees, or charges provided for in the contract that the debtor is not liable to pay under paragraph (a), the amount paid is due to the debtor under subsection (1)﻿(c)﻿(ii).
3: In addition, if a consumer credit contract is cancelled under section 27(1)﻿(b)
a: no guarantor under the contract is liable to pay any part of the interest charges, fees, or charges provided for in the contract other than the interest charges, expenses, or costs referred to in subsection (2)﻿(a)﻿(i) to (iii) (if those amounts are payable under the guarantee); and
b: the creditor must repay any interest charges, fees, or charges already received by the creditor from the guarantor that the guarantor is not liable to pay under paragraph (a). Section 30 replaced 6 June 2015 section 24 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
31: Effect of credit sale cancellation
If a consumer credit contract is cancelled under section 27(1)﻿(a) section 30(1)﻿(b) to (d) and (3)
a: the creditor need not return the cash price paid under section 27(1)﻿(a)
b: the creditor's obligation to provide the property or services to which the cash price relates continues. 1981 No 27 s 23(2) Section 31 amended 6 June 2015 section 25 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
4: Disclosure standards and how disclosure is made
32: Disclosure standards
1: Disclosure must—
a: be in writing in a disclosure statement; and
b: contain the information required by this Act; and
ba: if required by the regulations, be made in the form prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this paragraph; and
c: express the required information clearly, concisely, and in a manner likely to bring the information to the attention of a reasonable person; and
d: not be likely to deceive or mislead a reasonable person with regard to any particular that is material to the consumer credit contract, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction (as the case may be).
1A: If subsection (1)﻿(ba) applies and a person gives disclosure in the prescribed form in the manner required by the regulations, the person is to be treated as having complied with the requirements of subsection (1)﻿(a), (c), and (d).
2: A disclosure statement—
a: may be in a single document or a series of related documents:
b: may be included as part of 1 or more other documents.
3: If a creditor provides 2 or more credit facilities to a debtor under 1 or more consumer credit contracts, disclosure may be made in 1 or more disclosure statements.
4: The requirement to make disclosure in writing may be met by giving or making available
a: the information is readily accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference; and
b: the person to whom the disclosure is required to be made consents to the disclosure being made in electronic form and by means of an electronic communication, if applicable.
5: For the purposes of this section, a person may consent to the information being given in electronic form subject to conditions regarding the form of the information or the means by which the information is produced, sent, received, processed, stored, or displayed. Section 32(1)﻿(ba) inserted 6 June 2015 section 26(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 32(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 26(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 32(4) amended 20 December 2019 section 22 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
33: Assumptions
1: Information that is required to be disclosed under this Act may be disclosed by using or applying the assumptions that are prescribed for the purposes of this section in accordance with the terms and conditions (if any) that apply to those assumptions.
2: Information that is required to be disclosed under this Act that is not otherwise ascertainable must be treated as ascertainable if it is ascertainable on the basis of the prescribed assumptions as at the date that the disclosure statement is prepared.
3: Information disclosed in a disclosure statement must be treated as correctly disclosed if it is within the prescribed assumptions.
34: Creditor, etc, may voluntarily use model disclosure statement if not required to use mandatory form
1: This section applies if a person is not required to use a form prescribed for the purposes of section 32(1)﻿(ba)
2: If the person uses a model disclosure statement prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section in the manner required by those regulations, the person is to be treated as having complied with the requirements of section 32(1)﻿(a), (c), and (d) Section 34 replaced 6 June 2015 section 27 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
35: How disclosure is made
1: Disclosure must be made by—
a: giving the disclosure statement to the person to whom disclosure is to be made; or
b: sending the disclosure statement by post to that person's place of residence last known to the person making disclosure or to an address specified by the person for this purpose; or
c: sending the disclosure statement to the information system specified by the person for that purpose; or
d: sending an electronic communication to the information system specified by the person for that purpose that allows the disclosure statement to be accessed; or
e: otherwise making the disclosure statement available in electronic form, and sending an electronic communication to the information system specified by the person notifying the person how to access the disclosure statement.
1A: However, subsection (1)﻿(d) and (e) is subject to the conditions that—
a: the statement must be readily accessible at that time the electronic communication is sent, and at all reasonable times over the life of the contract, in accordance with the communication; and
b: that statement can, at that time the electronic communication is sent, and at all reasonable times over the life of the contract, be stored in a permanent and legible form (for example, saved to an electronic file and printed).
2: If the place of residence referred to in subsection (1)﻿(b) is the same for 2 or more persons, or if 2 or more persons have specified the same information system for the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(c) to (e), the disclosure statement given or sent to any of those persons is to be treated as having been given or sent to all of those persons.
3: For the purposes of sections 27 99 to 102
4: For the purposes of sections 27 99 to 102
a: by sending the disclosure statement to the information system specified by the person for that purpose under subsection (1)﻿(c), the disclosure is to be treated as having been made on the second working day after the day on which the statement is sent:
b: under subsection (1)﻿(d) or (e), the disclosure is to be treated as having been made on the second working day after the day on which the electronic communication is sent.
5: For all other purposes, the disclosure is to be treated as having been made to a person—
a: on the day on which the statement is posted to the person; or
b: on the day on which the disclosure statement is sent to the information system specified by the person; or
c: if subsection (1)﻿(d) or (e) applies, on the day on which the electronic communication referred to in that paragraph is sent to the person.
6: 1981 No 27 s 20 Section 35(1)﻿(c) replaced 20 December 2019 section 23(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(1)﻿(d) inserted 20 December 2019 section 23(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(1)﻿(e) inserted 20 December 2019 section 23(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(1A) inserted 20 December 2019 section 23(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(2) replaced 20 December 2019 section 23(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(4) replaced 20 December 2019 section 23(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(5) replaced 20 December 2019 section 23(5) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 35(6) repealed 20 December 2019 section 23(5) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
5: Interest charges
36: End of day
1: A consumer credit contract may specify when a day ends for any purpose under the contract.
2: Different times of the day may be specified as the end of the day for different purposes. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 25(2) (Qld)
37: Creditor to ensure that contract specifies annual interest rate or rates
1: This section applies if interest charges are or may be payable under a consumer credit contract.
2: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that the contract specifies the interest rate or interest rates under the contract in terms of an annual interest rate or annual interest rates under the contract.
3: An annual interest rate may be specified by describing how the annual interest rate is determined in accordance with the contract.
38: Early debit or payment of interest charges prohibited
1: A creditor must not, at any time before the end of a day to which an interest charge applies, require payment of or debit the interest charge.
2: A consumer credit contract may provide for an interest charge to become payable or to be debited at any time after the day to which it applies.
3: Subsection (1) does not apply to the following:
a: the first payment or debiting of interest charges under a consumer credit contract if the payment or debiting relates to interest charges for a period that is less than the normal period for which interest charges are to be periodically debited to the debtor's account:
b: the debit of an interest charge under a consumer credit contract before the end of the period to which the charge applies if—
i: the charge is debited on the last day of the period; and
ii: the amount debited is not treated by the creditor as part of the unpaid daily balance for that day for the purpose of calculating interest charges under the contract. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 27 (Qld)
39: Limit on interest charges
1: The maximum amount of an interest charge that may be imposed or provided for under a consumer credit contract is,—
a: in the case of 1 annual interest rate applying to the unpaid balances under the contract, the amount determined by applying the daily interest rate to the unpaid daily balances; or
b: in any other case, the sum of each of the amounts determined by applying each daily interest rate to that part of the unpaid daily balances that it applies to under the contract.
2: However, an interest charge under a consumer credit contract for a week, a fortnight, a month, a quarter of a year, or a half of a year may be determined by applying the annual interest rate or rates, divided by 52 (for a week), by 26 (for a fortnight), by 12 (for a month), by 4 (for a quarter of a year), or by 2 (for a half of a year), to the whole or that part of the average unpaid daily balances that it applies to.
3: This section does not prevent the imposition, in accordance with the consumer credit contract and section 40 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 26 (Qld)
40: Default interest charges
1: A consumer credit contract must not provide that an annual interest rate applicable under the contract to any part of the unpaid balance will differ according to whether the debtor has breached the contract.
2: However, a consumer credit contract may provide for a differential rate if the higher rate is imposed only—
a: in the event of a default in payment , in respect of the amount of the default, and while the default continues
b: in the event of the debtor causing the credit limit under the contract to be exceeded and while the credit limit is exceeded.
2A: Subsection (2B) applies if—
a: there has been a default in payment under a consumer credit contract; and
b: the consumer credit contract provides that an amount payable under the contract becomes payable (or may be called up as becoming payable) earlier than would be the case if there had not been a default; and
c: the consumer credit contract is not an on demand facility.
2B: The higher rate referred to in subsection (2) may not be imposed on any amount that becomes payable earlier as referred to in subsection (2A).
2C: In subsection (2A)﻿(c), an on demand facility
a: the total unpaid balance is repayable at any time on demand by the creditor; and
b: there is no agreement, arrangement, or understanding between the creditor and the debtor that repayment will only be demanded on the occurrence or non‑occurrence of a particular event.
3: This section does not limit Part 5 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 28 (Qld) Section 40(2)﻿(a) amended 6 June 2015 section 28(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 40(2A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 28(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 40(2B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 28(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 40(2C) inserted 6 June 2015 section 28(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
6: Fees
Unreasonable fees
41: Unreasonable credit fee or default fee
A consumer credit contract must not provide for a credit fee or a default fee that is unreasonable. Section 41 replaced 6 June 2015 section 29 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
41A: Records and reviews about how fees calculated
1: The creditor under a consumer credit contract must keep records about how the creditor calculated each credit fee and default fee for the purposes of section 41
2: Those calculations must demonstrate that each credit fee and default fee is not unreasonable at the time at which the fee was calculated or reviewed.
3: A creditor must—
a: review a credit fee or a default fee if the creditor knows, or ought reasonably to know, that there has been a change that is likely to materially affect the reasonableness of the fee (for example, a change in the creditor’s business or costs); and
b: reduce the fee if the result of the review is that the fee is now unreasonable.
4: The creditor must make the records required by this section available to the Commission, on request by the Commission.
5: The creditor must make available to a dispute resolution scheme, on request by that scheme, the records that relate to a contract that is the subject of a dispute under that scheme.
6: The creditor must provide the records within 20 working days of the date on which the request is received by the creditor or, in the case of records being provided to the Commission, within any longer period of time specified by the Commission.
7: The Commission does not need to use its powers under section 98
8: The creditor must keep the records for a period of at least 7 years after the date on which the fee is calculated or reviewed. Section 41A inserted 1 December 2021 section 24 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
42: Establishment fees
In determining whether an establishment fee is unreasonable, the court must have regard to—
a: whether the amount of the fee is equal to or less than the creditor's reasonable costs in connection with the application for credit, processing and considering that application, documenting the consumer credit contract, and advancing the credit; or
b: whether the amount of the fee is equal to or less than the creditor's average reasonable costs of the matters referred to in paragraph (a) for the appropriate class of consumer credit contract. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 72(3) (Qld)
43: Prepayment fees
1: A prepayment fee payable—
a: on a part prepayment is unreasonable if, and only if, the fee exceeds a reasonable estimate of the creditor's loss arising from the part prepayment:
b: on a full prepayment is unreasonable if, and only if, it exceeds a reasonable estimate of the creditor's loss arising from the full prepayment as calculated in accordance with section 54
2: For the purposes of this section and section 44 prepayment fee
a: a part prepayment or a full prepayment in respect of a fixed-rate contract; and
b: the portion of the unpaid balance for which the interest rate is fixed for an agreed period; and
c: the part of the creditor's loss—
i: that arises from the part prepayment or full prepayment; and
ii: that is a result of differences in interest rates.
3: A creditor may also, in relation to a part prepayment or a full prepayment, impose a credit fee relating to administrative costs (and whether that fee is unreasonable must be determined in accordance with section 44(1)
4: In this section, fixed-rate contract Section 43 replaced 6 June 2015 section 30 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
44: Credit fees other than establishment fees and prepayment fees
1: In determining whether a credit fee is unreasonable, the court must have regard to, in relation to the matter giving rise to the fee, whether the fee reasonably compensates the creditor for any cost incurred by the creditor (including the cost of providing a service to the debtor if the fee relates to the provision of a service).
2: In determining whether the fee reasonably compensates the creditor for any cost referred to in subsection (1), the court must have regard to reasonable standards of commercial practice.
3: Subsection (1) does not apply if the credit fee is—
a: an establishment fee ( see section 42
b: a prepayment fee ( see section 43 Section 44 replaced 6 June 2015 section 31 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
44A: Default fees
1: In determining whether a default fee is unreasonable, the court must have regard to, in relation to the matter giving rise to the fee, whether the fee reasonably compensates the creditor for the following:
a: any cost incurred by the creditor:
b: a reasonable estimate of any loss incurred by the creditor as a result of the debtor’s acts or omissions.
2: In determining whether the fee reasonably compensates the creditor for any cost and loss referred to in subsection (1), the court must have regard to reasonable standards of commercial practice. Section 44A inserted 6 June 2015 section 31 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
44B: Compliance with Code is evidence that fees are not unreasonable
For the purposes of this subpart, evidence of a creditor’s compliance with the provisions of the Responsible Lending Code referred to in section 9F(1)﻿(b)﻿(vii) Section 44B inserted 6 June 2015 section 31 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Fees or charges passed on by creditor
45: Fees or charges passed on by creditor
1: A fee or charge payable by a debtor for an amount payable or to reimburse an amount paid by the creditor to another person, body, or agency must not exceed the actual amount payable by the creditor if that amount is ascertainable when the fee or charge is paid by the debtor.
2: The actual amount payable must be determined by taking into account any discount, rebate, or allowance received or receivable by the creditor or any related company.
3: If the actual amount paid by the creditor to another person, body, or agency is not ascertainable when the debtor pays an amount to the creditor for the fee or charge and is less than the amount paid by the debtor, the creditor must refund or credit the difference to the debtor.
4: Nothing in this section requires a rebate on tax payable by the creditor or a related company to be taken into account in determining the actual amount paid or payable by the creditor.
5: Nothing in this section prevents a reasonable commission from being paid, or payable, to a creditor in connection with any credit-related insurance taken out by the debtor.
6: However, despite subsection (5), a creditor must not charge a commission if—
a: the creditor requires the debtor to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers; or
b: the creditor has in place any arrangement that has the effect of requiring the debtor to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers; or
c: the insurance is financed under the credit contract and the creditor has, in relation to the credit-related insurance contract, breached section 9C(5) Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 30 (Qld) Section 45(5) replaced 6 June 2015 section 32 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 45(6) inserted 6 June 2015 section 32 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
6A: Provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts
Subpart 6A heading inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Purpose, outline, and interpretation Heading inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45A: Purpose of this subpart
The purpose of this subpart is—
a: to protect consumers from the harm caused by accumulating excessive debts from default on high-interest loans or from rolling over or extending payment terms of high-interest loans; and
b: to protect consumers from the harm caused by excessive interest and fees from repeat borrowing under high-interest loans. Section 45A inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45B: Outline of this subpart
1: This subpart provides for rules about the following matters:
a: the maximum costs of borrowing that are recoverable under certain high-cost consumer credit contracts and related consumer credit contracts:
b: restrictions on entry into further high-cost consumer credit contracts:
c: the maximum rate of charge that is recoverable under a high-cost consumer credit contract:
d: no compound interest under high-cost consumer credit contracts.
2: In relation to those matters, this Act provides for—
a: compensation, other orders, or injunctions ( see sections 93(a) 96(1)﻿(a)
b: statutory damages ( see section 88
c: other court orders ( see section 94
d: pecuniary penalties ( see subpart 5A
3: In addition,—
a: section 48
b: see section 124(1)﻿(ea) Section 45B inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45C: Meaning of high-cost consumer credit contract
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— high-cost consumer credit contract
a: a contract that provides for an annual interest rate of 50% or greater:
b: a contract under which the weighted average annual interest rate applied to the unpaid balance is, or is likely to be, 50% or greater on any day during the term of the contract:
c: a contract under which the total rate of the interest charges (including default interest charges) that may be applied cumulatively to the same part of an unpaid balance in the event of a default in payment or the credit limit being exceeded is, or is likely to be, a rate of 50% or greater: Example
A creditor’s normal annual interest rate is 40% pa, and an additional default interest charge of 20% pa is applied to the part of the unpaid balance that is in default. The annual interest rate and any default interest charge rate are together 60% pa on the part of the unpaid balance in default. The contract is therefore a high-cost consumer credit contract.
d: a contract declared by regulations to be a type of contract that is a high-cost consumer credit contract interest rate that defines a high-cost consumer credit contract Section 45C inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45D: Power to increase interest rate that defines high-cost consumer credit contract
1: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, increase the interest rate that defines a high-cost consumer credit contract (the increase
2: However, the Minister may make a recommendation only if he or she—
a: is satisfied that the increase is no greater than is necessary to take account of a rise in market interest rates; and
b: is satisfied that the increase is necessary or desirable in order to avoid harm or disruption to credit markets that would otherwise be caused by the rise in market interest rates (that is, because more credit contracts would be within the bracket than would be the case if the rise in market rates had not occurred); and
c: is satisfied that the increase is not inconsistent with the purpose of this subpart; and
d: has consulted the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and the Commission.
3: An order under this section is secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 45D inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 45D(3) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Rules Heading inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45E: Costs of borrowing must not exceed loan advance
1: The maximum costs of borrowing that are recoverable under a high-cost consumer credit contract and all related consumer credit contracts is an amount equal to the first advance.
2: A consumer credit contract must not provide for an amount to be recoverable that will result in that maximum amount being exceeded or that is capable of resulting in that maximum amount being exceeded.
3: No person may be a creditor under a contract that contravenes this section or accept a payment, or debit a fee or charge to the debtor’s account, that will result in that maximum amount being exceeded.
4: Section 48
5: In this section,— costs of borrowing
a: a credit fee:
b: a default fee:
c: interest charges:
d: charges for an optional service:
e: fees or charges passed on by the creditor (other than default fees) fees or charges passed on by the creditor section 45 first advance
a: in respect of a high-cost consumer credit contract that has no related consumer credit contracts, the first advance (excluding any credit fees, charges for optional services, and fees or charges passed on by the creditor) under that high-cost consumer credit contract:
b: in respect of a high-cost consumer credit contract that has 1 or more related consumer credit contracts, the first advance (excluding any credit fees, charges for optional services, and fees or charges passed on by the creditor) under the earliest high-cost consumer credit contract in the series related consumer credit contract contract A
a: a debtor is the same person as a debtor under contract A; and
b: a creditor is the same person as, or an associated person of, a creditor under contract A; and
c: the consumer credit contracts (including contract A) are entered into during a period—
i: that begins with a high-cost consumer credit contract being entered into; and
ii: that ends with the expiry of 15 continuous days during which there was no unpaid balance on any of the consumer credit contracts entered into since the start of the period,— and includes a contract declared by regulations to be a type of contract that is a related consumer credit contract. Example
On 2 February, Ms D borrows $100 from a creditor ( C On 2 March, Ms D has paid $92, consisting of $32 in interest and fees and $60 of the principal. Her unpaid balance is $40. Ms D refinances by entering into a further high-cost consumer credit contract with C to repay the remaining $40, and will receive a further advance of $50, ie, $90 in total. The first advance of $100 caps the maximum costs of borrowing. The maximum costs of borrowing that Ms D will have to pay under the new contract is $100 - $32 = $68 (ie, the amount in interest and fees charged on the first contract ($32) is subtracted from the first advance of $100 to give a remaining cap of $68). C is not entitled to receive more than $68. If Ms D does pay $120 (instead of $68), C must refund $52 to Ms D, or give Ms D a credit for $52 against other money owing ( see In addition, C is liable in other ways, for example, to a pecuniary penalty, statutory damages, and other court orders. Section 45E inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45F: Certain high-cost consumer credit contracts with other creditors prohibited
1: No creditor ( C
a: a debtor who has an unpaid balance on any high-cost consumer credit contract under which the creditor is a person other than C; or
b: a person who has had, at any time within the preceding 15 days, an unpaid balance on any high-cost consumer credit contract under which the creditor is a person other than C. Example
In the example above, Ms D would not be able to refinance on 2 March by entering into a further high-cost consumer credit contract with another creditor.
2: A creditor ( C
a: C complied with section 9C
b: C had reasonable grounds to believe that during the relevant period the person did not have an unpaid balance on any high-cost consumer credit contract under which the creditor is a person other than C. Section 45F inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45G: High-cost consumer credit contracts with certain repeat debtors prohibited
1: No creditor ( C
2: A creditor ( C
a: C complied with section 9C
b: C had reasonable grounds to believe that the debtor had not entered into 2 or more high-cost consumer credit contracts during the relevant period. Section 45G inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45H: Rate cap
1: The maximum rate of charge that is recoverable under a high-cost consumer credit contract is 0.8% per day, calculated in accordance with the regulations as a proportion of the amount of credit provided.
2: A high-cost consumer credit contract must not provide for an amount to be recoverable that will result in that maximum rate being exceeded or that is capable of resulting in that maximum rate being exceeded.
3: No person may be a creditor under a high-cost consumer credit contract that contravenes this section or accept a payment, or debit a fee or charge to the debtor’s account, in a way that results in that maximum rate being exceeded.
4: Section 48
5: In this section,— charge section 45E credit provided
6: A contract or creditor does not contravene this section if the maximum rate is exceeded only because of a part prepayment or full prepayment. Section 45H inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45I: Compound interest prohibited
1: A high-cost consumer credit contract must not provide for compound interest.
2: No person may be a creditor under a high-cost consumer credit contract that provides for compound interest or accept a payment, or debit a fee or charge to the debtor’s account, in respect of compound interest.
3: Section 48
4: In this section, compound interest Section 45I inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45J: Default fees
1: This section applies, for the purposes of sections 41 41A 44A
2: Subsection (3) applies if—
a: the contract provides for a default fee that is more than the prescribed amount; or
b: the creditor accepts a payment, or debits a fee or charge to the debtor’s account, in respect of a default fee that, taken together with any previous default fees charged under the contract or any related consumer credit contract (within the meaning of section 45E
3: The fee must be presumed to be unreasonable, and to be in breach of this section and section 41
4: The requirement to rebut in subsection (3) includes proving the things in section 44A
5: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing the amount for the purpose of this section.
6: The power in subsection (5) to make regulations may be used only on the recommendation of the Minister, and the Minister may make a recommendation only if the Minister—
a: has had regard to the purpose of this subpart; and
b: has consulted the Commission and the persons or representatives of the persons who the Minister considers will be substantially affected by the regulations.
7: If no regulations have been made, the prescribed amount is $30.
8: Regulations under this section are secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 45J inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 45J(8) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
45K: Prohibition on avoidance
1: A person must not enter into a scheme if it is reasonable to conclude that a purpose of the scheme is to defeat, evade, or circumvent the operation of a provision in this subpart.
2: In this section, scheme
a: resulting in a transaction that is in substance or economic effect a high-cost consumer credit contract or related contract being, instead, a transaction to which this subpart does not apply; or
b: otherwise avoiding the application of a provision of this subpart. Section 45K inserted 1 May 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Review of subpart Heading inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
45L: Review of subpart
1: The Minister must, as soon as practicable after the expiry of 3 years from the commencement of this section,—
a: review the operation and effectiveness of this subpart; and
b: prepare a report on that review.
2: The review must consider, in particular, whether the interest rate that defines a high-cost consumer credit contract should be reduced to a rate between 30% and 50%.
3: The Minister must present the report to the House of Representatives as soon as practicable after it has been completed. Section 45L inserted 1 June 2020 section 25 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
7: Payments
46: Crediting of payments
1: A creditor must credit each payment made under a consumer credit contract to the debtor's account as soon as practicable after receipt of the payment.
2: In this section, as soon as practicable
3: Despite subsection (1), if the consumer credit contract specifies that payments are to be made in accordance with a specified schedule of payments, the creditor may credit a payment that is accepted in accordance with the schedule if the contract expressly permits the creditor to credit those payments in this manner.
4: Subsection (3) applies whether or not—
a: the specified schedule of payments is subject to adjustment in accordance with the contract to accommodate contingencies (for example, the possibility of changes to the interest rate); and
b: the payment is of an amount that is not equal to the amount of the next scheduled payment.
5: However, subsection (3) does not apply to a full prepayment. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 24 (Qld)
47: Dating and adjustments of debits and credits in accounts
1: A debit or credit made by a creditor to a debtor's account is taken to have been made, and has effect, on the date assigned to the debit or credit and not on the date on which it is processed.
2: A creditor may subsequently adjust debits or credits to a debtor's account and account balances so as to accurately reflect the legal obligations of the debtor and the creditor.
3: Subsections (1) and (2) do not permit a debit or credit to be assigned a date other than the date on which it is processed, or the subsequent adjustment of a debit or credit or account balance, if—
a: the assignment or adjustment is inconsistent with the consumer credit contract; or
b: the assignment or adjustment results in an interest charge that is more than the maximum amount permitted under this Act, as calculated on the basis of debits and credits to a debtor's account consistent with the consumer credit contract; or
c: the assignment or adjustment results in a breach of section 46
d: the assignment of the date on which an interest charge is taken to be debited results in a breach of section 38 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 36A (Qld)
48: Recovery of payments
1: If a debtor makes any payment to a creditor that, by virtue of this Act, the creditor is not entitled to receive, the creditor must, as soon as practicable,—
a: refund the payment to the debtor; or
b: credit the payment against any amount otherwise owing by the debtor to the creditor.
2: Subsection (1) applies despite any agreement to the contrary. Section 48(1) replaced 6 June 2015 section 33 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Prepayments
49: Part prepayments
1: A creditor must accept any part prepayment under a consumer credit contract from a debtor unless the contract expressly permits the creditor to decline to accept the part prepayment.
2: If the consumer credit contract expressly permits the creditor to decline to accept the part prepayment, the creditor must decide whether or not to accept the part prepayment as soon as practicable after receipt of the payment.
3: If the creditor does not accept any part prepayment, the part prepayment must be refunded to the debtor as soon as practicable.
4: If the creditor does accept any part prepayment, the part prepayment must be credited in accordance with section 46
50: Debtor's right to full prepayment
1: A creditor must accept any full prepayment of a consumer credit contract from a debtor at any time.
2: The full prepayment must be credited in accordance with section 46(1)
3: A consumer credit contract must not prohibit the full prepayment of the contract.
4: Nothing in sections 97 to 99 section 51 Section 50(4) amended 1 January 2008 section 364(1) Property Law Act 2007
51: Amount required for full prepayment
1: The amount required for the full prepayment of the consumer credit contract must be no more than the sum of the following, less the amount or amounts referred to in 1 or more of sections 52 52A 52B
a: the unpaid balance at the time of the full prepayment; and
b: a credit fee to reasonably compensate the creditor for any administrative cost incurred by the creditor in relation to the full prepayment (being a credit fee that is not unreasonable under section 41
c: a fee or charge that does not exceed a reasonable estimate of the creditor's loss arising from the full prepayment, as calculated in accordance with section 54
2: In calculating the unpaid balance, the creditor must only include interest charges and other fees and charges that have accrued or would ordinarily be payable under the consumer credit contract up to the time of the full prepayment. Section 51(1) replaced 6 June 2015 section 34 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
52: Rebate of insurance
1: In the case of a consumer credit insurance contract that is financed under the consumer credit contract, an amount to be deducted under section 51
2: The rebate must be calculated using the procedure prescribed for the purposes of this section by regulations if regulations have prescribed a procedure.
3: An amount is to be deducted under subsection (1) only if the creditor has arranged the insurance.
4: If an amount is deducted under subsection (1), the creditor may recover the amount from the insurer as a debt due.
5: In this section, insurance is arranged by the creditor if 1 or more of the following applies:
a: the creditor or a related company of the creditor is the insurer:
b: the creditor or a related company of the creditor acts as the agent of the insurer in relation to the insurance:
c: the creditor or a related company of the creditor receives a commission in relation to the insurance:
d: the creditor requires the debtor to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers Section 52(1) replaced 6 June 2015 section 35(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 52(5)﻿(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 35(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
52A: Rebate of repayment waiver
1: In the case of a repayment waiver, an amount to be deducted under section 51
2: The rebate must be calculated using the procedure (if any) prescribed for the purposes of this section. Section 52A inserted 6 June 2015 section 36 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
52B: Rebate of extended warranty
1: In the case of an extended warranty, an amount to be deducted under section 51
2: The rebate must be calculated using the procedure (if any) prescribed for the purposes of this section. Section 52B inserted 6 June 2015 section 36 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
53: Termination of consumer credit insurance contract
A consumer credit insurance contract financed under a consumer credit contract is terminated on the full prepayment of the consumer credit contract unless the consumer credit insurance contract—
a: provides insurance cover in connection with 1 or more other credit contracts; or
b: otherwise provides a benefit to, or insurance cover for, the debtor.
54: Creditor's loss arising from full prepayment
1: A creditor must calculate a reasonable estimate of its loss arising from a full prepayment using—
a: a procedure prescribed for the purposes of this section by regulations; or
b: an appropriate procedure set out in the consumer credit contract for calculating that loss.
2: If a creditor uses a procedure prescribed for the purposes of this section by regulations, the amount calculated is to be treated in any court and in any proceedings under this Act as a reasonable estimate of the creditor's loss.
8: Changes on grounds of unforeseen hardship
55: Changes on grounds of unforeseen hardship
1: A debtor who is unable reasonably, because of illness, injury, loss of employment, the end of a relationship, or other reasonable cause, to meet the debtor's obligations under a consumer credit contract and who reasonably expects to be able to discharge the debtor's obligations if the terms of the contract were changed in a manner set out in section 56
1A: An application under subsection (1) must—
a: be in writing; and
b: be given to the creditor; and
c: specify the reasonable cause (for example, illness, injury, loss of employment, or the end of a relationship) for the debtor's inability to meet the debtor's obligations under the consumer credit contract.
1B: A debtor who makes an application under this section is not entitled to make another application in relation to the same consumer credit contract unless—
a: the application is made not less than 4 months after the previous application is made; or
b: in the case of an application that is made less than 4 months after the previous application is made,—
i: the creditor agrees to consider the application; or
ii: the reasons for the debtor seeking the change under section 56 are materially different from the reasons given in the previous application.
2: For the purposes of this section,— de facto partner civil union partner spouse Property (Relationships) Act 1976 end of a relationship
a: a situation described in section 25(2)﻿(a) to (d)
b: the death of the spouse , civil union partner, Section 55(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 37 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 55(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 37 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 55(2) de facto partner repealed 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 55(2) de facto partner civil union partner spouse inserted 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 55(2) end of a relationship amended 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Section 55(2) spouse repealed 26 April 2005 section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005
56: Changes that can be made
1: An application by a debtor under section 55
a: extending the term of the contract and reducing the amount of each payment due under the contract accordingly (without a consequential change being made to the annual interest rate or annual interest rates):
b: postponing, during a specified period, the dates on which payments are due under the contract (without a consequential change being made to the annual interest rate or annual interest rates):
c: extending the term of the contract and postponing, during a specified period, the dates on which payments are due under the contract (without a consequential change being made to the annual interest rate or annual interest rates).
2: The change that the debtor seeks—
a: must not be more extensive than is necessary to enable the debtor to reasonably expect to be able to discharge the debtor's obligations; and
b: must be fair and reasonable to both the debtor and the creditor in all the circumstances.
3: A change is not unfair or unreasonable merely because it involves a change to the agreed terms of the consumer credit contract.
57: Application may not be made in certain circumstances
1: A debtor may not make an application under section 55
a: the debtor is in default of his or her obligation to make payments and, in relation to that default, the debtor—
i: has been in default for 2 weeks or more after receiving a repossession warning notice ( see section 83G section 119
ii: has failed to make 4 or more consecutive periodic payments by or on the due dates; or
iii: has been in default for 2 months or more; or
b:
c: it was reasonably foreseeable to the debtor at the time the contract was made that the debtor would be unlikely to be able to meet his or her obligations under the consumer credit contract because of the illness, the injury, the loss of employment, the end of the relationship, or the other reasonable cause.
2: However, subsection (1)﻿(a) does not prevent an application being made after the debtor has remedied the default (to the extent that it can be remedied). Section 57(1)﻿(a) replaced 6 June 2015 section 38(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 57(1)﻿(b) repealed 6 June 2015 section 38(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 57(2) replaced 6 June 2015 section 38(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
57A: Obligations of creditor in relation to application
1: On receipt of an application by a debtor under section 55
a: within 5 working days after receiving the application, acknowledge receipt of the application by giving a written notice to the debtor ( see section 26B(1)﻿(a) and (2)﻿(b)
b: within 10 working days after receiving the application, request any further information from the debtor (but only if that further information is necessary to decide the application) by giving a written notice to the debtor:
c: within 20 working days after receiving the application,—
i: in compliance with the lender responsibility principles ( see section 9C
ii: give written notice to the debtor of that decision; and
iii: if the creditor does not agree to change the consumer credit contract in accordance with the application, give written notice to the debtor setting out—
A: the creditor's reasons for that decision; and
B: a clear summary of the debtor's rights under section 58
2: However, if the creditor has requested further information in accordance with subsection (1)﻿(b), the time within which the creditor must comply with subsection (1)﻿(c) is the later of—
a: 10 working days after receiving the further information; and
b: 20 working days after making the request under subsection (1)﻿(b).
3: A creditor—
a: must not charge any credit fee in relation to an application (whatever the outcome of the application) if that fee would not, in the absence of the application, be otherwise payable:
b: must, if Part 3A section 83J
4: However, if the application is successful, nothing in subsection (3)﻿(a) prevents a creditor from charging a credit fee that reasonably compensates the creditor for the costs incurred by the creditor in documenting the changes to the credit contract. Section 57A inserted 6 June 2015 section 39 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 57A(1)﻿(a) amended 1 December 2021 section 26 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
58: Changes by court
1: A debtor who has made an application under section 55
a: the creditor fails, within the time specified in section 57A(1)﻿(c) or (2)
b: the creditor does not agree to change the consumer credit contract in accordance with the application.
2: The court may, after allowing the applicant, the creditor, and any guarantor a reasonable opportunity to be heard,—
a: by order, change the consumer credit contract in a manner set out in section 56
b: make any other orders it thinks fit.
3: The court may, if it thinks it appropriate in the circumstances, stay any enforcement proceedings under the consumer credit contract, and make any other orders it thinks fit, until the application has been determined.
4: Subsection (3) does not apply to the Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 Section 58(1) replaced 6 June 2015 section 40 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 58(4) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
59: Creditor may apply for variation of change
1: A creditor under a consumer credit contract that has been changed by an order under section 58
2: A creditor subject to a stay of enforcement proceedings or other order under section 58
3: On an application under this section, the court may vary or revoke the order or stay to which the application relates as it thinks fit.
59A: How notices may be given
1: Any notice or other document required or authorised by sections 55 to 57A
a: it is delivered to that person; or
b: it is left at that person’s usual or last known place of residence or business or at an address specified for that purpose in the consumer credit contract; or
c: it is posted in a letter addressed to that person by name at that place of residence or business or address; or
d: it is sent by way of an electronic communication to the address specified by that person for this purpose.
2: If the person is absent from New Zealand, the notice or other document may be given to the person’s agent in New Zealand.
3: If the person is deceased, the notice or other document may be given to the person’s personal representatives.
4: If the person is not known, or is absent from New Zealand and has no known agent in New Zealand, or is deceased and has no personal representatives, the notice or other document must be given in such a manner as may be directed by an order of the court.
5: If the notice or other document is sent to any person—
a: by post, it is to be treated as having been received on the fourth working day after the day on which the letter is posted (and in proving the delivery it is sufficient to prove that the letter was properly addressed and posted):
b: by electronic communication, it is to be treated as having been received on the second working day after the day on which the notice or document is sent.
6: Despite anything in this section, the court may in any case make an order directing the manner in which any notice or other document is to be given, or make an order dispensing with the giving of the notice or document. Section 59A inserted 6 June 2015 section 41 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
9: Duty of directors and senior managers of creditors under consumer credit contracts
Subpart 9 inserted 1 December 2021 section 27 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
59B: Duty of directors and senior managers of creditors
1: Every director and senior manager of a creditor under a consumer credit contract must exercise due diligence to ensure that the creditor complies with its duties and obligations under this Act.
2: For the purposes of subsection (1), the director or senior manager must exercise the care, diligence, and skill that a reasonable director or senior manager (as the case may be) would exercise in the same circumstances, taking into account (without limitation)—
a: the nature of the business (for example,—
i: its size:
ii: the nature of the credit provided); and
b: the position of the director or senior manager and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken by the director or senior manager.
3: In this section, due diligence
a: requires its employees and agents to follow procedures, or has implemented automated procedures, that are designed to ensure compliance with this Act and the regulations; and
b: has in place methods for systematically identifying deficiencies in the effectiveness of the procedures for compliance; and
c: promptly remedies any deficiencies discovered.
4: In any circumstances prescribed under section 138(1)﻿(da) 2015 No 70 s 44 Section 59B inserted 1 December 2021 section 27 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
3: Consumer leases, credit-related insurance, and buy-back transactions of land
1: Consumer leases
60: Consumer leases
1: For the purposes of this Act, a lease is a consumer lease
a: the lessee is a natural person; and
b: the goods are hired, or intended to be hired, wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, or household purposes; and
c: when the lease is entered into, the lessor, or one of the lessors, carries on the business of leasing goods (whether or not the business is the lessor's only business or the lessor's principal business), or makes a practice of leasing goods in the course of a business carried on by the lessor; and
d: when the lease is entered into, 1 or more of the following applies:
i: the term of the lease is for 1 year or more:
ii: the lessee has an option to purchase the goods.
1A: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(b), the predominant purpose for which the goods are hired is, if the goods are intended to be used for different purposes, the purpose for which the goods are intended to be most used.
1B: The reference to intention in subsections (1)﻿(b) and (1A) is a reference to the lessee's intention.
2: However, a lease that is to be treated as a consumer credit contract under section 16
3: If, because of any contract or contracts (none of which by itself constitutes a consumer lease) or any arrangement, there is a transaction that is in substance or effect a consumer lease, the contract, contracts, or arrangement must, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as a consumer lease made at the time when the contract, or the last of those contracts, or the arrangement, was made, as the case may be.
4: This section is subject to section 62 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 148(1) (Qld) Section 60(1)﻿(b) replaced 6 June 2015 section 42(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 60(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 42(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 60(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 42(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
61: Presumption relating to consumer lease
1: In any proceedings in which a party claims that a lease is a consumer lease, it is presumed that the lease is a consumer lease unless the contrary is established.
2: This section is subject to section 13 Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 150(1) (Qld)
62: Declaration concerning consumer lease
1: A lease is not a consumer lease if the lessee makes a declaration before entering into the lease that the goods are hired wholly or predominantly
2: Subsection (1) does not apply if the lessor, or the person who obtains the declaration, knew, or had reason to believe, at the time the declaration was made that the goods were in fact hired wholly or predominantly
3: A declaration is effective only if the declaration is in a separate written document and the lessee confirms that he or she has read and understood the declaration. Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 150(2), (3) (Qld) Section 62(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 43 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 62(2) amended 6 June 2015 section 43 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Disclosure of consumer lease
63: Application of disclosure provisions
Sections 32 to 35
64: Initial disclosure of consumer lease
1: Every lessor under a consumer lease must ensure that disclosure of as much of the information set out in Schedule 2
2: Every lessor under a consumer lease must ensure that a copy of all of the terms of the lease not disclosed under subsection (1) (other than terms implied by law) is given or sent to every lessee under the lease—
a: before the lease is made; or
b: within 5 working days of the day on which the lease is made.
3: For the purposes of subsection (2), the copy of the terms of the lease must be given or sent in the same manner that disclosure is made under section 35
65: Variation disclosure of consumer leases
1: Every lessor under a consumer lease must ensure that disclosure of the full particulars of a change to the lease is made to every lessee under the lease if the parties agree to change the lease.
2: Disclosure under this section must be made before the change takes effect.
66: Variation disclosure not required
Section 66 repealed 6 June 2015 section 44 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
67: Request disclosure for consumer leases
1: Every lessee under a consumer lease may request in writing that disclosure of any or all of the matters referred to in subsection (2) be made to the lessee by the lessor.
2: The matters are as follows:
a: the amount, timing, and number of payments to be made under the lease:
b: full particulars concerning any changes made to the lease since the lease was made:
c: a copy of any disclosure statement that was provided or that should have been provided before the date on which the request is made.
3: The lessor must comply with the request for disclosure within 15 working days of the later of—
a: the date that the request is received by the lessor; or
b: the date on which the lessor receives payment of a reasonable fee for the disclosure as specified by the lessor.
4: However, the lessor does not have to comply with the request for disclosure if—
a: disclosure of the matter that is requested has been made to the person making the request during the 3 months before the receipt of the request by the lessor; or
b: the request is received by the lessor more than 1 year after the lease has come to an end. Amount payable on termination
68: Amount payable on termination
The amount payable by a lessee on the termination of a consumer lease before the end of its term is the lesser of—
a: an amount payable under the lease that does not exceed a reasonable estimate of the lessor's loss relating to the termination; or
b: the amount determined using a procedure prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section (if any). Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 157(2) (Qld)
2: Credit-related insurance, repayment waivers, and extended warranties
69: Restrictions on credit-related insurance, repayment waivers, and extended warranties
1: A creditor or a lessor must not, in connection with a consumer credit contract or consumer lease, make any unreasonable requirement as to the terms on which the debtor or lessee is to take out or obtain credit-related insurance, a repayment waiver, or an extended warranty.
2: A requirement is unreasonable if—
a: it is not reasonably necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the creditor or lessor; or
b: it is not reasonably justifiable in light of the risks undertaken by the parties to the arrangement.
3: Section 69(3) repealed 6 June 2015 section 45 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
70: Disclosure of credit-related insurance, repayment waiver, or extended warranty
1: If a consumer credit contract or consumer lease involves credit-related insurance and that insurance was arranged by the creditor under the contract or by the lessor under the lease, the creditor or the lessor must ensure that every insured person is supplied with a copy of the terms of the credit-related insurance (other than terms implied by law) before the credit-related insurance is arranged
2: If a consumer credit contract or consumer lease involves a repayment waiver or an extended warranty, every creditor under the contract or lessor under the lease must ensure that every debtor under the contract or lessee under the lease is supplied with a copy of the terms of the repayment waiver or extended warranty (other than terms implied by law) before the repayment waiver or extended warranty is arranged
3: For the purposes of this section, insurance is arranged by the creditor or lessor if 1 or more of the following applies:
a: the creditor or lessor or a related company of the creditor or lessor is the insurer:
b: the creditor or lessor or a related company of the creditor or lessor acts as the agent of the insurer in relation to the insurance:
c: the creditor or lessor or a related company of the creditor or lessor receives a commission in relation to the insurance:
d: the creditor or lessor requires the debtor or lessee to obtain the insurance from a particular insurer or particular insurers Section 70(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 46(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 70(2) amended 6 June 2015 section 46(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 70(3)﻿(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 46(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
3: Buy-back transactions of land
71: Application of disclosure provisions
Sections 32 to 35
72: Initial disclosure of buy-back transaction
1: Every transferee under a buy-back transaction must ensure that disclosure of as much of the information set out in Schedule 3
2: Every transferee under a buy-back transaction must ensure that a copy of all of the terms of the buy-back transaction not disclosed under subsection (1) (other than terms implied by law) is given or sent to every occupier under the transaction before the occupier enters into any contract or arrangement that forms part of the buy-back transaction.
3: For the purposes of subsection (2), the copy of the transaction terms must be given or sent in the same manner that disclosure is made under section 35
73: Independent legal advice must be given to occupier
1: Every transferee under a buy-back transaction must ensure that every occupier under the transaction has received independent legal advice concerning the transaction from a lawyer before entering into any contract or arrangement that forms part of the buy-back transaction.
2: The signature of each occupier on any contract or other document that forms part of the buy-back transaction must be witnessed by a lawyer.
3: The lawyer who witnesses the signature of an occupier must certify that, before that occupier signed the contract or document, the lawyer explained to the occupier the effect and implications of the contract or document.
4: The certificate must be in the form prescribed by regulations (if any).
5: For the purposes of this section, independent legal advice
74: Buy-back transactions involving buy-back promoter
1: This section applies if—
a: a buy-back promoter introduced the transferee and the occupier to each other; and
b: none of the following applies:
i: the transferee carries on the business of providing credit (whether or not the business is the transferee's only business or the transferee's principal business):
ii: the transferee carries on the business of entering into buy-back transactions (whether or not the business is the transferee's only business or the transferee's principal business):
iii: the transferee makes a practice of providing credit in the course of a business carried on by the transferee:
iv: the transferee makes a practice of entering into buy-back transactions in the course of a business carried on by the transferee.
2: If this section applies,—
a: the obligations of the transferee under sections 72 73
b: the references in sections 72 73
3: The buy-back promoter must ensure that every transferee under the buy-back transaction has received independent legal advice concerning the transaction from a lawyer before entering into any contract or arrangement that forms part of the buy-back transaction.
4: For the purposes of this section, independent legal advice
75: Land cannot be dealt with without leave of court if initial disclosure not made or no independent legal advice given
1: This section applies if the transferee knows, or has reason to believe, that any provision of section 72 section 73
2: The transferee must not transfer the estate in the land to a person other than the occupier or otherwise deal with the land without obtaining the leave of the High Court.
3: The High Court may grant leave only if it is satisfied that the non-compliance has not materially prejudiced the interests of the occupier.
4: The High Court may grant leave subject to any terms and conditions that the court thinks fit.
5: Subsection (2) does not affect the rights under sections 24 44 51 52 Section 75(5) amended 12 November 2018 section 250 Land Transfer Act 2017
76: Interest of occupier is caveatable interest
1: The occupier under a buy-back transaction is to be treated as being entitled to, or to be beneficially interested in, the land for the purposes of section 138(1)﻿(a)
2: A term of a buy-back transaction is entirely of no effect if it—
a: prohibits the occupier from lodging with the Registrar (within the meaning of the Land Transfer Act 2017
b: otherwise restricts the ability of the occupier to lodge with the Registrar a caveat against dealings in the land. Section 76(1) amended 12 November 2018 section 250 Land Transfer Act 2017 Section 76(2)﻿(a) amended 12 November 2018 section 250 Land Transfer Act 2017
77: Variation disclosure of buy-back transactions
1: Every transferee under a buy-back transaction must ensure that disclosure of the full particulars of a change to the transaction is made to every occupier under the transaction if the parties agree to change the transaction.
2: Disclosure under this section must be made before the change takes effect.
78: Variation disclosure not required
Section 78 repealed 6 June 2015 section 47 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
79: Request disclosure for buy-back transactions
1: Every occupier under a buy-back transaction may request in writing that disclosure of any or all of the matters referred to in subsection (2) be made to the occupier by the transferee.
2: The matters are as follows:
a: the amount, timing, and number of payments to be made under the transaction:
b: full particulars concerning any changes made to the transaction since the transaction was made:
c: a copy of any disclosure statement that was provided or that should have been provided before the date on which the request is made.
3: The transferee must comply with the request for disclosure within 15 working days of the later of—
a: the date that the request is received by the transferee; or
b: the date on which the transferee receives payment of a reasonable fee for the disclosure as specified by the transferee.
4: However, the transferee does not have to comply with the request for disclosure if—
a: disclosure of the matter that is requested has been made to the person making the request during the 3 months before the receipt of the request by the transferee; or
b: the request is received by the transferee more than 1 year after the transaction has come to an end.
5: See section 9J(4) Section 79(5) inserted 6 June 2015 section 48 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
80: Unreasonable buy-back fees or buy-back default fees
1: A buy-back transaction must not provide for a buy-back fee or a buy-back default fee that is unreasonable.
2:
3:
4: Section 80(2) repealed 6 June 2015 section 49 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 80(3) repealed 6 June 2015 section 49 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 80(4) repealed 6 June 2015 section 49 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
81: Fees or charges passed on by transferee
1: A fee or charge payable by an occupier for an amount payable or to reimburse an amount paid by the transferee to another person, body, or agency must not exceed the actual amount payable by the transferee if that amount is ascertainable when the fee or charge is paid by the occupier.
2: The actual amount payable must be determined by taking into account any discount, rebate, or allowance received or receivable by the transferee or any related company.
3: If the actual amount paid by the transferee to another person, body, or agency is not ascertainable when the occupier pays an amount to the transferee for the fee or charge and is less than the amount paid by the occupier, the transferee must refund or credit the difference to the occupier.
4: Nothing in this section requires a rebate on tax payable by the transferee or a related company to be taken into account in determining the actual amount paid or payable by the transferee.
5: For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this section prevents a reasonable commission from being payable or paid to a transferee in connection with any insurance taken out by the occupier.
82: Unreasonable fees payable to buy-back promoter or associated person
1: A buy-back promoter and an associated person of the buy-back promoter must not require the payment of an unreasonable fee in connection with a buy-back transaction.
2:
3:
4: Section 82(2) repealed 6 June 2015 section 50 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 82(3) repealed 6 June 2015 section 50 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 82(4) repealed 6 June 2015 section 50 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83: No limit on Part 2
Nothing in this subpart limits any provision in Part 2
3A: Repossession of consumer goods under
consumer credit contract Part 3A inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Part 3A heading amended 13 January 2020 section 23 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
1: Preliminary provisions
Subpart 1 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83A: Outline of Part
This Part sets out , in relation to a consumer credit contract,
a: the rules that apply—
i: before a creditor or creditor’s agent may repossess consumer goods (which includes repossessing keys or other access devices in relation to consumer goods); and
ii: at the time of repossession; and
iii: following the repossession; and
b: the rights and responsibilities of debtors and creditors in relation to consumer goods that have been, or are liable to be, repossessed; and
c: a prohibition against security interests over certain consumer goods. Section 83A inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83A amended 13 January 2020 section 24 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83B: References to
consumer credit contracts
1: This section applies, unless the context otherwise requires, for the purposes of—
a: this Part; and
b: Part 1A consumer credit contracts
c: any other provision of this Act that relates to—
i: the enforcement, application, or effect of this Part (for example, the definition of repossession in section 5
ii: the enforcement, application, or effect of Part 1A
2: If a security interest in consumer goods is or may be taken in connection with a consumer credit contract
a: the contract or arrangement that creates or provides for the security interest is to be treated as forming part of the consumer credit contract
b: references to a creditor must be treated as including the secured party within the meaning of section 16
c: references to a debtor must be treated as including the debtor within the meaning of section 16
3: Subsection (2) applies even if a party to the contract or arrangement referred to in subsection (2)﻿(a) is not a party to the consumer credit contract consumer credit contract
4: This Part applies whether or not a financing statement has been registered under the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 Section 83B inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83B heading amended 13 January 2020 section 25(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83B(1)﻿(b) amended 13 January 2020 section 25(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83B(2) amended 13 January 2020 section 25(3) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83B(2)﻿(a) amended 13 January 2020 section 25(3) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83B(3) amended 13 January 2020 section 25(3) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83C: Application of Part
1: This Part applies where a consumer credit contract
a: repossess consumer goods over which there is a security interest:
b: enter premises, or enter premises when an occupier is not present, for—
i: the purpose of repossessing consumer goods over which there is a security interest; or
ii: any other purpose in connection with consumer goods over which there is a security interest.
2: If a consumer credit contract
3: Subsection (1) does not limit subparts 3 6 1997 No 85 ss 5 6 Section 83C inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83C(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 26 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83C(2) amended 13 January 2020 section 26 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83D: Part does not create right to repossess, etc
1: This Part does not confer a right to repossess consumer goods, or a right to enter premises, or a right to enter premises when an occupier is not present.
2: This Part is to be read subject to this section. 1997 No 85 s 6(2), (3) Section 83D inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
2: Rules that apply before repossession
Subpart 2 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83E: Circumstances in which creditor can repossess consumer goods
1: Neither a creditor nor a creditor's agent may repossess consumer goods, unless—
a: either—
i: the debtor is in default under the credit contract; or
ii: the goods are at risk; and
b: the creditor has, before repossessing the goods, fully complied with requirements imposed on the creditor under this Part that must be complied with before the goods are repossessed; and
c: the creditor complies, in relation to the repossession, with the lender responsibility principles set out in Part 1A
2: In this Part, consumer goods are at risk
3: However, consumer goods are not at risk merely because another creditor has, in relation to those consumer goods, given the debtor a repossession warning notice.
4: In any case where it is necessary to decide whether the goods were, or are, at risk, the creditor has the onus of proving that the grounds relied on were, or are, reasonable. 1997 No 85 s 7 Section 83E inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83F: Duty to ensure goods are specifically identified
1: A creditor must, before exercising a right referred to in section 83C
a: the goods are specifically identified in the credit contract (whether or not the goods are subject to a purchase money security interest); or
b: if the goods were acquired by the debtor after the credit contract has been entered into,—
i: the following requirements are satisfied:
A: the parties to the contract have agreed to change the contract to specifically identify the goods in the credit contract; and
B: in the case of a consumer credit contract, there has been disclosure of the full particulars of that change as required by section 22
ii: the debtor has acquired the goods as a replacement for the goods that were specifically identified in that credit contract.
2: For the purposes of determining whether consumer goods are specifically identified
a: the goods are specifically identified if the credit contract contains an adequate description of the goods by item that enables the goods to be identified; and
b: it is insufficient to merely describe the goods by kind. 1999 No 126 s 36(1)﻿(b)﻿(i) Section 83F inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83G: Creditor must serve repossession warning notice on debtor and other persons before taking possession of consumer goods
1: Every creditor intending to repossess consumer goods must, before repossessing those goods, serve a notice (a repossession warning notice
a: the debtor; and
b: every guarantor of the debtor in respect of the relevant credit contract; and
c: if section 83I(1) section 129(1)
d: every person who—
i: is known by the creditor to have a security interest in the consumer goods; or
ii: has registered a financing statement in the name of the debtor that refers to the consumer goods; or
iii: has registered a financing statement containing the serial number of the consumer goods as required or authorised by regulations made under the Personal Property Securities Act 1999
2: However, subsection (1) does not apply if the goods are at risk ( see section 83E(2)
3: The repossession warning notice must—
a: be in writing; and
b: contain as much of the key information set out in Schedule 3A
c: include any additional prescribed information; and
d: be in the prescribed form (if any); and
e: be served on the debtor at least 15 days before repossession occurs; and
f: if the default is capable of being remedied, give the debtor at least 15 days before repossession occurs to remedy the default.
4: A repossession warning notice expires 60 days after it has been served on the debtor and, after that time,—
a: the notice is of no effect; and
b: the creditor has no right to repossess the goods in reliance upon that notice.
5: Any period during which the creditor is prevented from taking or continuing any enforcement action under section 83J
6: Nothing in subsection (4) prevents a creditor from serving a further repossession warning notice that complies with this section. 1997 No 85 ss 8 9 Section 83G inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83H: Debtor may voluntarily deliver consumer goods
1: A debtor may, following receipt of a repossession warning notice, voluntarily deliver the consumer goods identified in that notice to the creditor at the place specified in that notice under paragraph (h)﻿(ii) of Schedule 3A
2: Subsection (1) is subject to section 83I(2)
3: If consumer goods are voluntarily delivered in accordance with subsection (1), subpart 5 subpart 4 Section 83H inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83I: Rules relating to accessions (goods that are installed in, or affixed to, other goods)
1: Every creditor intending to repossess an accession that is a consumer good (as provided for under section 109 sections 125 to 131
2: Despite section 83H
3: In this section, accessions section 16 Section 83I inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83J: Effect of debtor's complaint or application on grounds of unforeseen hardship on creditor's rights to enforce credit contract
1: Neither a creditor nor a creditor's agent may take any enforcement action in relation to consumer goods (whether under this Part or in accordance with a credit contract) if the debtor has made—
a: a written complaint to the creditor in relation to any enforcement action and that complaint has not been resolved; or
b: an application to the creditor under section 55
2: If the creditor or creditor's agent has already commenced any enforcement action before a written complaint in relation to that enforcement action or any other enforcement action is made, or an application under section 55
3: However, despite subsections (1) and (2), if the relevant consumer goods are at risk ( see section 83E(2)
4: If the creditor and debtor have not reached agreement and settled the complaint referred to in subsection (1)﻿(a) or (2), the creditor may provide the debtor with a written notice that—
a: specifies the creditor's position on the complaint; and
b: states that the notice has been provided for the purposes of this subsection; and
c: states that the debtor may refer the complaint to the creditor's dispute resolution scheme; and
d: contains the name and contact details of that scheme; and
e: states that the complaint will be treated as resolved for the purposes of this section if the debtor does not refer the complaint to that scheme within 14 days of the notice being provided (and, accordingly, the creditor may take or continue enforcement action in relation to the consumer goods).
5: For the purposes of this section, a complaint is resolved when—
a: the creditor and debtor have reached agreement and settled the complaint; or
b: the complaint has been—
i: referred to the dispute resolution scheme of which the creditor is a member; and
ii: resolved or otherwise determined in accordance with the scheme's rules (including where the scheme ceases considering the complaint for any reason); or
c: if the creditor has provided the debtor with the written notice referred to in subsection (4),—
i: 14 days have elapsed since the debtor was provided with the notice; and
ii: the debtor has not, within that period, referred the complaint to the dispute resolution scheme.
6: In this Part, enforcement action
a: giving a repossession warning notice:
b: repossessing, or entering premises for the purpose of repossessing, consumer goods over which there is a security interest:
c: selling, offering for sale, or disposing of the consumer goods that have been repossessed:
d: any action to recover any amount owing by the debtor to the creditor under the credit contract after the consumer goods are sold under subpart 5 see sections 83ZI(1)﻿(d) 83ZM
7: In this section, an application under section 55 is decided when the creditor gives written notice of the creditor's decision under section 57A(1)﻿(c)﻿(ii)
8: To avoid doubt, the creditor or the creditor's agent may, subject to this Part, to any court order, and to any terms on which the complaint was resolved, take, or continue, the enforcement action referred to in subsection (1) or (2) from the time that the complaint has been resolved or (in the case of an unsuccessful application under section 55
9: Despite subsections (1) and (2), the creditor may take an enforcement action referred to in subsection (6)﻿(a) to (c) (but not an action referred to in subsection (6)﻿(d)) if—
a: the person responsible for the dispute resolution scheme to which a complaint has been referred under this section has given notice (which may include a preliminary view) to the effect that the enforcement action would be in the best interests of the debtor; and
b: the debtor and the creditor have agreed in writing to the enforcement action. Section 83J inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83J(9) inserted 20 December 2019 section 28 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
83K: Subsequent complaints
1: This section applies if—
a: the debtor makes a written complaint to the creditor in relation to an enforcement action (the original complaint
b: the debtor subsequently makes another written complaint to the creditor in relation to an enforcement action (the subsequent complaint
2: The subsequent complaint does not, under section 83J
a: the subsequent complaint is made not less than 4 months after the original complaint is made; or
b: in the case of a subsequent complaint that is made less than 4 months after the original complaint is made,—
i: the creditor agrees to consider the complaint; or
ii: the basis or grounds of the subsequent complaint are materially different from the basis or grounds of the original complaint. Section 83K inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
3: Disabling devices
Subpart 3 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83L: Use of disabling device
1: This section applies where a consumer credit contract
a: has a security interest over consumer goods to which a disabling device is connected; and
b: has a right to activate the disabling device.
2: Neither a creditor nor a creditor's agent may activate a disabling device unless—
a: there has been a breach of the consumer credit contract
b: the creditor or the creditor's agent has given the debtor reasonable notice, in advance of the activation,—
i: that the disabling device is to be activated; and
ii: about what action the debtor may take to prevent the disabling device being activated.
3: In this section and section 83M activated
a: the debtor is prevented from using the consumer goods; or
b: the debtor's use of the consumer goods is limited; or
c: the creditor is able to locate the consumer goods; or
d: the creditor is able to achieve any other similar outcome that is of a direct or indirect benefit to the creditor in relation to the relevant consumer credit contract disabling device
a: preventing the consumer goods from being used:
b: limiting the debtor's use of the consumer goods:
c: enabling the creditor to locate the consumer goods:
d: achieving any other similar outcome that is of direct or indirect benefit to the creditor in relation to the relevant consumer credit contract Section 83L inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83L(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 27 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83L(2)﻿(a) amended 13 January 2020 section 27 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83L(3) activated amended 13 January 2020 section 27 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83L(3) disabling device amended 13 January 2020 section 27 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83M: Connection or use of disabling device in connection with certain goods prohibited
1: A consumer credit contract section 83ZN(1)﻿(a) section 83ZN(1)﻿(c)
2: A provision of a consumer credit contract
3: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract Section 83M inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83M(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 28 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83M(2) amended 13 January 2020 section 28 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83M(3) amended 13 January 2020 section 28 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
4: Rules that apply at time of repossession
Subpart 4 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83N: Creditor must allow debtor time to remedy default or at least 15 days to elapse
1: Neither a creditor nor a creditor's agent may repossess consumer goods in respect of which a repossession warning notice has been served unless—
a: the period for remedying the default specified in the notice has expired and the debtor has failed to remedy the default complained of in so far as it is capable of being remedied; or
b: in a case where the default is not capable of being remedied, at least 15 days have elapsed since the notice was served on the debtor.
2: Neither a creditor nor a creditor's agent may hold keys or other devices that enable access to the consumer goods unless—
a: the debtor has, after a repossession warning notice has been served, voluntarily made the keys or other device available to the creditor or agent; or
b: the relevant consumer goods have been repossessed in accordance with this Act.
3: Subsection (2) does not prevent a creditor’s agent from holding the agent’s tools of the trade that are customarily used by repossession agents or repossession employees.
4: However, subsection (1) does not apply if the goods are at risk ( see section 83E(2) 1997 No 85 s 10 Section 83N inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83O: Documents to be produced on entry
1: Every creditor or creditor’s agent who exercises a right of entry of premises for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods must, on first entering the premises if anyone is present, and, if requested, at any subsequent time, produce the following documents:
a: a copy of the repossession warning notice (unless one was not required under section 83G(2)
b: a copy of the credit contract; and
c: a copy of the creditor's or creditor's agent’s licence or certificate of approval under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010
d: in the case of a creditor’s agent, evidence reasonably capable of establishing the person’s authority to repossess the consumer goods on behalf of the creditor; and
e: if a repossession warning notice was not required under section 83G(2)
f: a written statement that specifies that the premises have been entered and the date of entry, and an inventory of consumer goods to be taken; and
g: a written statement setting out the debtor’s rights under this Part following the repossession of goods and the debtor's right to make a complaint about the creditor’s or creditor's agent’s conduct; and
h: in the case of an entry outside the hours specified in section 83S
2: If a document has been produced to a debtor under subsection (1) (whether on first entering the premises or at a subsequent time), the debtor is not entitled to make a subsequent request under subsection (1) for the same document to be produced again. 1997 No 85 s 17 Section 83O inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83P: Entry if occupier not present
1: This section applies if a creditor or creditor’s agent enters premises for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods, or for any other purpose in connection with consumer goods, when the occupier of the premises is not present (subject to subsection (3)).
2: The creditor or creditor’s agent must, before leaving the premises, leave a notice in writing in a prominent place—
a: specifying that the premises have been entered and the date of entry; and
b: containing an inventory of any consumer goods that have been repossessed; and
c: accompanied by a copy of the documents referred to in section 83O(1)
3: Subsection (2)﻿(b) and (c) applies only if the creditor or creditor’s agent enters the premises for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods.
4: The creditor or creditor’s agent must take the steps that are reasonably practicable to ensure that the premises are not left obviously open. 1997 No 85 s 18 Section 83P inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83Q: Creditor must exercise right to enter premises in accordance with lender responsibility principles
1: A creditor must, in exercising the right to enter premises, act in accordance with the lender responsibility principles ( see section 9C
2: This section applies whether the right to enter premises is exercised—
a: for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods; or
b: for any other purpose in connection with consumer goods. 1997 No 85 s 14 Section 83Q inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83R: Creditor must not enter premises if complaint not resolved or unforeseen hardship application not decided
Nothing in this subpart limits section 83J section 55 Section 83R inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83S: Creditor must not enter residential premises at certain times
1: Neither a creditor nor a creditor’s agent may exercise a right to enter residential premises other than between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm.
2: A creditor or a creditor's agent who has exercised a right to enter residential premises between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm must not remain at those premises after 9 pm.
3: A creditor or a creditor’s agent must not exercise a right to enter residential premises—
a: at any time on a Sunday; or
b: at any time on a public holiday.
4: However, subsection (1), (2), or (3) (as the case may be) does not apply if the debtor has consented, in writing, to permit the creditor or creditor's agent to enter the premises outside the period between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm or at any time on a Sunday or a public holiday, provided that the consent is not sought or given—
a: before the debtor is in default under the credit contract; or
b: when the creditor or the creditor's agent is at the premises to repossess the consumer goods; or
c: outside the period between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm; or
d: at any time on a Sunday; or
e: at any time on a public holiday.
5: This section applies whether the right to enter premises is exercised—
a: for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods; or
b: for any other purpose in connection with consumer goods. 1997 No 85 s 15 Section 83S inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83T: Restrictions applying in relation to persons repossessing consumer goods
1: No creditor who is required to be registered under Part 2
2: No creditor may authorise, allow, or permit a repossession agent or repossession employee to repossess consumer goods (including by entering residential premises) unless that person is licensed or holds a certificate of approval.
3: No repossession agent or repossession employee may exercise any rights in relation to repossessing consumer goods (including entering residential premises) unless that person is—
a: specifically authorised to do so by the creditor; and
b: licensed or holds a certificate of approval.
4: If a creditor is not licensed and does not hold a certificate of approval, the creditor may not personally enter residential premises for the purpose of repossessing consumer goods (and any such repossession must be carried out through a repossession agent or repossession employee who meets the requirements of subsection (3)﻿(a) and (b)).
5: In this section,— certificate of approval section 54 licensed Part 2 registered Part 2 repossession agent section 8A repossession employee section 16A 1997 No 85 s 16 Section 83T inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
5: Rules that apply after repossession of consumer goods
Subpart 5 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83U: Interpretation
In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires, auction Section 83U inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83V: Notice to be given to debtor, guarantor, and other creditors after repossession of consumer goods
1: A creditor must serve a post-repossession notice on the debtor and every other person referred to in section 83G(1)
2: The post-repossession notice must—
a: be in writing; and
b: contain as much of the key information set out in Schedule 3B
c: include any additional prescribed information; and
d: be in the prescribed form (if any).
3: If a post-repossession notice is not served as required by this subpart,—
a: the costs of repossessing the consumer goods must be borne by the creditor; and
b: the creditor is not entitled to recover those costs from the debtor or the guarantor. 1997 No 85 ss 20 21 22 Section 83V inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83W: Creditor must not sell consumer goods until 15 days after post-repossession notice
1: If a creditor has repossessed any consumer goods, the creditor must not sell, offer for sale, or dispose of the consumer goods until after the expiry of 15 days from the date of service of the post-repossession notice on the debtor.
2: However, subsection (1) does not apply if—
a: the sale, offer, or disposal was with the written consent of the debtor, and that consent was given after the consumer goods had been repossessed; or
b: after the consumer goods are repossessed, the debtor or the debtor’s agent gives the creditor a written notice that requires the creditor to offer the goods for sale within the 15 days referred to in subsection (1); or
c: the disposal was temporary and for the purposes of storage or repair of the goods.
3: If subsection (2)﻿(b) applies, the creditor must offer the goods for sale as soon as is reasonably practicable after being required to do so by the debtor. 1997 No 85 s 23 Section 83W inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83X: Consequences of selling within 15 days of post-repossession notice
1: This section applies if the creditor contravenes section 83W(1)
2: The liability of the debtor under the credit contract is limited to—
a: the advance under the credit contract; and
b: if the credit contract secures the performance of some obligation other than the payment of money, the performance of that obligation.
3: The creditor must repay any money already paid to the creditor by any person on account of, or in satisfaction of, any liability of the debtor in respect of the credit contract not referred to in subsection (2).
4: Except as provided for in subsection (2), the debtor's liability to the creditor under the credit contract is extinguished. 1997 No 85 s 24 Section 83X inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83Y: Creditor must offer consumer goods for sale
1: The creditor must offer the consumer goods for sale as soon as is reasonably practicable after the expiration of 15 days from the date of service of the post-repossession notice on the debtor.
2: This section does not apply if—
a: the debtor has made a written complaint in relation to any enforcement action (in which case section 83J
b: the debtor reinstates the credit contract under section 83ZB
c: the debtor introduces a buyer under section 83ZD
d: the debtor settles the credit contract under section 83ZE
3: Despite subsection (2)﻿(a),—
a: after the complaint referred to in that paragraph has been resolved (as referred to in section 83J(5)
b: any period during which the creditor is prevented from taking or continuing any enforcement action under section 83J 1997 No 85 s 25 Section 83Y inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83Z: Rules relating to sale by creditor
1: When selling repossessed consumer goods (which may be by any method that meets the requirements of this subsection), the creditor must—
a: ensure that every aspect of the sale, including the manner, time, place, and terms, is commercially reasonable; and
b: take reasonable care to obtain the best price reasonably obtainable for the goods as at the time of sale.
2: The creditor must give the debtor and every other person referred to in section 83G(1)
3: If the sale is by auction or tender, the creditor, the debtor, and every other person referred to in section 83G(1)
4: The onus of proving that the consumer goods have been sold in accordance with this section is on the creditor.
5: Subsection (1) does not apply if—
a: the debtor introduces a buyer under section 83ZD
b: the debtor forces a sale under section 83ZF 1997 No 85 s 26 Section 83Z inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZA: Debtor may obtain valuation of consumer goods before sale
1: The debtor is entitled to obtain, at the debtor’s expense, 1 valuation of the consumer goods as at the time of repossession.
2: The rules relating to valuations are as follows:
a: the valuation may take place at any time after the creditor repossesses the consumer goods, but before the creditor sells or agrees to sell the consumer goods in accordance with this subpart:
b: the debtor must request access to the consumer goods by giving reasonable notice to the creditor:
c: the creditor must permit the debtor’s valuer such access to the consumer goods as is reasonably necessary to enable the valuation of the consumer goods to take place:
d: the debtor’s valuer must carry out the valuation at a reasonable time:
e: the debtor’s valuer has no right to remove the consumer goods unless the creditor gives consent to the removal:
f: the debtor may accompany his or her valuer when the valuation takes place. 1997 No 85 s 27 Section 83ZA inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZB: Debtor’s right to reinstate credit contract
1: The debtor may, at any time after the creditor has repossessed the consumer goods and at any time before the creditor sells or agrees to sell the consumer goods in accordance with this subpart, reinstate the credit contract by—
a: paying to the creditor the amount required to reinstate the contract; or
b: if the contract secures the performance of an obligation other than the payment of money, performing any accrued obligations.
2: In this section,— accrued obligations amount required to reinstate the contract
a: any amounts that have fallen due for payment under the credit contract and that have not been paid, including, without limitation, interest charges, credit fees, and default fees, but excluding, if the contract provides that, in the event of a default, any part of the unpaid balance becomes payable (or may be called up as becoming payable) earlier than would be the case if there had not been a default, that part of the unpaid balance that would not have fallen due but for that provision; and
b: the reasonable costs of the creditor of, and incidental to, repossessing, holding, storing, repairing, maintaining, valuing, and preparing for the sale of the consumer goods and of returning them to the order of the debtor; and
c: the costs reasonably and actually incurred by the creditor in doing anything necessary to remedy any default by the debtor.
3: The costs referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of amount required to reinstate the contract are subject to subpart 6 section 45 1997 No 85 s 28 Section 83ZB inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZC: Consequences of reinstating credit contract
If the right to reinstate the credit contract is exercised under section 83ZB
a: upon receipt of the amount required to reinstate the contract ( see section 83ZB(2)
b: the debtor is deemed to receive and hold the returned consumer goods under the terms of the credit contract as if the default had not occurred and the creditor had not repossessed the consumer goods. 1997 No 85 s 29 Section 83ZC inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZD: Debtor’s right to introduce buyer
1: The debtor may, at any time after the creditor has repossessed the consumer goods and at any time before the creditor sells or agrees to sell the consumer goods in accordance with this subpart, require the creditor to sell the consumer goods to any person, introduced by the debtor, who or that is prepared to purchase the consumer goods for cash at a price not less than the estimated value of the consumer goods set out in the post-repossession notice served on the debtor.
2: This right may be exercised by giving to the creditor a notice in writing signed by the debtor or the debtor's agent. 1997 No 85 s 30 Section 83ZD inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZE: Debtor’s right to settle credit contract
1: The debtor may, at any time after the creditor has repossessed the consumer goods and at any time before the creditor sells or agrees to sell the consumer goods in accordance with this subpart, settle the debtor’s obligations under the credit contract—
a: by paying to the creditor the amount required to settle the contract; or
b: if the contract secures the performance of an obligation other than the payment of money, by performing that obligation.
2: In this section, the amount required to settle the contract
a: the reasonable costs of the creditor of, and incidental to, repossessing, holding, storing, repairing, maintaining, valuing, and preparing the sale of the consumer goods and of returning them to the order of the debtor; and
b: the costs reasonably and actually incurred by the creditor in doing anything necessary to remedy any default by the debtor.
3: The costs referred to in subsection (2)﻿(a) and (b) are subject to subpart 6 section 45
4: If the right to settle the credit contract is exercised,—
a: upon receipt of that amount, or confirmation of the performance of that obligation, the creditor must immediately return the consumer goods to the debtor; and
b: the contract terminates, with the rights and obligations of the parties to it satisfied. 1997 No 85 s 31 Section 83ZE inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZF: Debtor’s right to force sale
1: If the consumer goods have not been sold within 30 working days, the debtor may require the creditor to put the consumer goods up for sale by auction.
2: The period of 30 working days commences with the date on which the creditor repossesses the consumer goods.
3: The following rules apply to a sale required under subsection (1):
a: the debtor must require the sale by notice in writing to the creditor, signed by the debtor or the debtor’s agent; and
b: the auction must be held within 2 months after the date that notice is given; and
c: the creditor must give the debtor and every other person referred to in section 83G(1)
i: the time and place of the auction; or
ii: if the auction is via the Internet, the times at which the auction will begin and end (including the circumstances (if any) in which the auction may end before the end time given in the notice); and
d: the creditor and the debtor are each entitled to bid at the auction; and
e: there must be no reserve price.
4: Nothing in section 83J 1997 No 85 s 32 Section 83ZF inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZG: Disposal of consumer goods to purchaser for value and in good faith
1: A purchaser for value and in good faith who takes possession of consumer goods sold by a creditor takes the consumer goods free from the following interests:
a: the interest of the debtor:
b: any interest subordinate to that of the debtor:
c: the interest of the creditor:
d: any interest subordinate to that of the creditor.
2: Subsection (1) applies whether or not registrations relating to any security interests referred to in subsection (1) have been removed from the register of personal property securities established under the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 1997 No 85 s 32A Section 83ZG inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZH: Extinguishment of creditor’s security interest and subordinate security interests on sale
1: If consumer goods have been sold under section 83Z 83ZF
a: the security interest in the consumer goods of the creditor who sold the consumer goods:
b: all security interests in the consumer goods that are subordinate to the security interest of the creditor who sold the consumer goods.
2: See Personal Property Securities Act 1999 Section 83ZH replaced 1 June 2020 section 29 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
83ZI: Creditor to give statement of account to debtor, guarantor, and other interested persons
1: If consumer goods are sold pursuant to section 83Z 83ZF section 83G(1)
a: the amount of the gross proceeds of sale:
b: the amount of the costs of, and incidental to, the sale:
c: the amount required to settle the contract under section 83ZE
d: the balance owing by the creditor to the debtor, or by the debtor to the creditor, as the case may be.
2: If more than 1 item of consumer goods has been sold separately, the statement of account must, if practicable, show the amount of the gross proceeds of sale of each item (as well as a total amount). 1997 No 85 s 33 Section 83ZI inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZJ: Distribution of surplus
1: If a creditor has sold consumer goods under section 83Z 83ZF
a: any person who has registered a financing statement in the name of the debtor over the consumer goods that were sold where—
i: the registration was effective immediately before the consumer goods were sold; and
ii: the security interest relating to that registration was subordinate to the security interest of the creditor who sold the consumer goods:
b: any other person who has given the creditor notice that that person claims an interest in the consumer goods that were sold and in respect of which the creditor is satisfied that that person has a legally enforceable interest in the consumer goods:
c: the debtor.
2: The security interests to which subsection (1)﻿(a) applies must be paid in the order of their priority as determined by Part 7 8
3: Subsection (1) applies despite the extinguishment of a security interest under section 83ZH 1997 No 85 s 34 Section 83ZJ inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZK: Surplus may be paid into court
1: The creditor may pay the surplus into court if there is a question as to who is entitled to receive payment under section 83ZJ
2: The surplus may be paid out only on an application by a person claiming an entitlement to the surplus. 1997 No 85 s 34A Section 83ZK inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZL: Debtor’s, etc, right to recover surplus
The persons referred to in section 83ZJ 1997 No 85 s 34B Section 83ZL inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZM: Limit on creditor’s right to recover from debtor
1: This section applies if—
a: consumer goods (or, where multiple goods are subject to the credit contract, any 1 or more of those goods) are sold under this subpart; and
b: the net proceeds of sale are less than the amount required to settle the contract under section 83ZE
2: If this section applies, the debtor's liability to the creditor under the credit contract is limited to the difference between the amount required to settle the contract as at the date of the sale and the net proceeds of the sale.
3: To avoid doubt,—
a: after the sale, the creditor is not entitled to, and must not claim, any amounts in addition to the amount specified in subsection (2), including—
i: any further interest payments that would, had the sale not taken place, have been payable in respect of the credit contract; or
ii: any interest under the Judicature Act 1908
iii: any other payments that are in addition to the amount required to settle the contract under section 83ZE
b: if the sale is of 1 or more goods (but not all the goods) that are subject to the same credit contract, the debtor's liability to the creditor under the contract is the amount referred to in subsection (2); and
c: no interest payments or other payments accrue in respect of any unsold goods (whether or not they have been offered for sale and whether or not they are retained by the debtor) after the date of the sale of the first item under paragraph (b). 1997 No 85 s 35 Section 83ZM inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
6: Prohibitions relating to security interest over certain consumer goods
Subpart 6 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZN: Consumer credit contract
1: A consumer credit contract
a: consumer goods of the following kind:
i: beds and bedding:
ii: cooking equipment, including cooking stoves:
iii: medical equipment:
iv: portable heaters:
v: washing machines:
vi: refrigerators:
b: documents of the following kind:
i: travel documents:
ii: identification documents:
iii: bank cards:
c: any other consumer goods, or documents, prescribed by regulations made under this Act.
2: Subsection (1)﻿(a) and (c) do not prevent the consumer goods referred to in those paragraphs from being subject to a purchase money security interest.
3: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract
4: Nothing in this section prevents a security interest over a good specified in subsection (1)﻿(a)﻿(i) to (vi) that is not a consumer good (for example, a bed that is part of the inventory of a retailer). Section 83ZN inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83ZN heading amended 13 January 2020 section 29(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83ZN(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 29(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 83ZN(3) amended 13 January 2020 section 29(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83ZO: Contravening provision of no effect
A provision of a consumer credit contract section 83ZN Section 83ZO inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 83ZO amended 13 January 2020 section 30 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
83ZP: Exclusion for fixtures
Nothing in this subpart applies to a thing that has been affixed to any building or land in such a manner that it becomes part of the structure of the building or otherwise becomes integral to the land. Section 83ZP inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
7: Miscellaneous provisions
Subpart 7 inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZQ: Service of notices
1: Any notice or other document required or authorised by this Part to be served on or given to any person must be in writing and is sufficiently served or given if—
a: it is delivered to that person; or
b: it is left at that person’s usual or last known place of residence or business or at an address specified for that purpose in an agreement; or
c: it is posted in a letter addressed to that person by name at that place of residence or business or address; or
d: it is sent by way of an electronic communication to the address specified by that person for this purpose.
2: Subsection (1)﻿(d) does not apply to a repossession warning notice or a post-repossession notice.
3: This section does not apply in relation to section 83O
4: If the person is absent from New Zealand, the notice or other document may be served on or given to the person’s agent in New Zealand.
5: If the person is deceased, the notice or other document may be served on or given to the person’s personal representatives.
6: If the person is not known, or is absent from New Zealand and has no known agent in New Zealand, or is deceased and has no personal representatives, the notice or other document must be served or given in such manner as may be directed by an order of the court.
7: If the notice or other document is sent to any person—
a: by post, it is to be treated as having been received on the fourth working day after the day on which the letter is posted (and in proving the delivery it is sufficient to prove that the letter was properly addressed and posted):
b: by electronic communication, it is to be treated as having been received on the second working day after the day on which the notice or document is sent.
8: Despite anything in this section, the court may in any case make an order directing the manner in which any notice or other document is to be served or given, or make an order dispensing with the service or giving of the notice or document.
9: This section does not apply to notices or other documents served or given in any proceedings in any court. 1997 No 85 s 38 Section 83ZQ inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
83ZR: Part does not limit application of rules relating to conduct of servants or agents
Nothing in this Part limits section 113(b) section 90 Section 83ZR inserted 6 June 2015 section 51 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
4: Enforcement and remedies
1: Preliminary provisions
84: Compliance programmes
For the purposes of this Part, a creditor or lessor has a compliance programme
a: requires its employees and agents to follow procedures, or has implemented automated procedures, that are designed to ensure compliance with this Act and the regulations; and
b: ensures that there are in place methods for systematically identifying deficiencies in the effectiveness of the programme; and
c: promptly remedies any deficiencies discovered. Jurisdiction
85: Jurisdiction of High Court
The High Court may hear and determine the following matters:
a: appeals from any proceedings in the District Court
b: applications for injunctions under section 96
c: applications for orders under any of the provisions of this Act (except sections 108 115 1986 No 121 s 37 Section 85(a) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
86: Jurisdiction of District Court
1: The District Court may hear and determine proceedings for offences against any of the provisions of this Act.
2: The District Court may hear and determine applications for orders under any of the provisions of this Act if—
a: the occasion for the exercise of the power arises in the course of civil proceedings properly before the court; or
b: in the case of—
i: a revolving credit contract that has a credit limit, the credit limit does not exceed $350,000; or
ii: any other credit contract, the total of all advances made and agreed to be made under the credit contract does not exceed $350,000; or
iii: a consumer lease, the cash price of the goods hired does not exceed $350,000; or
iv: a buy-back transaction, the amount of the consideration paid by the transferee under the transaction does not exceed $350,000; or
c: in the case of an application for an order under any of the provisions of this Act, the relief claimed does not exceed $350,000; or
d: the parties agree, in accordance with section 81
3: Subsection (2)﻿(b) does not limit subsection (2)﻿(a), (c), or (d).
4: The District Court does not have jurisdiction to hear and determine applications for injunctions under section 96
5: For the purposes of sections 86 to 88 Section 86 replaced 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
87: Jurisdiction of
Disputes Tribunal
1: The Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 sections 90 93 94A 120 122 $30,000
2: The Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 sections 58 59 $30,000
3: An order of the Disputes Tribunal
a: require a person to pay an amount exceeding $30,000
b: declare a person not liable to another person for an amount exceeding $30,000
c: vest any property exceeding $30,000
d: direct the transfer or assignment or delivery of possession of any property exceeding $30,000
4: An order of the Tribunal
5: 1981 No 27 s 45A Section 87 heading amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 87(1) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 87(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 53 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 87(2) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(2) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 87(3) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 87(3)﻿(a) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(3)﻿(b) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(3)﻿(c) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(3)﻿(d) amended 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 Section 87(4) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 87(5) repealed 29 October 2019 section 340(2) Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018
87A: Jurisdiction of dispute resolution schemes
This subpart does not limit the jurisdiction of a dispute resolution scheme in respect of any statutory obligation under this Act ( see section 63(1)﻿(g) Section 87A inserted 6 June 2015 section 54 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
2: Statutory damages
88: Creditors,
creditors' agents,
1: The debtor under a consumer credit contract is entitled to recover from the creditor under the contract the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89
a: section 9C(1)
b: sections 17 to 24 32 to 40 70
c: subpart 6A
d: section 131B
e: section 132A
1AA: In the case of a breach of section 131B
a: the creditor include references to a mobile trader:
b: the debtor under a consumer credit contract include references to a person to whom a mobile trader service is provided.
1A: The debtor under a credit contract is entitled to recover from—
a: the creditor under the contract the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 Part 3A
b: the creditor's agent the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 Part 3A
1B: However, if a creditor’s agent breaches, in connection with a contract, any of the provisions of Part 3A
a: the creditor’s agent if the debtor has already recovered that amount from the creditor:
b: the creditor if the debtor has already recovered that amount from the creditor’s agent.
2: The guarantor under a guarantee is entitled to recover from the creditor under a consumer credit contract to which the guarantee applies the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 sections 9C(4)﻿(a) to (d) 24 to 26 32 to 35
3: The lessee under a consumer lease is entitled to recover from the lessor under the lease the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 sections 32 to 35 64 to 67 70
4: The occupier under a buy-back transaction is entitled to recover from the transferee under the transaction the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 sections 32 to 35 72 77 to 79
5: If section 74 section 89 sections 32 to 35 72
6: The statutory damages that are to be paid in relation to a consumer credit contract, other credit contract, Section 88 heading amended 6 June 2015 section 55(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 88(1) replaced 20 December 2019 section 30(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 88(1AA) inserted 20 December 2019 section 30(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 88(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 55(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 88(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 55(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 88(2) amended 20 December 2019 section 30(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 88(6) amended 6 June 2015 section 55(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
89: Amount of statutory damages
1: The amount of the statutory damages is,—
aaa: in the case of a breach of section 9C(3)﻿(a)
aab: in the case of a breach of section 9C(4)﻿(a)
aac: in the case of a breach of section 9C(5)﻿(a)
aad: in the case of a breach of section 45F 45G
a: in the case of a breach of section 18 , credit fees, and default fees
b: in the case of a breach of section 24 , credit fees, and default fees
i: the day on which disclosure was made in accordance with section 24
ii: the date on which the contract comes to an end; and
c: in the case of a breach of section 25(1)﻿(a) $6,000
d: in the case of any other breach, the lesser of $6,000
i: in the case of a revolving credit contract, the credit limit at the time of the breach; or
ii: in the case of a consumer lease, the cash price of the goods; or
iii: in the case of any other consumer credit contract or other credit contract
iv: in the case of a buy-back transaction, the rateable value of the land at the time the transaction was made.
2: Subject to subsection (1)﻿(a) and (b), if a revolving credit contract does not have a credit limit, the amount of the statutory damages is $6,000
3: If the amount of the statutory damages under subsection (1)﻿(d) is less than $200 $200
4: If a person has breached 2 or more provisions referred to in section 88 other credit contract, Section 89(1)﻿(aaa) inserted 20 December 2019 section 31 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 89(1)﻿(aab) inserted 20 December 2019 section 31 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 89(1)﻿(aac) inserted 20 December 2019 section 31 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 89(1)﻿(aad) inserted 20 December 2019 section 31 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 89(1)﻿(a) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(1)﻿(b) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(1)﻿(c) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(1)﻿(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(1)﻿(d)﻿(iii) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(2) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(3) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 89(4) amended 6 June 2015 section 56(5) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
90: Enforcement of statutory damages
1: The court may, on the application of the Commission or any party to a consumer credit contract or other credit contract a creditor's agent, section 88
2: An order under subsection (1) may be made whether or not any person has suffered, or is likely to suffer, any loss or damage as a result of the breach referred to in section 88
3: An application under this section may be made at any time within 3 years after the matter giving rise to the breach was discovered or ought reasonably to have been discovered.
4: An application by the Commission under this section may be made by the Commission on behalf of a person or a class of persons. Section 90(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 57(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 90(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 57(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 90(3) replaced 6 June 2015 section 57(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
91: Court may reduce statutory damages
1: The court may, on the application of a creditor under a class of consumer credit contract or other credit contract
2: Any order under this section may be made on the terms and conditions that the court thinks fit. Section 91(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 58 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
92: Guidelines for reducing statutory damages
In deciding whether to make an order under section 91
a: the role that statutory damages have in providing incentives for compliance with this Act:
b: whether the creditor or lessor had
c: the extent of, and the reasons for, the breach or breaches:
d: the extent to which any person has been prejudiced by the breach or breaches:
e: the extent to which the creditor, lessor, transferee, or buy-back promoter has compensated, or agreed to compensate, the persons who are affected by the breach or breaches:
f: any other matters that the court thinks fit. Section 92(b) amended 20 December 2019 section 32 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
3: Orders, injunctions, and prohibited enforcement
Court's general power to make orders
93: Court's general power to make orders
The court may make all or any of the orders referred to in section 94 creditor's agent,
aa: a breach of any of the provisions of section 9C sections 9J 9K
a: a breach of any of the provisions of Part 2 3 3A 5A
b: aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
c: inducing, or attempting to induce, any other person, whether by threats, promises or otherwise, to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
d: being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the breach by any other person of any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
e: conspiring with any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A 1986 No 121 s 43(1) Section 93 amended 6 June 2015 section 59(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(aa) inserted 6 June 2015 section 59(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(a) replaced 6 June 2015 section 59(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(a) amended 1 June 2021 section 33 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 93(b) amended 6 June 2015 section 59(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(c) amended 6 June 2015 section 59(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 59(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 93(e) amended 6 June 2015 section 59(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
94: Court orders
1: The types of orders that the court may make against the person who engaged in the conduct referred to in section 93
a: an order directing the person to refund or credit a payment in accordance with section 48
b: an order directing the person to pay to any person who has suffered loss or damage by that conduct an amount not exceeding the amount of the loss or damage (to the extent that any statutory damages that are to be paid do not adequately compensate the person for the loss or damage):
c: an order directing the person to pay exemplary damages to any person who has suffered loss or damage by that conduct:
caa: in the case of a breach of section 9C(3)﻿(a) to (e) or (5) subpart 6A
i: an order that allows for the affordable repayment of any unpaid debt, including the amount and timing of payments:
ii: an order that prohibits the creditor from charging further interest, fees, or other charges under the contract:
iii: any other order that the court thinks necessary to remedy the breach (which may include any of the orders referred to in section 127(2)
ca: an order that—
i: a fee imposed in contravention of section 41 80 82
A: only the reduced fee or interest is payable to the creditor, transferee, buy-back promoter, or associated person (as the case may be); or
B: if the fee or interest has been paid or debited under the consumer credit contract or buy-back transaction, the creditor, transferee, buy-back promoter, or associated person (as the case may be) must refund the amount by which the fee or interest was reduced; or
ii: no credit fee, default fee, buy-back fee, buy-back default fee, or other fee may be imposed or debited (in which case no fee, and no interest on that fee, is payable to the creditor, transferee, buy-back promoter, or associated person (as the case may be)); or
iii: if the court makes an order under subparagraph (ii) and the fee or interest has already been paid or debited, the creditor, transferee, buy-back promoter, or associated person must,—
A: if the fee or interest has been paid, refund the amount of that fee and any interest paid in relation to that fee:
B: if the fee or interest has been debited, reverse that transaction:
cb: in the case of a breach of section 69(1)
i: the insurance, repayment waiver, or extended warranty be annulled on any terms and conditions that the court thinks fit:
ii: all or part of the premium or any other amount payable in relation to the insurance, repayment waiver, or extended warranty be reimbursed to the debtor or lessee by the creditor or lessor:
cc: any other order that the court thinks fit for the purpose of giving effect to an order under paragraph (ca) or (cb):
d: an order for any consequential relief that the court thinks fit.
2: The court must not make an order under subsection (1)﻿(c) if a penalty has been imposed against the person in relation to the same conduct under section 103
3: In determining an order under subsection (1)﻿(c), the court must have regard to whether a penalty has been imposed against the person in relation to the same conduct under section 107A 1986 No 121 s 43(2) Section 94(1)﻿(caa) inserted 1 May 2020 section 34(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 94(1)﻿(ca) inserted 6 June 2015 section 60 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 94(1)﻿(cb) inserted 6 June 2015 section 60 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 94(1)﻿(cc) inserted 6 June 2015 section 60 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 94(3) inserted 20 December 2019 section 34(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
94A: Court orders in relation to repossessions
1: The court may make all or any of the orders referred to in this section if the court finds that a person (whether or not that person is a party to any proceedings) has suffered loss or damage by the conduct of any creditor, or creditor's agent, that constitutes, or would constitute, a breach of any of the provisions of Part 3A
2: In any proceedings relating to a breach of Part 3A
a: the conduct of the parties:
b: the nature of the default:
c: any other matters the court considers appropriate.
3: The court may make an order granting any relief that is reasonable, and for that purpose—
a: relief may be granted on such terms, if any, as to costs, expenses, damages, compensation, penalty, or otherwise as the court, in the circumstances of each case, thinks fit; and
b: in the case of an application relating to a repossession, relief may include compensation for non-financial loss, stress, humiliation, and inconvenience; and
c: relief may include a variation in the terms of the credit contract.
4: In any legal proceedings in relation to a credit contract after the creditor has repossessed the consumer goods, the court before which such proceedings are brought may, subject to the jurisdiction of the particular court, vary or discharge any judgment or order of any other court against the debtor for recovery of money so far as is necessary to give effect to a set-off against any amount owing to the debtor under the provisions of sections 83ZJ 83ZM 1997 No 85 ss 12 13 36 Section 94A inserted 6 June 2015 section 61 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
95: Miscellaneous provisions concerning court's general power to make orders
1: An order under section 93 or 94A other credit contract, , as the case may be
2: An application for an order under section 93 94A
3: An application made by the Commission for an order under section 93 or 94A
4: Nothing in section 93 or 94A subpart 5 Section 95(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 62(1)﻿(a) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 95(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 62(1)﻿(b) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 95(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 62(1)﻿(c) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 95(2) replaced 6 June 2015 section 62(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 95(3) amended 6 June 2015 section 62(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 95(4) amended 1 September 2017 section 347 Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 Section 95(4) amended 6 June 2015 section 62(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
95A: Court may reduce effect of failure to make disclosure
1: The court may, on the application of a creditor under a class of consumer credit contracts, order that the effect under section 48 99(1A) section 17 section 22
2: The court may, on the application of a lessor under a class of consumer leases, order that the effect under section 101(2) section 64 65
3: The court may, on the application of a transferee under a class of buy-back transactions, order that the effect under section 102(2) section 72 77
4: The order may be made on the terms and conditions that the court thinks fit. Section 95A inserted 20 December 2019 section 35 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
95B: Guidelines for reducing effect of failure to make disclosure
In deciding whether to make an order under section 95A
a: the role that sections 99(1A) 101(2) 102(2)
b: whether the person applying for the order had an appropriate compliance programme:
c: the extent of, and the reasons for, the breach or breaches:
d: the extent to which any person has been prejudiced by the breach or breaches:
e: whether the breach was due to a reasonable mistake or due to events outside the control of the person applying for the order:
f: whether the breach was remedied (to the extent that it could be remedied) as soon as practicable after the breach was discovered by the person or brought to the notice of the person applying for the order:
g: the extent to which the person applying for the order has compensated or offered to compensate any person who has suffered loss or damage by that breach:
h: any other matters as the court thinks fit. Section 95B inserted 20 December 2019 section 35 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Injunctions
96: Injunctions
1: The court may, on the application of the Commission or any other person, grant an injunction restraining a person from engaging in conduct that constitutes, or would constitute, any of the following:
aa: a breach of any of the provisions of section 9C sections 9J 9K
a: a breach of any of the provisions of Parts 2 3 3A 5A
b: any attempt to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A 5A
c: aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
d: inducing, or attempting to induce, any other person, whether by threats, promises or otherwise, to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
e: being in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the breach by any other person of any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
f: conspiring with any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C 9J 9K Part 2 3 3A
2: The court may rescind or vary an injunction granted under this section.
3: An application made by the Commission for the grant of an injunction may be made on behalf of a person or a class of persons. 1986 No 121 s 41(1), (2) Section 96(1)﻿(aa) inserted 6 June 2015 section 63(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(a) replaced 6 June 2015 section 63(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(a) amended 1 June 2021 section 36(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 96(1)﻿(b) amended 1 June 2021 section 36(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 96(1)﻿(b) amended 6 June 2015 section 63(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(c) amended 6 June 2015 section 63(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 63(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(e) amended 6 June 2015 section 63(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 96(1)﻿(f) amended 6 June 2015 section 63(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
97: Injunctions restraining conduct of particular kind
1: This section applies if an application is made to the court for the grant of an injunction under section 96
2: The court may grant the injunction—
a: if it is satisfied that the person has engaged in conduct of that kind (whether or not it appears to the court that the person intends to engage again, or to continue to engage, in conduct of that kind); or
b: if it is satisfied that it is likely that the person will engage in conduct of that kind in the event that an injunction is not granted,—
i: whether or not the person has previously engaged in conduct of that kind; and
ii: whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if that person engages in conduct of that kind. 1986 No 121 s 41(3), (4)
98: Interim injunction
1: This section applies if an application is made to the court for the grant of an interim injunction under section 96
2: The court may grant an interim injunction if the court is satisfied that it is desirable to do so,—
a: whether or not the person has previously engaged in conduct of that kind; and
b: whether or not there is an imminent danger of substantial damage to any person if that person engages in conduct of that kind.
3: If the Commission applies to the court for the grant of an interim injunction, the court must not, as a condition of granting an interim injunction, require the Commission to give an undertaking as to damages.
4: However, in determining the Commission's application for the grant of an interim injunction, the court must not take into account that the Commission is not required to give an undertaking as to damages. 1986 No 121 s 41(3), (4) s 88A Compliance and similar orders Heading inserted 1 May 2020 section 37 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
98A: Compliance orders
1: The court may, on the application of the Commission, make an order to do 1 or more of the things in subsection (2) if, in the opinion of the court, a person has engaged in conduct, or is likely to engage in conduct, that constitutes, or would constitute, any of the things referred to in section 96 breach
2: An order may—
a: direct a person to comply with a provision referred to in section 96
b: require a person to remedy or mitigate any adverse effect arising from the breach:
c: require a person to do something that, in the opinion of the court, is necessary or desirable in order to comply with that provision or to avoid, remedy, or mitigate any actual or likely adverse effect arising from the breach.
3: A compliance order may be made on any terms and conditions as the court thinks fit. 2003 No 114 s 110A 2013 No 69 s 469 Section 98A inserted 1 May 2020 section 37 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
98B: Order to disclose information or publish advertisement
1: The court may, on the application of the Commission, make an order that a person do 1 or more of the things in subsection (2) if, in the opinion of the court, the person has engaged in conduct, or is likely to engage in conduct, that constitutes, or would constitute, any of the things referred to in section 96 breach
2: An order may—
a: require that person, or any other person involved in the contravention, to disclose, at that person’s own expense, to the public, or to a particular person or to persons included in a particular class of persons, in the manner specified in the order, the information, or information of a kind, that is specified, being information that is in the possession of the person to whom the order is directed or to which that person has access:
b: require that person, or any other person involved in the contravention, to publish, at that person’s own expense, in the manner and at the times that are specified in the order, corrective statements the terms of which are specified in, or are to be determined in accordance with, the order.
3: The court may hear and determine an application under subsection (1) in conjunction with any other proceedings under this Act. 1986 No 121 s 42 Section 98B inserted 1 May 2020 section 37 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Prohibited enforcement
99: Enforcement of consumer credit contract prohibited
1: If disclosure is required under section 17 section 22
a: enforce the contract; or
b: enforce any right to recover property to which the contract relates; or
ba: enforce any right in relation to the costs of borrowing; or
bb: require the debtor or any other person to make a full prepayment or a part prepayment on the basis of a failure by the debtor or other person to pay the costs of borrowing; or
c: enforce any security interest taken in connection with the contract.
1A: Neither the debtor nor any other person is liable for the costs of borrowing in relation to any period during which the creditor has failed to comply with section 17 22
1B: The period referred to in subsection (1A)—
a: starts on the date of the failure; and
b: ends only at the close of the day on which the disclosure under section 17 22
1C: However, subsection (1A) does not apply in relation to fees or charges payable as referred to in section 45
2: This section does not limit any rights that a person has in connection with a bill of exchange. 1981 No 27 s 24 Section 99(1)﻿(ba) inserted 6 June 2015 section 64(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 99(1)﻿(bb) inserted 6 June 2015 section 64(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 99(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 64(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 99(1B) inserted 6 June 2015 section 64(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 99(1C) inserted 6 June 2015 section 64(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
99A: Enforcement of rights of repossession, etc, prohibited
If the notice requirements under section 83G 83V Part 3A Section 99A inserted 6 June 2015 section 65 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
99B: Enforcement prohibited if creditor unregistered
1: If a creditor who is required to be registered under Part 2
a: neither the creditor nor any other person may, in relation to a consumer credit contract
i: enforce any right in relation to the costs of borrowing; or
ii: require the debtor or any other person to make a full prepayment or a part prepayment on the basis of a failure by the debtor or other person to pay the costs of borrowing; and
b: neither the debtor nor any other person is liable for the costs of borrowing under such a contract in relation to any period during which the creditor is unregistered.
2: However, subsection (1)﻿(b) does not apply in relation to fees or charges payable to another person, body, or agency as referred to in section 45
3: On becoming registered under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
a: if the creditor has given written notice to the debtor, containing the information specified in subsection (5); and
b: in relation to the costs of borrowing directly attributable to periods after such notice has been given to the debtor.
4: Subsection (3) is subject to any other provision of this Act that prohibits enforcement of the consumer credit contract
5: The notice required under subsection (3)﻿(a) must clearly inform the debtor—
a: that the creditor is now registered under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
b: of the date on which the creditor became registered; and
c: of the name and contact details of the dispute resolution scheme of which the creditor is a member; and
d: that the debtor is, from the date on which the notice was given, liable for the costs of borrowing; and
e: that the debtor has no liability for the costs of borrowing that would otherwise have accrued before the date on which the notice was given. Section 99B inserted 6 June 2015 section 65 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 99B(1)﻿(a) amended 13 January 2020 section 31(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 99B(4) amended 13 January 2020 section 31(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019
100: Enforcement of guarantee prohibited
1AAA: No person may enforce a guarantee after the court finds a breach of section 9C(4)﻿(a)
1AAB: The court may, on the application of a creditor under the consumer credit contract, grant relief from the effect of subsection (1AAA) if the court considers it fair and reasonable in the circumstances after having had regard to all relevant matters, including—
a: the nature and seriousness of the breach:
b: the ability of the guarantor to comply with the guarantee without suffering substantial hardship:
c: any statutory damages that have been paid or are payable and the extent to which statutory damages have been, or are to be, extinguished or reduced under section 91
1: If disclosure is required to be made under section 25 section 26
2: Failure to comply with section 9C(4)﻿(a) section 25 section 26
3: Failure to make disclosure to a debtor in accordance with this Act does not affect the ability of a person to enforce a guarantee. 1981 No 27 s 24A Section 100(1AAA) inserted 20 December 2019 section 38(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 100(1AAB) inserted 20 December 2019 section 38(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 100(2) amended 20 December 2019 section 38(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
101: Enforcement of consumer lease prohibited
1: If disclosure is required under section 64 section 65
a: enforce the lease; or
b: enforce any right to recover property to which the lease relates; or
ba: enforce any right in relation to the costs of the lease; or
bb: require the lessee or any other person to make a payment of an amount before that amount is payable under the lease on the basis of a failure by the lessee or other person to pay the costs of the lease; or
c: enforce any security interest taken in connection with the lease.
2: Neither the lessee nor any other person is liable for the costs of the lease in relation to any period during which the lessor has failed to comply with section 64 65
3: The period referred to in subsection (2)—
a: starts on the date of the failure; and
b: ends only at the close of the day on which the disclosure under section 64 65
4: However, subsection (2) does not apply in relation to fees or charges payable by a lessee for an amount payable, or to reimburse an amount paid, by the lessor to another person, body, or agency unless the person, body, or agency is an associated person of the lessor. Section 101(1)﻿(ba) inserted 6 June 2015 section 66(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 101(1)﻿(bb) inserted 6 June 2015 section 66(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 101(2) inserted 6 June 2015 section 66(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 101(3) inserted 6 June 2015 section 66(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 101(4) inserted 6 June 2015 section 66(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
102: Enforcement of buy-back transaction prohibited
1: If disclosure is required under section 72 section 77
a: enforce the buy-back transaction; or
b: enforce any right to recover property to which the buy-back transaction relates; or
ba: enforce any right in relation to the costs of the buy-back transaction; or
bb: require the occupier or any other person to make a payment of an amount before that amount is payable under the buy-back transaction on the basis of a failure by the occupier or other person to pay the costs of the buy-back transaction; or
c: enforce any security interest taken in connection with the buy-back transaction.
2: Neither the occupier nor any other person is liable for the costs of the buy-back transaction in relation to any period during which the transferee has failed to comply with section 72 77
3: The period referred to in subsection (2)—
a: starts on the date of the failure; and
b: ends only at the close of the day on which the disclosure under section 72 77
4: However, subsection (2) does not apply in relation to fees or charges payable to another person, body, or agency as referred to in section 81 Section 102(1)﻿(ba) inserted 6 June 2015 section 67(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 102(1)﻿(bb) inserted 6 June 2015 section 67(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 102(2) inserted 6 June 2015 section 67(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 102(3) inserted 6 June 2015 section 67(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 102(4) inserted 6 June 2015 section 67(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
4: Offences
102A: Infringement offences
1: Every creditor, lessor, or transferee who is subject to a disclosure section commits an offence if—
a: both of the following apply:
i: a paragraph in Schedule 1 2 3 section 19(1) , or regulations prescribing information that must be disclosed under section 132A
ii: the creditor, lessor, or transferee breaches the disclosure section by failing to include any information in the disclosure statement for the purposes of that paragraph; or
b: the creditor, lessor, or transferee breaches the disclosure section by failing to give or send to the debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier a copy of the relevant terms within the time for giving or sending the copy of those terms that is specified in that section.
2: Subsection (1) does not apply to a complete failure to give or send a disclosure statement to a debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier in accordance with a disclosure section (but such a breach is an offence under section 103
3: Every creditor, lessor, or transferee who is subject to section 24 67 79
4: Every lender who is subject to section 9J
4A: Every creditor who is subject to section 9K
4B: Every creditor who is subject to section 9K
a: a paragraph in regulations prescribed under this Act requires particular information to be contained in the information made publicly available:
b: the creditor breaches section 9K(6)﻿(a)
4C: Every person commits an offence if the person is subject to a disclosure requirement under section 26B
5: Every creditor who is subject to Part 3A
a: a paragraph in Schedule 3A section 83G
b: the creditor breaches section 83G
6: Every creditor or creditor's agent who is subject to Part 3A section 83O(1)
7: Subsections (5) and (6) do not apply to a complete failure to serve a repossession warning notice on a debtor in accordance with section 83G section 83O(1) section 103
7A: Every person commits an offence if the person is subject to section 116AAA
8: A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction,—
a: in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $10,000; and
b: in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $30,000.
9: In this Act, infringement offence
10: See sections 105A to 105F
11: In this section,— disclosure section sections 17 18 25 64 70 72 132A relevant terms
a: section 17
b: section 25
c: section 64
d: section 70
e: section 72 Section 102A inserted 6 June 2015 section 68 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 102A(1)﻿(a)﻿(i) amended 1 December 2021 section 39(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 102A(4A) inserted 13 January 2020 section 32 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 102A(4B) inserted 13 January 2020 section 32 Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 102A(4C) inserted 1 December 2021 section 39(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 102A(7A) inserted 1 December 2021 section 39(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 102A(11) disclosure section replaced 1 December 2021 section 39(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
103: Other offences
1: Every creditor, lender, sections 9J 9K 17 to 74 (except sections 41 41A subpart 6A section 59B 76 to 82 83E 83F 83G 83O 83P 83S 83T , 83ZN 132A
a: in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $200,000; and
b: in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $600,000.
2: However, a breach of section 83E(1)﻿(c)
3: Every transferee who breaches section 75
a: in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or to a fine not exceeding $200,000, or both; and
b: in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $600,000.
4: Every person who acts in breach of an order made under section 108
a: in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $200,000, or both; and
b: in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $600,000.
5: Conduct that constitutes an offence under section 102A
6: Every person commits an offence if, with respect to a document required by or for the purposes of section 116AAA Part 5A
a: in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $200,000; and
b: in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $600,000. Section 103 replaced 6 June 2015 section 68 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 103(1) amended 1 December 2021 section 40(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 103(1) amended 1 May 2020 section 40(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 103(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 33(1) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 103(1) amended 13 January 2020 section 33(2) Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 Section 103(6) inserted 1 June 2021 section 40(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
104: Conviction for 2 or more offences
If a person is convicted, whether in the same or separate proceedings, of 2 or more offences in respect of breaches of the same provisions of this Act and those breaches are of the same or a substantially similar nature and occurred at or about the same time, the total amount of any fines imposed on that person for those convictions must not exceed the amount of the maximum fine that may be imposed in respect of a conviction for a single offence. 1986 No 121 s 40(2)
105: When proceedings may be commenced
Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 section 102A 103 1986 No 121 s 40(3) Section 105 replaced 6 June 2015 section 69 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105A: Infringement fee, etc, defined
1: In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— infringement fee section 105F infringement notice section 105F section 105C
2: See section 102A Section 105A inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105B: Infringement offence alleged
1: If a person is alleged to have committed an infringement offence, the person may either—
a: be proceeded against by filing a charging document under section 14
b: be served with an infringement notice.
2: Proceedings commenced in the way described in subsection (1)﻿(a) do not require leave of a District Court Judge or Registrar under section 21(1)﻿(a) 1992 No 122 s 165A Section 105B inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105C: Issue of infringement notice
1: The Commission may issue an infringement notice to a person if the Commission believes on reasonable grounds that the person is committing, or has committed, an infringement offence.
2: The Commission may revoke an infringement notice before the infringement fee is paid, or before an order for payment of a fine is made or deemed to be made by a court under section 21
3: An infringement notice is revoked by giving written notice to the person to whom it was issued that the notice is revoked. 1992 No 122 s 165B Section 105C inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105D: Procedural requirements for infringement notices
1: An infringement notice may be served on a person (a recipient
a: by delivering it, or a copy of it, personally to the recipient; or
b: by sending it, or a copy of it, by post, addressed to the recipient at the recipient's last known place of residence or business.
2: For the purposes of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
3: An infringement notice must be in the form prescribed by regulations made under section 105F
a: details of the alleged infringement offence that are sufficient to fully and fairly inform the recipient of the time, place, and nature of the alleged infringement offence; and
b: the amount of the infringement fee; and
c: an address at which the infringement fee may be paid; and
d: the time within which the infringement fee must be paid; and
e: a summary of the provisions of section 21(10)
f: a statement that the recipient has a right to request a hearing; and
g: a statement of what will happen if the recipient does not pay the fee and does not request a hearing; and
h: any other prescribed matters.
4: If an infringement notice has been issued, proceedings in respect of the infringement offence to which the notice relates may be commenced in accordance with section 21
5: Reminder notices must be prescribed by regulations made under section 105F 1992 No 122 s 165C Section 105D inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105E: What Commission does with infringement fees
The Commission must pay all infringement fees received into a Crown Bank Account. 1992 No 122 s 165D Section 105E inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
105F: Regulations relating to infringement offences
1: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations for the following purposes:
a: prescribing the form of infringement notices and reminder notices:
b: prescribing any matters that must be included in those notices:
c: prescribing the amount of the infringement fee.
2: Regulations under this section are secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 105F inserted 6 June 2015 section 70 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 105F(2) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
5: Defence
106: Reasonable mistake defence
1: Every person has a defence to a claim for statutory damages under section 88 , a prosecution under section 103(1) subpart 5A
a: the breach was due to a reasonable mistake or due to events outside of the person's control; and
b: the breach was remedied (to the extent that it could be remedied) as soon as practicable after the breach was discovered by the person or brought to the person's notice; and
c: the person has compensated or offered to compensate any person who has suffered loss or damage by that breach.
2: For the avoidance of doubt, a mistake Section 106(1) amended 20 December 2019 section 41 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107: Relevance of compliance programme
The court must, in determining whether the breach is due to a reasonable mistake, take into account whether the person had Section 107 amended 20 December 2019 section 42 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
5A: Pecuniary penalties
Subpart 5A inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107A: Pecuniary penalties
1: The court may, on the application of the Commission, order a person to pay to the Crown the pecuniary penalty that the court determines to be appropriate if the court is satisfied that the person—
a: has contravened any of the following provisions:
i: section 9C(1)
ii: section 9CA
iii: section 41
iv: section 41A
v: subpart 6A
vi: section 59B(1)
vii: section 131B
viii: section 131D
ix: section 131R
x: an order made under section 98A section 98B
b: has attempted to contravene such a provision; or
c: has aided, abetted, counselled, or procured any other person to contravene such a provision; or
d: has induced, or attempted to induce, any other person, whether by threats or promises or otherwise, to contravene such a provision; or
e: has been in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the contravention by any other person of such a provision; or
f: has conspired with any other person to contravene such a provision.
2: In determining an appropriate penalty under this section, the court must have regard to all relevant matters, in particular,—
a: any exemplary damages awarded under section 94(1)﻿(c)
b: the nature and extent of the contravention; and
c: the nature and extent of any loss or damage suffered by any person because of the contravention; and
d: any gains made or losses avoided by the person in contravention; and
e: the circumstances in which the contravention took place (including whether the contravention was intentional, inadvertent, or caused by negligence).
3: The amount of any pecuniary penalty must not, in respect of each act or omission, exceed,—
a: in the case of an individual, $200,000; or
b: in any other case, $600,000.
4: Proceedings under this section may be commenced within 3 years after the matter giving rise to the contravention was discovered or ought reasonably to have been discovered.
5: Where conduct by any person constitutes a contravention of 2 or more provisions referred to in subsection (1)﻿(a), proceedings may be instituted under this Act against that person in relation to the contravention of any 1 or more of the provisions; but no person is liable to more than 1 pecuniary penalty under this section in respect of the same conduct. 1986 No 5 s 80 Section 107A inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107B: Proceedings for pecuniary penalties
In any proceedings under this subpart for a pecuniary penalty,—
a: the standard of proof is the standard of proof that applies in civil proceedings; and
b: the Commission may, by order of the court, obtain discovery and administer interrogatories. 1986 No 5 s 79A Section 107B inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107C: Relationship between pecuniary penalties and criminal liability
1: Once criminal proceedings against a person for an offence under this or any other Act are determined, the High Court may not order the person to pay a pecuniary penalty under this subpart in respect of the conduct, events, transactions, or other matters that were the subject of the criminal proceedings.
2: Once civil proceedings against a person for a pecuniary penalty under this subpart are determined, the person may not be convicted of an offence under this or any other Act in respect of the conduct, events, transactions, or other matters that were the subject of the civil proceedings.
3: Any uncompleted proceedings for an order under this Act that a person pay a pecuniary penalty must be stayed if criminal proceedings are started or have already been started against the person for the same act or omission, or substantially the same act or omission, in respect of which the pecuniary penalty order is sought. 1986 No 5 s 79B Section 107C inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107D: Restriction on indemnities
1: A body corporate must not indemnify any director, employee, or agent, or former director, employee, or agent, of the body corporate or of any related body corporate ( person A
a: any pecuniary penalty imposed on person A under this Act; or
b: any costs incurred by person A in defending any civil proceedings in which the pecuniary penalty referred to in paragraph (a) is imposed.
2: An indemnity given in contravention of subsection (1) is void.
3: In this section and section 107E indemnify indemnity 1986 No 5 s 80A Section 107D inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
107E: Restriction on insurance
1: No person may enter into a contract of insurance that indemnifies or purports to indemnify a person ( person A
a: any pecuniary penalty imposed on person A under this Act; or
b: any costs incurred by person A in defending any civil proceedings in which the pecuniary penalty referred to in paragraph (a) is imposed.
2: Any contract that does so is void. Section 107E inserted 20 December 2019 section 43 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
6: Prohibition on certain creditors, lessors, transferees, and buy-back promoters
108: Power to order certain persons not to act as creditors, lessors, transferees, or buy-back promoters
1: The District Court
a: the person—
i: has been convicted of an offence against this Act, or of a crime involving dishonesty (as defined in section 2(1)
ii: is, or has been, a creditor under a credit contract that has been reopened under the Credit Contracts Act 1981; or
iii: is, or has been, a creditor under a credit contract, a lessor under a consumer lease, or a transferee under a buy-back transaction that has been reopened under section 120
iv: is, or has been, a buy-back promoter in connection with a buy-back transaction that has been reopened under section 120
v: has failed see section 9C(2)
va: has failed to comply with any of the provisions of any of the following Acts or of any equivalent overseas legislation:
A: the Fair Trading Act 1986
B: the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008
C: the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004
vi: was a director or principal officer of a body corporate at the time the body corporate acted in the manner referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (va)
b: in the opinion of the District Court, the person is not a fit and proper person to—
i: enter into consumer credit contracts as a creditor; or
ii: enter into consumer leases as a lessor; or
iii: enter into buy-back transactions as a transferee; or
iv: act as a buy-back promoter in connection with a buy-back transaction.
1A:
2: The matters are—
a: providing credit under consumer credit contracts, leasing goods under consumer leases, purchasing land under buy-back transactions, or acting as a buy-back promoter in connection with a buy-back transaction either alone or in partnership with any person and whether or not through agents:
b: acting as a director or taking part directly or indirectly in the management or control of any company or business that provides credit under consumer credit contracts, leases goods under consumer leases, purchases land under buy-back transactions, or acts as a buy-back promoter in connection with a buy-back transaction:
c: being in the employ, or acting as an agent, of a creditor, a lessor, a transferee, or a buy-back promoter in any capacity that allows the person to take any part in the negotiation of—
i: consumer credit contracts involving the provision of credit by the creditor; or
ii: consumer leases involving the leasing of goods by the lessor; or
iii: buy-back transactions. 1981 No 27 s 39(1) Section 108(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 108(1)﻿(a)﻿(v) replaced 6 June 2015 section 71(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 108(1)﻿(a)﻿(v) amended 1 June 2020 section 44(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 108(1)﻿(a)﻿(va) inserted 1 June 2020 section 44(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 108(1)﻿(a)﻿(vi) amended 1 June 2020 section 44(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 108(1A) repealed 1 June 2020 section 44(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
109: Who may apply and nature of order
1: Any person (including the Commission) may apply to the District Court section 108
2: An order under section 108
a: may be for a specified period of time or without any time limit, and may be made on any other terms and conditions that the District Court thinks fit; and
b: may be cancelled or varied at any time by the District Court. 1981 No 27 s 39(2), (3) Section 109(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016
110: Costs
1: In any proceedings under section 108
2: The costs so awarded are recoverable as a debt due by the party against whom they have been awarded to the party in whose favour they have been awarded. 1981 No 27 s 39(4)
7: Application of Commerce Act 1986 and provisions relating to Commerce Commission
111: Role and functions of Commission under this Act
1: The role of the Commission under this Act is to promote compliance with this Act.
2: The functions of the Commission, in relation to this Act, are to—
a: monitor trade practices in credit markets, consumer lease markets, and buy-back transaction markets; and
ab: monitor the conduct of creditors and creditors' agents in the exercise of their rights under Part 3A
ac: issue infringement notices for infringement offences; and
b: take prosecutions in relation to breaches of this Act; and
c: take civil proceedings under this Act (including proceedings under Part 5
ca: exercise the powers in Part 5A
d: make available appropriate information for the guidance of consumers, creditors, debtors,
3: Nothing in this Act imposes on the Commission any duty or obligation to take any proceedings under this Act or to exercise any power conferred by this Act in respect of any particular person. Section 111(2)﻿(ab) inserted 6 June 2015 section 72(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 111(2)﻿(ac) inserted 6 June 2015 section 72(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 111(2)﻿(ca) inserted 1 June 2021 section 45 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 111(2)﻿(d) amended 6 June 2015 section 72(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
112: Commission's rights to appear and adduce evidence
1: The Commission may appear and be heard, in person or by a barrister or solicitor, in any proceedings brought (in whole or in part) under this Act in the District Court Supreme Court
2: That right applies whether or not the Commission was a party to the proceeding at any earlier stage in the proceedings.
3: The Commission has the right to adduce evidence and the right to cross-examine witnesses if the Commission appears under this section, unless the proceedings are by way of appeal.
4: This section does not affect the court's power to make any order (including any order as to costs). Section 112(1) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 112(1) amended 1 January 2004 section 48(1) Supreme Court Act 2003
113: Application of Commerce Act 1986
The following provisions of the Commerce Act 1986
a: sections 15 to 17
aa: sections 74A to 74C
b: section 90
c: section 98
d: sections 98A and 98G
e: section 99
ea: sections 99B to 99P
i: references in those sections to competition law were references to consumer credit law; and
ii: references in those sections to the Minister were references to the Minister of Consumer Affairs:
f: section 100
g: section 100A
h: sections 101 102
i: section 103
j: section 104
k:
l: section 106
m: section 106A
n: section 109 Section 113(a) substituted 25 January 2005 section 200 Crown Entities Act 2004 Section 113(aa) inserted 20 December 2019 section 46 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 113(d) amended 1 October 2012 section 314(2) Search and Surveillance Act 2012 Section 113(ea) inserted 24 October 2012 section 4 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (International Co-operation) Amendment Act 2012 Section 113(k) repealed 25 January 2005 section 200 Crown Entities Act 2004
114: Additional proceedings
Proceedings brought under this Act are in addition to any proceedings brought under any other Act.
115: Disposal of things seized
1: In any proceedings relating to any thing seized under warrant, the court may order, either at the trial or hearing or on an application, that the thing be delivered to the person appearing to the court to be entitled to it, or that it be otherwise disposed of in any manner that the court thinks fit.
2: The Commission may, at any time, unless an order has been made under subsection (1), return the thing to the person from whom it was seized, or apply to a District Court Judge for an order for its disposal.
3: On any application under subsection (2), the District Court Judge may make any order that a court may make under subsection (1).
4: If proceedings relating to the thing are not brought within a period of 3 months of its seizure, any person claiming to be entitled to the thing may, after the expiry of that period, apply to a District Court Judge for an order that it be delivered to him or her.
5: On any application under subsection (4), the District Court Judge may—
a: adjourn the application, on any terms that he or she thinks fit, for proceedings to be brought; or
b: make any order that a court may make under subsection (1).
116: Court order for disposal of things seized to be suspended on conviction
1: If any person is convicted in any proceedings for an offence relating to anything for which a warrant has been issued, and any order is made under section 115
a: in any case, until the expiration of the time prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Act 2011
b: if a notice of appeal is filed within the time so prescribed, until the determination of the appeal; and
c: if application for leave to appeal is filed within the time so prescribed, until the application is determined, and, if leave to appeal is granted, until the determination of the appeal.
2: If the operation of any order is suspended until the determination of the appeal, the court determining the appeal may, by order, cancel or vary the order. Section 116(1)﻿(a) amended 1 July 2013 section 413 Criminal Procedure Act 2011
116AAA: Requirement for annual return
1: Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must provide an annual return to the Commission in the prescribed manner.
2: The prescribed manner may include a requirement to provide statistical information in relation to the creditor’s business (including its loan book).
3: The annual return must be provided before the prescribed date and relate to the prescribed 12-month period.
4: Nothing in this section requires the creditor to provide—
a: information about an identifiable individual; or
b: information that is neither in the possession or control of the creditor nor reasonably ascertainable from information that is in the possession or control of the creditor. Section 116AAA inserted 1 December 2021 section 47 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
8: Miscellaneous
Subpart 8 inserted 1 December 2021 section 48 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
116A: Directors and senior managers may also be liable for statutory damages or compensation
1: This section applies if, in a proceeding under subpart 2 3
a: a breach of any provision of this Act in respect of which the debtor is entitled to recover from the creditor an amount of statutory damages under section 88
b: a breach referred to in section 93
2: If the court is satisfied that a director or senior manager has breached section 59B section 90 section 94
3: See section 106 section 88
4: See section 107A(1)﻿(a)﻿(vi)
5: The liability of the director or manager is a joint and several liability with that of the creditor or any other person against whom an order under section 90 94
6: If this section applies, a director or senior manager may apply to the court under section 91 section 92(e) 2013 No 69 s 534 Section 116A inserted 1 December 2021 section 48 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
5: Reopening of oppressive credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
117: Application of Part
This Part applies to—
a: every credit contract (whether or not it is a consumer credit contract); and
b: every consumer lease; and
c: every buy-back transaction.
118: Meaning of oppressive
In this Act, oppressive 1981 No 27 s 9
119: Collateral contracts and linked transactions
1: If a security interest or guarantee or guarantee
2: If it is a term of a credit contract that another contract or arrangement be entered into, any part of that other contract or arrangement that relates to the provision of credit to, or the payment of money by, a debtor under the credit contract is to be treated as forming part of the credit contract for the purposes of this Part.
3: If it is a term of a consumer lease or buy-back transaction that another contract or arrangement be entered into, any part of that other contract or arrangement that relates to the payment of money by a lessee under the consumer lease or by an occupier under a buy-back transaction is to be treated as forming part of the consumer lease or transaction for the purposes of this Part. Section 119(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 73 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
120: Reopening of credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
The court may reopen a credit contract, a consumer lease, or a buy-back transaction if, in any proceedings (whether or not brought under this Act), it considers that—
a: the contract, lease, or transaction is oppressive; or
b: a party has exercised, or intends to exercise, a right or power conferred by the contract, lease, or transaction in an oppressive manner; or
c: a party has induced another party to enter into the contract, lease, or transaction by oppressive means. 1981 No 27 s 10(1)
121: Refusal to agree to early termination, variation, or waiver
If a party refuses to agree to the early termination of a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, or to vary or waive any term of a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, or imposes conditions on that agreement, the party is deemed, for the purposes of this Act, to be exercising a right or power under the contract, lease, or transaction. 1981 No 27 s 10(2)
122: Reopening credit contracts involved in arrangement
1: The court may reopen all or any of the credit contracts involved in an arrangement if,—
a: with the knowledge of the creditor under a reopened credit contract,—
i: credit provided under the reopened credit contract is used (in whole or in part) to pay amounts owing under another credit contract or other credit contracts; or
ii: amounts owing under the reopened credit contract were paid from credit provided under another credit contract or other credit contracts; and
b: the creditors under the credit contracts are either the same person or related companies.
2: Subsection (1) applies whether or not the court considers that section 120(a) to (c) 1981 No 27 s 10(3)
123: Time and circumstances relevant to reopening credit contracts, consumer leases, or buy-back transactions
A credit contract, a consumer lease, a buy-back transaction, a term of a credit contract, a consumer lease, or a buy-back transaction, or an act performed under, or in connection with, a credit contract, a consumer lease, or a buy-back transaction is not oppressive if the contract, lease, transaction, term, or act would not have been considered oppressive at the time, and in the circumstances, that it was made or performed. 1981 No 27 s 11(1)
124: Guidelines for reopening credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
1: In deciding whether section 120 arrangement
a: all the circumstances relating to the making of the arrangement, or the exercise of any right or power conferred by the arrangement, or the inducement to enter into the arrangement; and
b: whether the creditor or transferee has, in relation to any aspect of the arrangement (including the creditor's or transferee's conduct in entering into the arrangement), complied with the lender responsibility principles ( see section 9C(2)
c: the relative bargaining power of the parties; and
d: whether, taking account of the particular characteristics of the debtor, lessee, or occupier (for example, his or her age or physical or mental condition), that person, or the person's representative, was reasonably able to protect that person's interests; and
e: in the case of a credit contract, whether the contract is a consumer credit contract; and
ea: in the case of a contract to which subpart 6A
f: whether, before entering into the arrangement, the debtor, lessee, or occupier obtained independent legal or other professional advice in relation to that arrangement; and
g: whether the creditor, lessor, or transferee, or any person acting in the interests of that person, subjected the debtor, lessee, or occupier to unfair pressure or tactics or otherwise unfairly influenced the debtor, lessee, or occupier to enter into the arrangement and, if so, the nature and extent of that unfair conduct; and
h: the terms of other arrangements under which the debtor, lessee, or occupier could have obtained the same or substantially similar credit, hired goods, or finance from a person other than the creditor, lessor, or transferee, including—
i: the costs of borrowing, costs of the lease, or costs of the buy-back transaction (as the case may be) under those other arrangements; and
ii: whether the arrangement under consideration imposes significantly more onerous terms on the debtor, lessee, or occupier than would be imposed under those other arrangements; and
i: the amount payable by the debtor, lessee, or occupier under the arrangement; and
j: the amount of any payment required as a condition of the full prepayment under the arrangement, including the creditor's expenses and the likelihood that the amount repaid could be reinvested on similar terms; and
k: the form of the arrangement, including whether it is expressed in plain language in a clear, concise, and intelligible manner; and
l: whether the terms of the arrangement—
i: allow the debtor, lessee, or transferee to be reasonably able to comply with his or her obligations under the arrangement; and
ii: are reasonably necessary to protect the interests of the creditor, lessor, or transferee; and
m: the length of time the debtor, lessee, or occupier has had to remedy any default; and
n: if the creditor, lessor, or transferee has refused to release, or has agreed to release subject to conditions, a security interest relating to the arrangement, the obligations secured by the security interest and the extent of security that remains after the release or conditional release; and
o: whether action by the creditor, lessor, or transferee in relation to the enforcement of, or recovery under, the arrangement was lawful in the circumstances; and
p: any other matters that the court thinks fit.
2: If a guarantee is treated as forming part of the credit contract under section 119(1) Section 124 replaced 6 June 2015 section 74 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 124(1)﻿(ea) inserted 1 May 2020 section 49 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
125: When reopening proceedings may be commenced
1: Proceedings seeking the reopening of a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction may be commenced in the court by the Commission, any party to the contract, lease, or transaction, or any guarantor under a guarantee relating to the credit contract, at any time earlier than,—
a: in the case of a buy-back transaction, 3 years after the due date for the performance of the last obligation required to be performed under the transaction; or
b: in the case of a contract or lease that is terminated by either party, 1 year after the date on which the contract or lease is terminated; or
c: in any other case, 1 year after the due date for the performance of the last obligation required to be performed under the contract or lease.
2: However, subsection (3) applies if,—
a: with the knowledge of the creditor under a credit contract,—
i: the credit provided under the contract is used (in whole or in part) to pay amounts owing under another credit contract or other credit contracts; or
ii: amounts owing under the contract were paid from credit provided under another credit contract or other credit contracts; and
b: the creditors under the credit contracts are either the same person or related companies.
3: Proceedings seeking the reopening of all or any of the credit contracts referred to in subsection (2) may be commenced at any time earlier than 1 year after the due date for the performance of the last obligation required to be performed under any of those contracts.
4: Proceedings seeking the reopening of a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction may not be commenced at any other time.
5: The Commission may commence proceedings on behalf of a person or a class of persons.
6: This section applies despite any other enactment or rule of law. 1981 No 27 s 12
126: Evidence
1: If the court considers reopening a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction under section 120(a)
2: If the court considers reopening a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction under section 120(b)
3: If the court considers reopening a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction under section 120(c) 1981 No 27 s 13
127: Power of court on reopening credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction
1: If the court reopens a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, it may make any orders that it thinks necessary to remedy the matters that caused the court to reopen the contract, lease, or transaction.
2: The court may—
a: order that an account be taken, and reopen any account already taken, for any transaction between the parties; or
b: vest in any party, or direct any party to transfer or assign to any other party or to deliver to any other party the possession of, the whole or any part of any property that is the subject of the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction or that is the whole or part of the consideration for it; or
c: direct any party to pay to any other party any sum that the court thinks fit; or
d: order that any obligation outstanding under the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction be extinguished, revised, altered, complied with, or performed; or
e: order that the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, or any term of the contract, lease, or transaction, or any security interest in connection with the contract, lease, or transaction, be set aside (in whole or in part) or revised or altered; or
f: if a party has parted with any property that is the subject of a security interest in connection with the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, order him or her to indemnify the other party or parties; or
g: direct any party to do or refrain from doing any act or thing in relation to any other party.
3: Subsection (2) does not limit subsection (1).
4: Any order may be made on any terms and conditions that the court thinks fit. 1981 No 27 s 14(1), (3)
128: Costs in consumer cases
1: In any proceedings under this Part, the court may, if it has reopened a consumer credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, make an order for the payment by any party to the proceedings of the whole or any part of the full costs incurred in connection with the proceedings by any other party to the proceedings.
2: The costs so awarded are recoverable as a debt due by the party against whom they have been awarded to the party in whose favour they have been awarded.
3: This section is subject to section 87
129: Persons who share in profits or have beneficial interest in reopened credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction
1: If it appears to the court that any person has shared in the profits of, or has any beneficial interest in (whether prospective or otherwise), a reopened credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction (whether or not the person is a party to the contract, lease, or transaction), the court may make any orders concerning that person that it thinks fit.
2: This section does not limit section 127 1981 No 27 s 14(2)
130: Time of exercise of court's powers
The powers of the court may be exercised whether or not—
a: the time for performance of any term of the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction has arrived:
b: any statement or settlement of account relating to the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction has been given:
c: any agreement purporting to end the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction has been made:
d: any party has assigned any of the party's rights under the credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction. 1981 No 27 s 14(4)
131: No limit on sections 41, 80, and 82
Nothing in this Part limits section 41 section 80 section 82
5A: Certification and fit and proper person requirements
Part 5A inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131A: Interpretation for this Part
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,— licensed provider section 4 Registrar section 4 Section 131A inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Requirement for certification Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131B: When person needs to be certified
1: A person must not provide any of the following services without holding a certification that covers that service:
a: being a creditor under a consumer credit contract:
b: being a mobile trader.
2: Subsection (1) applies unless an exemption applies under section 131C 2013 No 69 s 388 Section 131B inserted 1 October 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131C: Exemptions from need for certification
1: A person is exempt from the certification requirement under section 131B
a: is a licensed provider that is licensed, registered, authorised, or otherwise approved to provide a licensed service by a licensing authority listed in Schedule 2
b: is a prescribed exempt person.
2: A person is also exempt from the certification requirement in respect of a service to the extent that a service is a prescribed exempt service. 2013 No 69 s 389 Section 131C inserted 1 October 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131D: Prohibitions on holding out that person is certified
A person must not hold out that the person is certified under this Part if that is not the case. 2013 No 69 s 391 Section 131D inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Issue of certifications Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131E: Commission may issue certification
The Commission may issue a certification in accordance with this Part. 2013 No 69 s 394 Section 131E inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131F: Application for certification
1: A person may apply for certification in the manner that is specified by the Commission.
2: The application may be for a certification in respect of being a creditor under a consumer credit contract, or being a mobile trader, or both.
3: An applicant must provide to the Commission the information that is required by the Commission to assist it in determining the application.
4: An applicant may request that 1 or more conditions be imposed on their certification. 2013 No 69 s 395 Section 131F inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131G: When certification must be issued
1: The Commission must, after receiving an application under section 131F
2: See section 131L 2013 No 69 s 396 Section 131G inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131H: Procedural requirements
1: This section applies to a decision of the Commission as to whether to issue certification under section 131G section 131L(1)﻿(a)
2: The Commission must have regard to the prescribed matters (if any) before making a decision.
3: The Commission must make the decision in the prescribed manner (if any).
4: Subsections (5) and (6) apply if the Commission proposes to—
a: refuse to issue a certification; or
b: impose a condition when the applicant has not requested a condition; or
c: impose a condition that is materially more restrictive than that requested in the application.
5: The Commission must give the applicant no less than 10 working days’ written notice of the following matters before it exercises the power:
a: that the Commission may refuse to issue the certification or impose the condition; and
b: the reasons why it may exercise that power.
6: The Commission must give the applicant or the applicant’s representative an opportunity to make written submissions on the matter within that notice period.
7: In this section, applicant
a: the person applying for certification (for example, the entity that will provide the service); and
b: any director, senior manager, or proposed director or senior manager who the Commission is not satisfied is a fit and proper person to hold their respective position. 2013 No 69 ss 319 397 Section 131H inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131I: Notice of decision
1: The Commission must give written notice of a decision referred to in section 131H
a: the applicant; and
b: every other prescribed person.
2: If the Commission refuses to issue a certification or imposes a condition referred to in section 131H(4) 2013 No 69 s 398 Section 131I inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131J: Commission must send certification details to Registrar
1: The Commission must send the details specified in subsection (2) to the Registrar after making a decision referred to in section 131H
2: The details, for each certification, are—
a: the name of the certified person; and
b: any conditions of the certification; and
c: any other prescribed information.
3: The Commission may publicly notify any details about a certification as it thinks fit. 2013 No 69 s 401 Section 131J inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Conditions of certification Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131K: Conditions of certification
1: The certification is subject to the conditions imposed by the Commission under section 131L
2: The certified person must comply with the conditions imposed on the person’s certification. 2013 No 69 s 402 Section 131K inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131L: When Commission may impose conditions
1: The Commission may, by written notice to the applicant or certified person,—
a: impose conditions on a certification when the certification is issued; and
b: vary, revoke, add to, or substitute any conditions of certification imposed under this section at any time after the certification is issued.
2: A condition referred to in subsection (1) may only—
a: relate to the requirements referred to in section 131G
b: specify a date of expiry of the certification.
3: This section is subject to any regulations made under section 138(1)﻿(hb) 2013 No 69 s 403 Section 131L inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131M: Certified person may apply for variation of conditions
1: A certified person may apply, in the manner that is specified by the Commission, for the Commission to exercise a power under section 131L(1)﻿(b)
2: A certified person must provide to the Commission the information that is required by the Commission to assist it in determining the application. 2013 No 69 s 404 Section 131M inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131N: Procedure for variation of conditions
The Commission must not exercise a power under section 131L(1)﻿(b) section 131M
a: the Commission gives the certified person no less than 10 working days’ written notice of the following matters before it exercises the power:
i: that the Commission may exercise the power; and
ii: the reasons why it may exercise the power; and
b: the Commission gives the certified person or their representative an opportunity to make written submissions on the matter within that notice period. 2013 No 69 s 405 Section 131N inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Expiry, suspension, or cancellation of certifications Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131O: Duration of certification
1: A certification continues in force (unless it is cancelled before then) until the earlier of the following dates (the termination date
a: the date that is 5 years after the date on which it is issued:
b: its expiry date (if any).
2: Subsection (3) applies if—
a: a certified person applies for a new certification no later than 2 months before the termination date of an existing certification that the new certification is intended to supersede; and
b: the application is not disposed of before the termination date.
3: The existing certification continues in force until the application is disposed of. 2013 No 69 s 407 Section 131O inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131P: When Commission may suspend or cancel certification
The Commission may suspend (for a specified period or until a specified requirement is met) or cancel a certification—
a: if the certified person, by written notice, requests the Commission to do so; or
b: if the certified person does not meet, or no longer meets, the requirements referred to in section 131G
c: if the Commission is satisfied that the certified person is incapacitated, has ceased to exist, or has become subject to an insolvency event within the meaning of section 6(4)
d: if the Commission is satisfied that the certified person has materially contravened a condition of the certification. 2013 No 69 s 408 Section 131P inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131Q: Procedural requirements on suspension or cancellation of certification
1: The Commission must not suspend or cancel a certification unless—
a: the Commission gives the certified person no less than 10 working days’ written notice of the following matters before it exercises the power:
i: that the Commission may suspend or cancel the certification; and
ii: the reasons why it may exercise that power; and
b: the Commission gives the certified person or their representative an opportunity to make written submissions on the matter within that notice period.
2: In this section, certified person 2013 No 69 s 397 Section 131Q inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Changes relating to certified persons Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131R: Duty to notify changes
1: A certified person must notify the Commission about any prescribed change in circumstances (for example, a change in directors or senior managers) relating to a certified person.
2: The time within which a person must notify the Commission under subsection (1) is 10 working days from the date on which the person comes to know about the change.
3: A certified person must provide to the Commission the information that is required by the Commission to assist it in determining whether the certified person continues to meet, or no longer meets, the requirements referred to in section 131G 2008 No 97 s 17 Section 131R inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Other provisions about certifications Heading inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131S: Appeals against certification decisions
A person may appeal to the District Court against a decision of the Commission under this Part to—
a: refuse to issue a certification to the person; or
b: impose conditions on the person’s certification or proposed certification or vary, revoke, add to, or substitute any conditions on the person’s certification; or
c: refuse an application to vary the conditions of the person’s certification; or
d: suspend or cancel the person’s certification. 2013 No 69 s 531 Section 131S inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
131T: Fees, charges, and costs in connection with this subpart
1: The Commission may refuse to perform or exercise a function, power, or duty until any fee, charge, or cost prescribed under section 138(1)﻿(hb)
2: Any fee, charge, or cost payable to the Commission is recoverable by the Commission in any court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Commission. 2011 No 5 s 67(3), (4) Section 131T inserted 1 June 2021 section 50 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
6: Miscellaneous provisions
132: Provisions relating to assignment of credit contracts, consumer leases, or buy-back transactions
1: An assignee of a credit contract, a consumer lease, or a buy-back transaction from a creditor, a lessor, or a transferee takes the contract, lease, or transaction subject to all equities and to all rights and remedies under this Act that the debtor, the lessee, or the occupier has or would have against the original creditor, the original lessor, the original transferee, or any subsequent creditor, lessor, or transferee.
2: This section is subject to the Bills of Exchange Act 1908 1981 No 27 s 42
132A: Disclosure about debt collection
Application
1: This section applies to any credit contract under which—
a: the debtor is a natural person; and
b: when the contract was entered into, the credit was to be used, or was intended to be used, wholly or predominantly for personal, domestic, or household purposes; and
c: debt collection is, or is to be, carried out in the course of a business. Duty to make disclosure
2: Before debt collection starts, the debt collector must ensure that disclosure of all the information set out in the regulations that applies to the contract is made to every debtor under the contract.
3: A person who becomes a debt collector after debt collection has started must also make the disclosure required by subsection (2) within 10 working days of the day on which the person becomes a debt collector.
4: In this section, unless the context otherwise requires,— debt collection debt collector Exceptions
5: However, this section does not apply—
a: if the act to recover (or attempt to recover) money is either of the following:
i: a payment reminder provided by the creditor who made the advance under the credit contract:
ii: a payment reminder provided by a person to whom the rights of a creditor have been transferred by assignment or operation of law (the assignee
b: if the creditor has complied with section 119
c: if the creditor has served a repossession warning notice in accordance with section 83G
d: if the action is in respect of a repossession of goods that are at risk ( see section 83E(2)
6: In this section, unless the context otherwise requires,— payment reminder
a: means a communication that—
i: is made within 6 months of a default in payment; and
ii: only requests a payment that is overdue; but
b: excludes—
i: a notice demanding payment of any amount in addition to the overdue payments (for example, a notice demanding that the unpaid balance be repaid in full):
ii: in-person visits to the debtor, the debtor’s residence, or the debtor’s place of work:
iii: communications with any person other than the debtor (other than incidental communications in the course of attempting to contact the debtor):
iv: requesting the debtor to consent to deductions from wages (under section 5 Schedule 2 section 303
v: filing enforcement proceedings or lodging a claim with the Disputes Tribunal payment that is overdue
a: includes default fees and default interest charges in respect of an overdue amount:
b: does not include an amount payable under an acceleration clause (being an express or implied term in a credit contract which provides that, if there is a default, any amounts become payable (or may be called up as becoming payable) earlier than would be the case if there had not been a default). How it works
7: Subpart 4
8: The rules in sections 11(1A) and (1B) 12 to 14 15(1)﻿(ca) 16 Section 132A inserted 1 December 2021 section 51 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
133: Changes, deferrals, or postponements under credit contracts and consumer leases
1: The provision of credit as a result of a change to an existing credit contract, or a deferral of an amount payable under an existing credit contract, or a postponement relating to an existing credit contract, is not to be treated as creating a new credit contract for the purposes of this Act if the change, deferral, or postponement is made in accordance with this Act or the existing credit contract.
2: The provision of further goods under an existing consumer lease, or a change in a consumer lease as a result of a deferral of an amount payable under an existing consumer lease, or a postponement relating to an existing consumer lease, is not to be treated as creating a new consumer lease for the purposes of this Act or as creating a credit contract for the purposes of this Act if the provision of the further goods, change, deferral, or postponement is made in accordance with this Act or the existing consumer lease.
134: Right to set-off
1: A creditor, lessor, or transferee may set-off any entitlement of a debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier to statutory damages or to an amount that must be paid to a debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier under an order made under section 93 or 94A
2: Subsection (1) is subject to any order of the court. Section 134(1) amended 6 June 2015 section 75 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
135: No contracting out
1: This Act has effect despite any provision to the contrary in any credit contract, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction.
1A: Section 197
2: Every creditor, lessor, or transferee commits an offence against section 13(i)
3: Subsection (1) does not limit or affect any term in a credit contract, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction between a creditor, a lessor, or a transferee and a debtor, a guarantor, a lessee, or an occupier to the extent that the term—
a: imposes a stricter duty on the creditor, the lessor, or the transferee than that imposed by this Act; or
b: provides a remedy more advantageous to the debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier than the remedies provided by this Act.
4: Subsection (1) does not prevent a debtor, guarantor, lessee, or occupier who has a claim under this Act from agreeing to settle or compromise that claim. 1993 No 91 s 43 Section 135(1A) inserted 6 June 2015 section 76 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 135(1A) amended 1 September 2017 section 347 Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017
136: Application of law relating to illegal contracts
The fact that a credit contract, a consumer lease, or a buy-back transaction has been entered into in breach of this Act, or that an act that breaches this Act has been committed in the course of the performance of any contract, lease, or transaction, does not—
a: make that contract, lease, or transaction illegal; or
b: make that contract, lease, or transaction or any provision of that contract, lease, or transaction unenforceable or of no effect, except as expressly provided in this Act. 1981 No 27 s 44
137: Conflict of laws
This Act applies to a credit contract, guarantee, lease, or buy-back transaction if the contract, guarantee, lease, or transaction—
a: is governed by the law of New Zealand; or
b: would be governed by the law of New Zealand but for a choice of law provision in the contract, guarantee, lease, or transaction. Declarations about credit contracts and consumer credit contracts Heading inserted 20 December 2019 section 52 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019
137A: Class declarations about credit contracts and consumer credit contracts
1: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
a: declaring that any class of arrangements or facilities are not credit contracts:
b: declaring any class of arrangements or facilities that has, or is intended to have, the effect of a person receiving a loan, or goods or services with deferred payment, to be consumer credit contracts:
c: declaring any class of consumer credit contracts to be high-cost consumer credit contracts or related consumer credit contracts for the purposes of subpart 6A
2: A power in this section to make regulations may be used only on the recommendation of the Minister, and the Minister may make a recommendation only if the Minister—
a: is satisfied, in the case of subsection (1)﻿(a), that the declaration—
i: is necessary or desirable to promote certainty about whether this Act applies; and
ii: is not inconsistent with the purposes of this Act set out in section 3
iii: would not cause significant detriment to consumers; and
b: is satisfied, in the case of subsection (1)﻿(b), that the regulations are necessary or desirable in order to promote the purposes of the Act set out in section 3
c: is satisfied, in the case of subsection (1)﻿(c), that the regulations are necessary or desirable in order to promote the purpose of subpart 6A
d: has had regard to the economic substance of the relevant arrangement or facility; and
e: has consulted the persons or representatives of the persons who the Minister considers will be substantially affected by the regulations.
3: If the Minister makes a recommendation, the Minister’s reasons for making the recommendation (including why the declaration is appropriate) must be published together with the regulations.
4: If a declaration is made under subsection (1)﻿(b) or (c), this Act applies with any modifications specified in the regulations and with all other necessary modifications.
5: Regulations under this section are secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 137A inserted 20 December 2019 section 52 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 137A(5) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
137B: Declarations about particular arrangements or facilities
1: The Minister may declare that the following are not credit contracts:
a: a particular arrangement or facility:
b: a class of arrangements or facilities associated with or involving 1 or more particular persons (for example, a type of product offered by a particular person or group of companies).
2: A power in this section may be exercised only if the Minister—
a: is satisfied that the declaration—
i: is necessary or desirable to promote certainty about whether this Act applies; and
ii: is not inconsistent with the purposes of this Act set out in section 3
iii: would not cause significant detriment to consumers; and
b: has had regard to the economic substance of the relevant arrangement or facility; and
c: has consulted—
i: the Commission; and
ii: the persons or representatives of the persons who the Minister considers will be substantially affected by the declaration.
3:
4: The Minister’s reasons for making a declaration under this section (including why the declaration is appropriate) must be published together with the declaration.
5: A declaration under this section is secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication The maker must: LA19 ss 73 74(1)﻿(a) cl 14 •	notify it in the Gazette •	publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, the Ministry Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 137B inserted 20 December 2019 section 52 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 137B(3) repealed 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Section 137B(5) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021
137C: General provisions about all declarations
1: A declaration under section 137A 137B
a: the circumstances in which the declaration applies, whether by reference to any persons, arrangements, or facilities, or any other circumstances:
b: transitional matters.
2: Nothing in this section prevents the granting of an exemption under section 138
3: A failure to consult as required by section 137A 137B
4: A declaration under section 137A section 15 Section 137C inserted 20 December 2019 section 52 Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Regulations
138: Regulations
1: The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
a: prescribing any class of credit contract that is exempted from being a consumer credit contract and the terms and conditions (if any) applying to the exemption:
ab: exempting any credit contract or other agreement or class of credit contract or other agreement from the application of any provision or provisions of this Act, and prescribing the terms and conditions (if any) of the exemption:
aba: exempting any person or class of persons from being a creditor under a consumer credit contract or class of consumer credit contracts for the purpose of this Act or applying any provision or provisions of this Act, and prescribing the terms and conditions (if any) of the exemption:
abb: declaring any person or class of persons to be creditors under a consumer credit contract or class of consumer credit contracts:
abc: setting advertising standards for the purposes of section 9C(3)﻿(b)﻿(i)
i: what advertisements must or must not contain:
ii: the manner in which advertising must or may be done:
iii: circumstances in which advertising must not be distributed to a person (including prohibitions on advertising):
abd: prescribing, for the purposes of section 9C
i: inquiries that must be made before entering into, or making a material change to, an agreement, a guarantee, or an insurance contract:
ii: processes, practices, and procedures that a lender should follow when making reasonable inquiries:
iii: the way in which the results of the inquiries must be taken into account:
iv: circumstances that would prevent a lender from being satisfied as to a matter:
ac: prescribing matters for the purposes of section 19(1)﻿(i)
b: prescribing any other information that must be disclosed under section 22 section 23 section 26
c: prescribing, for the purposes of section 23 section 26
d: prescribing any class of change to a matter to which section 23(5)
da: in the case of circumstances that relate to securitisation or covered bond arrangements or similar arrangements,—
i: prescribing circumstances for the purposes of section 26A(3) Part 3A
ii: prescribing circumstances for the purposes of section 59B(4)
iii: prescribing modifications to other provisions that relate to the application, effect, or enforcement of those provisions:
db: prescribing matters for the purposes of section 32(1)﻿(ba)
i: 1 or more forms:
ii: when a form must be used:
iii: information or warnings that must be included in the form that are in addition to the key information set out in Schedule 1
dba: prescribing for the purposes of section 26B
i: when information needs to be provided:
ii: what information needs to be provided:
iii: the manner in which that information needs to be provided:
dc: prescribing the particular matters required to meet all or any of the requirements under this Act for publication, disclosure, notice, or other provision of information:
dd: prescribing the form of statements that must be used to meet all or any of the requirements under this Act for publication, disclosure, notice, or other provision of information:
de: prescribing how the information to be disclosed must be presented, including, but not limited to, requirements as to the precise manner of disclosure:
e: prescribing model disclosure statements for the purposes of section 34 section 32
f: prescribing, for the purposes of section 33
fa: providing for the calculation of matters in paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of high-cost consumer credit contract
fb: prescribing a procedure or procedures for calculating the maximum rate of charge for the purposes of section 45H
fc: prescribing, for the purposes of section 45H
g: prescribing a procedure or procedures for calculating a reasonable estimate of a creditor's loss arising from full prepayment:
h: prescribing, for the purposes of section 52
ha: prescribing, for the purposes of section 52A 52B
hb: prescribing matters relating to Part 5A
i: persons who, or services that, are exempt for the purposes of section 131C
ii: matters that the Commission must have regard to for the purposes of section 131H(2)
iii: conditions that certifications are subject to, the kinds of conditions that the Commission may impose on those certifications, or matters to which conditions imposed by the Commission may relate, for the purposes of sections 131K 131L
iv: persons for the purposes of section 131I
v: information for the purposes of section 131J(2)﻿(c)
vi: changes in circumstances for the purposes of section 131R(1)
vii: requiring the payment to the Commission of fees and charges in connection with applications and notices under Part 5A
viii: authorising the Commission to require payment of any costs incurred by the Commission in connection with an application or a notice referred to in subparagraph (vii)﻿:
ix: authorising the Commission, in its discretion or on any grounds that are prescribed, to refund or waive all or any part of a prescribed fee, charge, or cost payable in connection with an application or a notice referred to in subparagraph (vii):
i: prescribing the procedure for determining the maximum amount payable by a lessee on the termination of a consumer lease before the end of its term:
j: prescribing the form of the certificate that must be given under section 73
ja: prescribing consumer goods or documents for the purposes of section 83ZN(1)﻿(c)
jb: prescribing requirements in relation to annual returns for the purposes of section 116AAA
jc: prescribing information that must be disclosed under section 132A
jd: prescribing, for the purposes of any provision of this Act that requires a thing to be done in a prescribed manner (or for the purposes of any other regulations empowered to prescribe the manner in which something must be done), the manner in which the thing must be done, including prescribing—
i: by whom, when, where, and how the thing must be done:
ii: the form that must be used in connection with doing the thing:
iii: what information or other evidence or documents must be provided in connection with the thing:
iv: requirements with which information, evidence, or documents that are provided in connection with the thing must comply:
v: that fees or charges must be paid in connection with doing the thing:
vi: that the Commission may determine or prescribe any of the matters under subparagraphs (i) to (iv):
k: prescribing, for the purposes of Schedule 1
l: prescribing, for the purposes of Schedule 2
m: prescribing, for the purposes of Schedule 3
n: providing for any other matters contemplated by this Act, necessary for its administration, or necessary for giving it full effect.
1A: Regulations may be made under subsection (1)﻿(a) to (aba)
a: has had regard to the purposes of this Act set out in section 3
b: is satisfied that the exemption would not cause significant detriment to debtors under credit contracts, lessees under consumer leases, or occupiers under buy-back transactions; and
c: is satisfied, in the case of—
i: subsection (1)﻿(a) or (aba)
ii: subsection (1)﻿(ab), that compliance with the relevant provision or provisions would, in the circumstances, require a creditor, lessor, or transferee or a class of creditors, lessors, or transferees to comply with requirements that are unduly onerous or burdensome.
1B: If the Minister makes a recommendation under subsection (1A) relating to an exemption in regulations made under subsection (1)﻿(a) to (aba)
1BA: Regulations may be made under subsection (1)﻿(abb) (declaring any person or class of persons to be creditors) or (abc) (advertising) or (abd) (inquiries) only on the recommendation of the Minister, and the Minister may make a recommendation only after consulting the persons or representatives of the persons who the Minister considers will be substantially affected by the regulations.
1BB: Regulations may be made under subsection (1)﻿(jb) only on the recommendation of the Minister, and the Minister may make a recommendation only after consulting the Commission and representatives of the creditors that would be affected.
1BC: A failure to consult as required by this section does not affect the validity of any regulation.
1C: Regulations may be made under subsection (1)﻿(da) only on the recommendation of the Minister, and the Minister may make a recommendation only if he or she is satisfied that the circumstances that are prescribed relate to a securitisation or covered bond arrangement or any similar arrangement.
1D: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(db) to (de), regulations may prescribe different requirements for different types or classes of disclosure, persons who are required to make disclosure, contracts, leases, transactions, or other circumstances.
2: For the purposes of subsection (1)﻿(e), regulations may—
a: prescribe model disclosure statements in any language; and
b: authorise the translation of a prescribed model disclosure statement into 1 or more languages and the terms and conditions that apply to the translation.
3: Without limiting subsection (1)﻿(f), regulations may prescribe assumptions for the purposes of section 33
a: the amount of any advance, interest rate, fee, charge, or payment; and
b: whether or not at any time there will be a change to the amount of any advance, interest rate, fee, charge, or payment; and
c: when any advance or payment will be made or will become payable; and
d: when any interest charge, fee, or other charge will be paid or become payable; and
e: the actions or behaviour of any person.
4: Regulations may also contain different provisions in relation to different—
a: classes of lenders or creditors:
b: classes of borrowers or debtors:
c: classes of guarantors:
d: classes of agreements or contracts.
5: Regulations under this section are secondary legislation ( see Part 3 The following table is small in size and has 3 columns that are grouped under the heading Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section. Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section Publication PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette LA19 s 69(1)﻿(c) Presentation The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives LA19 s 114 cl 32(1)﻿(a) Disallowance It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives LA19 ss 115 116 This note is not part of the Act. Section 138(1)﻿(ab) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(aba) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(abb) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(abc) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(abd) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(1) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(ac) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(1) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(d) replaced 7 June 2014 section 77(2) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(da) replaced 20 December 2019 section 53(2) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(db) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(dba) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(3) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(dc) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(dd) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(de) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(3) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(e) amended 7 June 2014 section 77(4) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(fa) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(fb) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(fc) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(4) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(ha) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(5) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(hb) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(5) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(ja) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(6) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1)﻿(jb) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(6) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(jc) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(6) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1)﻿(jd) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(6) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1A) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1A) amended 20 December 2019 section 53(7) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1A)﻿(c)﻿(i) amended 20 December 2019 section 53(8) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1B) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1B) amended 20 December 2019 section 53(9) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1BA) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(10) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1BB) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(10) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1BC) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(10) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(1C) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(1D) inserted 7 June 2014 section 77(7) Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 Section 138(4) inserted 20 December 2019 section 53(11) Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 Section 138(5) inserted 28 October 2021 section 3 Secondary Legislation Act 2021 Acts amended and repealed
139: Acts amended
The Acts specified in Schedule 4
140: Repeal of Credit Contracts Act 1981 and Hire Purchase Act 1971
The following enactments are repealed:
a: Credit Contracts Act 1981 (1981 No 27):
b: Hire Purchase Act 1971 (1971 No 147). Transitional provisions
141: Transitional provision
1: This Act applies to every credit contract, consumer lease, and guarantee that is made after the commencement of this subsection.
2: This Act applies to every buy-back transaction, whether made before or after the commencement of this subsection.
3: However, subpart 3
141A: Application, savings, and transitional provisions relating to amendments to Act
The application, savings, and transitional provisions set out in Schedule 1AA Section 141A inserted 7 June 2014 section 78 Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014
142: Election for Act to apply
1: A creditor under a credit contract made before the commencement of this section may, after the commencement of this section, elect that this Act apply to the credit contract and any guarantee made in connection with the credit contract from a particular date (the effective date
2: A creditor must not make an election under subsection (1) if that election increases any obligation that the debtor has in connection with the credit contract.
3: The effective date must be a date after the date that the election is made.
4: If a creditor makes an election under subsection (1),—
a: the Credit Contracts Act 1981 and the Hire Purchase Act 1971 do not apply to the credit contract or the guarantee from the effective date; and
b: the creditor must, within 5 working days of the day that the election is made, notify the debtor or guarantor in writing—
i: that the creditor has made an election under this section; and
ii: that this Act applies to the credit contract or guarantee from the effective date; and
c: the election does not affect the completion of a matter or thing, or the bringing or completion of proceedings that relate to a right, interest, title, immunity, or duty that existed immediately before the election takes effect; and
d: the Credit Contracts Act 1981 and the Hire Purchase Act 1971 continue to have effect as if the election had not been made for the purpose of completing the matter or thing or the bringing or completion of proceedings that relate to a right, interest, title, immunity, or duty that existed immediately before the election takes effect.
143: Continuing application of Credit Contracts Act 1981 and Hire Purchase Act 1971
1: If this Act does not apply to a credit contract, hire purchase agreement, or guarantee made before the commencement of this section, or to any act, omission, right, interest, title, immunity, or duty in connection with that contract, agreement, or guarantee, then the Credit Contracts Act 1981 and the Hire Purchase Act 1971
2: For the purposes of subsection (1), Part 2 of Schedule 1 Disputes Tribunal Act 1988
2A: The references in subsection (1) to the Credit Contracts Act 1981 and the Hire Purchase Act 1971 are references to those Acts as in force immediately before the commencement of this section, except that references in section 45A of the Credit Contracts Act 1981 and section 47A of the Hire Purchase Act 1971 to $7,500 and $12,000 must be treated as references to $15,000 and $20,000 respectively.
3: In this section,— credit contract hire purchase agreement Section 143(1) amended 1 August 2009 section 8 Disputes Tribunals Amendment Act 2009 Section 143(2) amended 1 March 2017 section 261 District Court Act 2016 Section 143(2A) inserted 1 August 2009 section 8 Disputes Tribunals Amendment Act 2009