11/11/2014

FCA Introduce Caps On Payday Loan Charges

The financial regulator has announced a series of caps on charges used by payday loan firms.

The caps, introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), include:

• 0.8% per day interest – lenders cannot charge more than 0.8% interest on a loan. For example if a customer borrows £100 over 30 days and repays the loan in full, interest charged will be £24.

• A one-off default fee capped at £15 – customers can only be charged £15 for failure to repay a loan on time.

• A total cost cap of 100% of the loan – should a customer default on a loan, the lender can continue to charge interest but only up to twice the amount that the customer borrowed.

The FCA said that the new regulations will come into force from January 2015.

(MH/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 July 2003
'Fair deal' for loan repayers proposed
People who repay loans early will get a "fairer deal" under changes outlined by the government today. The government has found that around seven-in-10 personal loans are settled early, but people often have to pay big charges if they do so. The government wants to scrap the rules that penalise customers.
07 December 2011
Payday Loans Make Situation Worse, Says Report
Half of those taking high interest, short-term payday loans have reported it made their situation worse, according to a study published on Wednesday. The research from insolvency trade body R3 found that of those who had taken out a payday loan, 60% regret the decision and 48% believe the loan has made their financial situation worse.
19 August 2014
Payday Loan Middlemen 'Drain' Money From Customer Accounts - Report
Websites are taking out hundreds of pounds from unknowing customers' accounts, on the promise of finding cheap credit, only for the loans never to materialise.
05 November 2013
Lewis Slams Payday Lenders
MoneySavingExpert.com creator Martin Lewis has told MPs payday lenders are "in danger of grooming a new generation to this type of borrowing". Mr Lewis joined other consumer groups, regulators and payday loan firms at a Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee hearing into the industry this morning.
25 July 2013
Church Of England Go Into Business Against Wonga
The Church of England is set to go to battle with online payday loan company Wonga. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, has announced a plan for the CoE to expand credit unions as an alternative to payday loan vendors.