Quick payday loans in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA sets the rules and guidelines for payday lenders to ensure that they operate in a fair and transparent manner. Below are some of the key regulations
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Cost caps
The FCA has capped the cost of payday loans to ensure that borrowers are not charged excessive interest rates or fees. The cap is set at 0.8% per day of the loan amount, and the total cost of the loan, including interest and fees, cannot exceed 100% of the original loan amount.
Affordability checks
Payday lenders are required to carry out affordability checks on borrowers to ensure that they can repay the loan without getting into financial difficulty.
Creditworthiness checks
Payday lenders must also carry out creditworthiness checks on borrowers to determine if they are eligible for a loan.
Cooling-off period
Borrowers have a 14-day cooling-off period during which they can change their mind about the loan and receive a full refund.
Default charges
Default charges for payday loans are limited to £15.
Payday lenders are not allowed to use CPAs, which are recurring payments taken from a borrower’s account without their consent, to collect repayments.
Debt collection
The FCA regulates the way in which payday lenders collect debts, and they must follow strict rules to ensure that borrowers are treated fairly and not subjected to unreasonable or harassing debt collection practices.
These regulations are in place to protect borrowers and ensure that they have a positive experience when taking out payday loans in the UK.
About The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a regulatory body in the United Kingdom that is responsible for overseeing financial markets and ensuring that they operate in a way that is fair, transparent, and in the best interests of consumers.
The FCA was established in 2013, taking over from the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and has been given a wide range of powers and responsibilities to regulate financial markets and protect consumers.
The FCA has a number of responsibilities, including:
- Regulating financial institutions: The FCA regulates banks, insurance companies, investment firms, and other financial institutions to ensure that they are operating in a responsible and transparent manner.
- Protecting consumers: The FCA works to protect consumers from financial scams and unfair practices by financial institutions. They also set and enforce rules to ensure that financial products and services are sold in a way that is fair and transparent to consumers.
- Maintaining stability in financial markets: The FCA works to maintain stability in financial markets and prevent systemic risk. They do this by monitoring and regulating market participants, setting standards for market conduct, and taking action against any firms that breach these standards.
- Promoting competition: The FCA aims to promote competition in financial markets by removing barriers and encouraging new entrants. This helps to increase choice for consumers and improve the overall functioning of financial markets.
The FCA is an independent body that is funded by fees from the financial institutions it regulates. This ensures that it operates at arm’s length from government and is free from political interference. The FCA is responsible to the UK Parliament and is accountable for its actions through regular reporting and parliamentary scrutiny.