Search
Recommended Products
Related Links


 

 

Informative Articles

How To Avail Of Credit Card Point Redemption
I have a friend who's a frequent traveler who's most of the time always out of the United States. While he's always traveling, his purchases done in other countries are done over his credit cards. He prefers using his frequent traveler credit...

Lower Credit Card Debt
You can lower credit card debt through a variety of options. Consolidating your debt into one loan can help lower interest rates and monthly payments. If you need additional help, you can use a debt management or debt negotiation company. Both...

Screening Out Prospective Tenants Based on Credit Checks?
Increasingly, landlords throughout North America are screening prospective tenants in order to reduce the risks involved when renting to unknown individuals. Risks which can easily become quite costly to an unsuspecting landlord. It's easy...

Trade Credit: How to determine if you should offer net-30 terms to your business customers
What is trade credit? One of the major differences between consumer and commercial transactions is that most, if not all, consumer transactions are paid in cash or by credit card at the time of sale. Because of this, most consumer businesses...

Ways to Repair Bad Credit
Bad credit can have a serious negative influence on a variety of things in your life...not only can it prevent you from getting the loan that you need or the credit card that you want, but it can also keep you from getting certain jobs or into...

 
Google
Introduction to Consumer Credit

Consumer credit refers to credit in some form given to the consumers. It is a way of financing a client on condition of a deferred payment, at a later date or within a particular period of time.

The businesses that provide consumer credit facilities need to comply with some regulations as lay down by the laws of the state. It is equally applicable to specialist credit businesses like credit card providers and money lenders to mail-order businesses or shops that permit the customers to buy on credit or lease out or hires goods. That is, the enterprises that give consumer credit facilities have to have a valid consumer credit license from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). It is a mark of assurance to the customer that the business firm certified by OFT is fit for serve the customers.

Let us see which all businesses require a consumer credit license as a mandatory requirement by the law. The businesses that sells on credit, leases out or hires goods for over a period of 3 months, lends dollars, involved in credit card selling, arranges credit for others, provides hire/purchase commodities, collects debts, and give advise on others credit standing come under the purview of a consumer credit license.

But those lends amounts or hire goods for a cost more than a fixed amount, those deal only with limited companies and those allow the clients to pay back the amount in four or lesser installments are exempted from the consumer credit license.




Ideally one should check the guidelines from the OFT website to find out clearly which all businesses need a consumer credit license. Remember, to trade without a consumer credit license when you are required to earn one is a crime that invites fine or prison term or both.

Consumer credit license is valid for a fixed time period (5 years or so) and is required by the business to renew it after its expiry. However, the OFT can revoke, suspend or change the license at any point of time. The decision to do so is at the exclusive discretion of the authority. All the consumer credit license holders will be listed in the Consumer Credit Register, which is given free of cost for the public.

If the business consists of many companies, each trading in any of the categories, then each of the firms requires a separate license. Also, the OFT has laid down rules regarding advertising credit and credit agreements. All these details are furnished in the OFT website.

The government and the regulatory body assume that it is the duty of the business to keep themselves informed about the rules and regulations that govern their enterprises. Any breach of conduct can result in hefty fines and prison terms. It is all about being law-obedient and straight.

About the author:

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.cashbazar.com. Visit his website for the latest on personal finance, debt elimination, budgeting, credit cards and real estate.