Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003

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Version as at 12 April 2022

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003

Public Act		2003 No 52
Date of assent		13 October 2003
Commencement		see section 2

Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.

1	Title
	Part 1 Preliminary provisions
2	Commencement
3	Purposes
4	Overview
5	Interpretation
6	Meaning of credit
7	Meaning of credit contract
8	Meaning of buy-back transaction
8A	Meanings of associated and associated person
8B	Provisions affecting application of amendments to this Act
8C	Status of examples
9	Act binds the Crown
	Part 1A Lender responsibilities
9A	Outline of Part
	Interpretation
9B	Interpretation
	Principles
9C	Lender responsibility principles
9CA	Records about inquiries made
9D	Proceedings for breach of legal obligations under other Acts
	Responsible Lending Code
9E	Purpose of Responsible Lending Code
9F	Content of Responsible Lending Code
	How Responsible Lending Code made and administered
9G	Preparation and issue of Responsible Lending Code
9H	Responsible Lending Code comes into force by notice in Gazette [Repealed]
9I	Amendment of Responsible Lending Code
	Publication of standard form contract terms and costs of borrowing
9J	Publication of standard form contract terms
9K	Publication of costs of borrowing
9L	Extended meaning of business premises
	Part 2 Consumer credit contracts
	Subpart 1—Application
10	When this Part applies
11	Meaning of consumer credit contract
12	Investment purposes
13	Presumption relating to consumer credit contract
14	Effect of declaration
15	Certain contracts not consumer credit contracts
15A	Part does not apply to pawnbroking contract
16	Lease of goods treated as consumer credit contract
16A	Mobile trader credit sales treated as consumer credit contract
	Subpart 2—Required disclosure
	Initial disclosure
17	Initial disclosure
	Continuing disclosure
18	Continuing disclosure
19	Content of continuing disclosure statement
20	Opening unpaid balance must not exceed closing unpaid balance of previous continuing disclosure statement
21	Continuing disclosure not required
	Variation disclosure
22	Disclosure of agreed changes
23	Disclosure of changes following exercise of power
	Request and guarantee disclosure
24	Request disclosure
25	Disclosure of guarantee
26	Disclosure of changes to guarantors
26A	Disclosure of transfer of rights of creditor under consumer credit contract
26B	Disclosure about dispute resolution schemes and financial mentoring services: hardship applications, arrears, credit declined, and complaints
	Subpart 3—Debtor’s right to cancel
27	Right to cancel consumer credit contract
28	Notice of cancellation, return of property, and payment of cash price
29	Right of cancellation does not apply in certain situations
30	Effect of cancellation
31	Effect of credit sale cancellation
	Subpart 4—Disclosure standards and how disclosure is made
32	Disclosure standards
33	Assumptions
34	Creditor, etc, may voluntarily use model disclosure statement if not required to use mandatory form
35	How disclosure is made
	Subpart 5—Interest charges
36	End of day
37	Creditor to ensure that contract specifies annual interest rate or rates
38	Early debit or payment of interest charges prohibited
39	Limit on interest charges
40	Default interest charges
	Subpart 6—Fees
	Unreasonable fees
41	Unreasonable credit fee or default fee
41A	Records and reviews about how fees calculated
42	Establishment fees
43	Prepayment fees
44	Credit fees other than establishment fees and prepayment fees
44A	Default fees
44B	Compliance with Code is evidence that fees are not unreasonable
	Fees or charges passed on by creditor
45	Fees or charges passed on by creditor
	Subpart 6A—Provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts
	Purpose, outline, and interpretation
45A	Purpose of this subpart
45B	Outline of this subpart
45C	Meaning of high-cost consumer credit contract
45D	Power to increase interest rate that defines high-cost consumer credit contract
	Rules
45E	Costs of borrowing must not exceed loan advance
45F	Certain high-cost consumer credit contracts with other creditors prohibited
45G	High-cost consumer credit contracts with certain repeat debtors prohibited
45H	Rate cap
45I	Compound interest prohibited
45J	Default fees
45K	Prohibition on avoidance
	Review of subpart
45L	Review of subpart
	Subpart 7—Payments
46	Crediting of payments
47	Dating and adjustments of debits and credits in accounts
48	Recovery of payments
	Prepayments
49	Part prepayments
50	Debtor’s right to full prepayment
51	Amount required for full prepayment
52	Rebate of insurance
52A	Rebate of repayment waiver
52B	Rebate of extended warranty
53	Termination of consumer credit insurance contract
54	Creditor’s loss arising from full prepayment
	Subpart 8—Changes on grounds of unforeseen hardship
55	Changes on grounds of unforeseen hardship
56	Changes that can be made
57	Application may not be made in certain circumstances
57A	Obligations of creditor in relation to application
58	Changes by court
59	Creditor may apply for variation of change
59A	How notices may be given
	Subpart 9—Duty of directors and senior managers of creditors under consumer credit contracts
59B	Duty of directors and senior managers of creditors
	Part 3 Consumer leases, credit-related insurance, and buy-back transactions of land
	Subpart 1—Consumer leases
60	Consumer leases
61	Presumption relating to consumer lease
62	Declaration concerning consumer lease
	Disclosure of consumer lease
63	Application of disclosure provisions
64	Initial disclosure of consumer lease
65	Variation disclosure of consumer leases
66	Variation disclosure not required [Repealed]
67	Request disclosure for consumer leases
	Amount payable on termination
68	Amount payable on termination
	Subpart 2—Credit-related insurance, repayment waivers, and extended warranties
69	Restrictions on credit-related insurance, repayment waivers, and extended warranties
70	Disclosure of credit-related insurance, repayment waiver, or extended warranty
	Subpart 3—Buy-back transactions of land
71	Application of disclosure provisions
72	Initial disclosure of buy-back transaction
73	Independent legal advice must be given to occupier
74	Buy-back transactions involving buy-back promoter
75	Land cannot be dealt with without leave of court if initial disclosure not made or no independent legal advice given
76	Interest of occupier is caveatable interest
77	Variation disclosure of buy-back transactions
78	Variation disclosure not required [Repealed]
79	Request disclosure for buy-back transactions
80	Unreasonable buy-back fees or buy-back default fees
81	Fees or charges passed on by transferee
82	Unreasonable fees payable to buy-back promoter or associated person
83	No limit on Part 2
	Part 3A Repossession of consumer goods under consumer credit contract
	Subpart 1—Preliminary provisions
83A	Outline of Part
83B	References to consumer credit contracts include security agreements
83C	Application of Part
83D	Part does not create right to repossess, etc
	Subpart 2—Rules that apply before repossession
83E	Circumstances in which creditor can repossess consumer goods
83F	Duty to ensure goods are specifically identified
83G	Creditor must serve repossession warning notice on debtor and other persons before taking possession of consumer goods
83H	Debtor may voluntarily deliver consumer goods
83I	Rules relating to accessions (goods that are installed in, or affixed to, other goods)
83J	Effect of debtor’s complaint or application on grounds of unforeseen hardship on creditor’s rights to enforce credit contract
83K	Subsequent complaints
	Subpart 3—Disabling devices
83L	Use of disabling device
83M	Connection or use of disabling device in connection with certain goods prohibited
	Subpart 4—Rules that apply at time of repossession
83N	Creditor must allow debtor time to remedy default or at least 15 days to elapse
83O	Documents to be produced on entry
83P	Entry if occupier not present
83Q	Creditor must exercise right to enter premises in accordance with lender responsibility principles
83R	Creditor must not enter premises if complaint not resolved or unforeseen hardship application not decided
83S	Creditor must not enter residential premises at certain times
83T	Restrictions applying in relation to persons repossessing consumer goods
	Subpart 5—Rules that apply after repossession of consumer goods
83U	Interpretation
83V	Notice to be given to debtor, guarantor, and other creditors after repossession of consumer goods
83W	Creditor must not sell consumer goods until 15 days after post-repossession notice
83X	Consequences of selling within 15 days of post-repossession notice
83Y	Creditor must offer consumer goods for sale
83Z	Rules relating to sale by creditor
83ZA	Debtor may obtain valuation of consumer goods before sale
83ZB	Debtor’s right to reinstate credit contract
83ZC	Consequences of reinstating credit contract
83ZD	Debtor’s right to introduce buyer
83ZE	Debtor’s right to settle credit contract
83ZF	Debtor’s right to force sale
83ZG	Disposal of consumer goods to purchaser for value and in good faith
83ZH	Extinguishment of creditor’s security interest and subordinate security interests on sale
83ZI	Creditor to give statement of account to debtor, guarantor, and other interested persons
83ZJ	Distribution of surplus
83ZK	Surplus may be paid into court
83ZL	Debtor’s, etc, right to recover surplus
83ZM	Limit on creditor’s right to recover from debtor
	Subpart 6—Prohibitions relating to security interest over certain consumer goods
83ZN	Consumer credit contract may not provide for security interest over certain consumer goods
83ZO	Contravening provision of no effect
83ZP	Exclusion for fixtures
	Subpart 7—Miscellaneous provisions
83ZQ	Service of notices
83ZR	Part does not limit application of rules relating to conduct of servants or agents
	Part 4 Enforcement and remedies
	Subpart 1—Preliminary provisions
84	Compliance programmes
	Jurisdiction
85	Jurisdiction of High Court
86	Jurisdiction of District Court
87	Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal
87A	Jurisdiction of dispute resolution schemes
	Subpart 2—Statutory damages
88	Creditors, creditors’ agents, lessors, transferees, and buy-back promoters liable for statutory damages
89	Amount of statutory damages
90	Enforcement of statutory damages
91	Court may reduce statutory damages
92	Guidelines for reducing statutory damages
	Subpart 3—Orders, injunctions, and prohibited enforcement
	Court’s general power to make orders
93	Court’s general power to make orders
94	Court orders
94A	Court orders in relation to repossessions
95	Miscellaneous provisions concerning court’s general power to make orders
95A	Court may reduce effect of failure to make disclosure
95B	Guidelines for reducing effect of failure to make disclosure
	Injunctions
96	Injunctions
97	Injunctions restraining conduct of particular kind
98	Interim injunction
	Compliance and similar orders
98A	Compliance orders
98B	Order to disclose information or publish advertisement
	Prohibited enforcement
99	Enforcement of consumer credit contract prohibited
99A	Enforcement of rights of repossession, etc, prohibited
99B	Enforcement prohibited if creditor unregistered
100	Enforcement of guarantee prohibited
101	Enforcement of consumer lease prohibited
102	Enforcement of buy-back transaction prohibited
	Subpart 4—Offences
102A	Infringement offences
103	Other offences
104	Conviction for 2 or more offences
105	When proceedings may be commenced
105A	Infringement fee, etc, defined
105B	Infringement offence alleged
105C	Issue of infringement notice
105D	Procedural requirements for infringement notices
105E	What Commission does with infringement fees
105F	Regulations relating to infringement offences
	Subpart 5—Defence
106	Reasonable mistake defence
107	Relevance of compliance programme
	Subpart 5A—Pecuniary penalties
107A	Pecuniary penalties
107B	Proceedings for pecuniary penalties
107C	Relationship between pecuniary penalties and criminal liability
107D	Restriction on indemnities
107E	Restriction on insurance
	Subpart 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
109	Who may apply and nature of order
110	Costs
	Subpart 7—Application of Commerce Act 1986 and provisions relating to Commerce Commission
111	Role and functions of Commission under this Act
112	Commission’s rights to appear and adduce evidence
113	Application of Commerce Act 1986
114	Additional proceedings
115	Disposal of things seized
116	Court order for disposal of things seized to be suspended on conviction
116AAA	Requirement for annual return
	Subpart 8—Miscellaneous
116A	Directors and senior managers may also be liable for statutory damages or compensation
	Part 5 Reopening of oppressive credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
117	Application of Part
118	Meaning of oppressive
119	Collateral contracts and linked transactions
120	Reopening of credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
121	Refusal to agree to early termination, variation, or waiver
122	Reopening credit contracts involved in arrangement
123	Time and circumstances relevant to reopening credit contracts, consumer leases, or buy-back transactions
124	Guidelines for reopening credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions
125	When reopening proceedings may be commenced
126	Evidence
127	Power of court on reopening credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction
128	Costs in consumer cases
129	Persons who share in profits or have beneficial interest in reopened credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction
130	Time of exercise of court’s powers
131	No limit on sections 41, 80, and 82
	Part 5A Certification and fit and proper person requirements
131A	Interpretation for this Part
	Requirement for certification
131B	When person needs to be certified
131C	Exemptions from need for certification
131D	Prohibitions on holding out that person is certified
	Issue of certifications
131E	Commission may issue certification
131F	Application for certification
131G	When certification must be issued
131H	Procedural requirements
131I	Notice of decision
131J	Commission must send certification details to Registrar
	Conditions of certification
131K	Conditions of certification
131L	When Commission may impose conditions
131M	Certified person may apply for variation of conditions
131N	Procedure for variation of conditions
	Expiry, suspension, or cancellation of certifications
131O	Duration of certification
131P	When Commission may suspend or cancel certification
131Q	Procedural requirements on suspension or cancellation of certification
	Changes relating to certified persons
131R	Duty to notify changes
	Other provisions about certifications
131S	Appeals against certification decisions
131T	Fees, charges, and costs in connection with this subpart
	Part 6 Miscellaneous provisions
132	Provisions relating to assignment of credit contracts, consumer leases, or buy-back transactions
132A	Disclosure about debt collection
133	Changes, deferrals, or postponements under credit contracts and consumer leases
134	Right to set-off
135	No contracting out
136	Application of law relating to illegal contracts
137	Conflict of laws
	Declarations about credit contracts and consumer credit contracts
137A	Class declarations about credit contracts and consumer credit contracts
137B	Declarations about particular arrangements or facilities
137C	General provisions about all declarations
	Regulations
138	Regulations
	Acts amended and repealed
139	Acts amended
140	Repeal of Credit Contracts Act 1981 and Hire Purchase Act 1971
	Transitional provisions
141	Transitional provision
141A	Application, savings, and transitional provisions relating to amendments to Act
142	Election for Act to apply
143	Continuing application of Credit Contracts Act 1981 and Hire Purchase Act 1971
	Schedule 1AA Application, savings, and transitional provisions relating to amendments made to this Act after 1 January 2014
	Schedule 1 Key information concerning consumer credit contract
	Schedule 2 Information concerning consumer lease
	Schedule 3 Information concerning buy-back transactions of land
	Schedule 3A Key information concerning repossession warning notice
	Schedule 3B Key information concerning post-repossession notice
	Schedule 4 Acts amended
	Notes

1 Title

This Act is the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003.

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

2 Commencement

(1)

This section, section 1, subpart 3 of Part 3, section 138, section 141(2) and (3), and Schedule 3 come into force on the day after the date on which this Act receives the Royal assent.

(2)

Part 1 (other than this section), subpart 4 of Part 2, Parts 4 and 5, and sections 132 to 137 come into force,—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 4 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 3(3)(i): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 4 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 3(3)(j): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 4 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 contains provisions relating to lenders’ responsibilities, including provisions for the development of a Responsible Lending Code and requirements to make publicly available standard form contract terms and information about the costs of borrowing:

(b)

Part 2 contains provisions relating to consumer credit contracts, including provisions relating to when a credit contract is a consumer credit contract, when a lease of goods is to be treated as a consumer credit contract (instead of a consumer lease), disclosure, interest charges, fees, payments, and changes to consumer credit contracts on the grounds of unforeseen hardship:

(c)

Part 3 contains provisions relating to consumer leases, credit-related insurance, repayment waivers, extended warranties, and buy-back transactions of land:

(ca)

Part 3A contains provisions relating to repossession of consumer goods under consumer credit contracts:

(d)

Part 4 contains provisions relating to civil remedies, injunctions, offences, a defence, enforceable undertakings, pecuniary penalties, and certain provisions concerning the Commerce Commission:

(e)

Part 5 contains provisions relating to the reopening of oppressive credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions of land:

(ea)

Part 5A requires creditors under consumer credit contracts and mobile traders to be certified:

(f)

Part 6 contains miscellaneous provisions, including provisions relating to disclosure about debt collection, contracting out, regulations, consequential amendments, and transitional arrangements.

Section 4(ab): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 5(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 4(ca): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 5(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 4(ca): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 18 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 4(d): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 5(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 4(ea): inserted, on 1 October 2021, by section 5(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 4(f): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 5(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

5 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

advance means—

(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 applies that secures the obligations of the debtor as guarantor under a guarantee, the amount of the guarantor’s liability to the creditor under the guarantee

annual interest rate means a rate specified in the credit contract as an annual interest rate

broker means a person who, for consideration, assists a person in obtaining credit

buy-back default fees means fees or charges payable on a breach of a buy-back transaction by an occupier or on the enforcement of a buy-back transaction by a transferee

buy-back fees means fees or charges payable by the occupier under a buy-back transaction, or payable by the occupier to, or for the benefit of, the transferee in connection with a buy-back transaction (including any insurance premiums payable if the transferee requires the occupier to obtain insurance cover from a particular insurer or particular insurers); but does not include the following:

(a)

a buy-back default fee:

(b)

government charges, duties, taxes, or levies

buy-back promoter means a person who introduces the parties to a buy-back transaction to each other if—

(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 has the meaning set out in section 8

cash price, in relation to property sold or leased, or to services provided under a contract, means—

(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 means certified under Part 5A

charge for an optional service means a fee or charge for a service or benefit that is offered to the debtor in connection with a credit contract if the debtor does not have to accept the service or benefit as a condition of entering into the contract

Commission means the Commerce Commission established by the Commerce Act 1986

consumer credit contract has the meaning set out in section 11

consumer credit insurance means insurance cover in the event of the insured’s disability or death or the insured contracting a sickness, sustaining an injury, or becoming unemployed, if the liability of the insurer is to be determined by reference to the liability of the insured under a credit contract or a consumer lease

consumer goods means goods that are used or acquired for use primarily for personal, domestic, or household purposes

consumer lease has the meaning set out in section 60

costs of borrowing, in relation to a consumer credit contract, means any or all of the following costs:

(a)

a credit fee:

(b)

a default fee:

(c)

interest charges

costs of the buy-back transaction, in relation to a buy-back transaction, means any or all of the following costs:

(a)

the rent payable under the right to occupy:

(b)

the fees and charges that are payable under the transaction

costs of the lease, in relation to a consumer lease, means any or all of the following costs:

(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 means, in relation to any matter, the court, tribunal, or arbitral tribunal by or before which the matter falls to be determined

credit has the meaning set out in section 6

credit contract has the meaning set out in section 7

credit fees means fees or charges payable by the debtor under a credit contract, or payable by the debtor to, or for the benefit of, the creditor in connection with a credit contract, and—

(a)

includes—

(i)

establishment fees:

(ii)

prepayment fees as defined in section 43(2) (whether in relation to part prepayments or full prepayments):

(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 if the other person, body, or agency referred to in that section is an associated person of the creditor; but

(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 if the other person, body, or agency referred to in that section is not an associated person of the creditor:

(vi)

cancellation charges as referred to in section 36F of the Fair Trading Act 1986

credit limit means the maximum unpaid balance permitted under the credit contract

credit-related insurance means, in connection with a credit contract or consumer lease,—

(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 means a contract involving the sale of property or the provision of services under which payment of the whole or a part of the purchase price is deferred; and includes a lease that is to be treated as a credit sale under 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 means a person authorised by a creditor to repossess consumer goods on behalf of the creditor, and includes such a person who is an employee of the creditor

daily interest rate means the rate determined by dividing the annual interest rate by 365

debt collection has the meaning set out in section 132A

debtor means a person to whom credit has been provided, or may be provided, under a credit contract; and, 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

default, in Part 3A, means 1 or more breaches of a credit contract by the debtor sufficient, according to the terms of the contract, to give rise to the creditor’s right to repossess the consumer goods

default fees means fees or charges payable on a breach of a credit contract by a debtor or on the enforcement of a credit contract by a creditor; but does not include default interest charges

default interest charges means additional interest charges payable on a breach of a credit contract by a debtor

director has the same meaning as in section 6(1) of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013

dispute resolution scheme means an approved dispute resolution scheme within the meaning of section 50 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008

electronic includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, biometric, and photonic

electronic communication means a communication by electronic means

establishment fees means the fees or charges payable under the credit contract that relate to the costs incurred by the creditor in connection with the application for credit, processing and considering that application, documenting the contract, and advancing the credit; but does not include any fee or charge to the extent that it is a charge for an optional service

estate means a fee simple estate, a leasehold estate, or a stratum estate

extended warranty means an agreement between a creditor or lessor and a debtor or lessee under which the creditor or lessor, for an additional consideration, agrees to repair or replace defective goods outside of the warranty period that would otherwise apply

family trust means a trust that is established primarily to benefit either or both of the following:

(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, in Part 3A, has the same meaning as in section 135 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999

full costs includes reasonable costs incurred between solicitor and client, fees, and other expenses

full prepayment means the payment of the unpaid balance before the last amount to be paid under the credit contract becomes payable

goods means personal chattels other than money and choses in action

guarantee means a guarantee, indemnity, or liability given, assumed, or undertaken by a guarantor

guarantor, in relation to a credit contract,—

(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 has the meaning set out in section 45C

information system means a system for producing, sending, receiving, storing, displaying, or otherwise processing electronic communications

infringement fee and infringement notice have the meanings set out in section 105A

infringement offence has the meaning set out in section 102A

interest charge means a charge that accrues over time and is determined by applying a rate to an amount owing under a credit contract (and includes a default interest charge)

lawyer has the meaning given to it by section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006

layby sale agreement has the same meaning as in section 36B of the Fair Trading Act 1986

lease means a contract for the hire of goods

lender has the meaning set out in section 9B

lender responsibility principles means the principles set out in section 9C(2)

Minister means the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

Ministry means the department of State that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

mobile trader means a person who carries on a business of offering or agreeing to supply, in person and outside of fixed premises, consumer goods to a natural person—

(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 means the financial service of being a mobile trader under section 5(1) of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008

occupier has the meaning set out in section 8

oppressive has the meaning set out in section 118

paid adviser means a person who acts for consideration as an adviser to, or as a trustee, nominee, or agent of, 1 or more of the parties; but does not include a person who is an employee of 1 or more of the parties

part prepayment means the payment of an amount that is less than the unpaid balance before that amount is payable under the credit contract

payment, in relation to a credit sale, includes a deposit or a trade-in allowance

payment reminder has the meaning set out in section 132A

post-repossession notice means a notice under section 83V

prescribed means prescribed by regulations made under this Act

property means land, money, goods, choses in action, goodwill, and every valuable thing, whether real or personal, and whether situated in New Zealand or elsewhere

public holiday means a day specified in section 44(1) of the Holidays Act 2003

purchase money security interest has the same meaning as in section 16(1) of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999

register of financial service providers means the register of financial service providers established and maintained under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008

regulations means regulations in force under this Act

related company has the same meaning as in section 2(3) of the Companies Act 1993

repayment waiver means an agreement between a creditor or lessor and a debtor or lessee under which the creditor or lessor, for an additional consideration, agrees to waive the creditor’s or lessor’s right to any amount payable under the credit contract or consumer lease in the event of the unemployment of, sickness of, injury to, or the disability or death of the debtor or lessee

repossession means the exercise, or purported exercise, of the creditor’s rights under a credit contract relating to consumer goods to take possession of those goods, or keys and access devices relating to those goods, whether or not the creditor was previously in actual possession of those goods, keys, or access devices; and repossess has a corresponding meaning

repossession warning notice means a notice under section 83G

residential premises means a building, or part of a building, that is a house, flat, townhouse, home unit, or similar dwelling erected, or currently used, primarily and principally as a residence, and includes any land, improvements, or appurtenances belonging to the dwelling or usually enjoyed with it

Responsible Lending Code or Code means the Code prepared and issued under section 9G

revolving credit contract means a credit contract, whether or not the contract specifies a credit limit, if the 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 means an interest in property created or provided for by a transaction that, in substance, secures payment or performance of an obligation under a credit contract or buy-back transaction, without regard to—

(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 has the same meaning as in section 6(1) of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013

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) and that—

(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 has the meaning set out in section 8

unpaid balance means the amount owing under a credit contract at a particular time, being the difference between all amounts credited and all amounts debited to the debtor under the contract at that time

unpaid daily balance, in relation to a day, means the unpaid balance under a credit contract at the end of that day

weighted average annual interest rate has the meaning given in the regulations

working day means a day of the week other than—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 associated person: repealed, on 25 August 2005, by section 75 of the Overseas Investment Act 2005 (2005 No 82).

Section 5 buy-back fees: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 certified: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 consumer goods: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 costs of borrowing: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 costs of borrowing: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 19 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 5 costs of the buy-back transaction: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 costs of the lease: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 credit fees: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 credit fees paragraph (b)(vi): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 creditor: replaced, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 creditor’s agent: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 debt collection: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 default: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 director: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 dispute resolution scheme: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 financing statement: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 guarantee: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 guarantor: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 high-cost consumer credit contract: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 infringement fee and infringement notice: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 infringement offence: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 interest charge: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(5) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 lawyer: substituted, on 1 August 2008, by section 348 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (2006 No 1).

Section 5 layby sale agreement: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 lender: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 lender responsibility principles: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 Minister: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 Ministry: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 mobile trader: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 mobile trader service: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 payment reminder: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 post-repossession notice: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 prescribed: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 public holiday: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 purchase money security interest: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 register of financial service providers: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 repossession: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 repossession warning notice: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 residential premises: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 Responsible Lending Code or Code: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 Responsible Lending Code or Code: amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 5 security interest: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(6) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 senior manager: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 standard form contract terms: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 6(7) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 5 weighted average annual interest rate: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 6(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 5 working day paragraph (a): replaced, on 12 April 2022, by wehenga 7 o Te Ture mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki 2022/section 7 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 (2022 No 14).

Section 5 working day paragraph (ab): inserted, on 1 January 2014, by section 8 of the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 19).

6 Meaning of credit

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, credit is provided under a contract if a right is granted by a person to another person to—

(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 means a contract under which credit is or may be provided.

(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 means a transaction under which—

(a)

a person (the occupier) transfers, or agrees to transfer, an estate in land to another person (the transferee); and

(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 means—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 7(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 8(1)(f): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 7(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 8(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 7(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 8(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 7(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 8(1C): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 7(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

8A Meanings of associated and associated person

(1)

For the purposes of this Act, one person (A) is associated with another person (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 of the Companies Act 1993; or

(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 of the Companies Act 1993; or

(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 has a corresponding meaning.

Section 8A: inserted, on 25 August 2005, by section 75 of the Overseas Investment Act 2005 (2005 No 82).

8B Provisions affecting application of amendments to this Act

Schedule 1AA contains application, savings, and transitional provisions relating to amendments made to this Act after 1 January 2014 (see section 141A).

Section 8B: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 8 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, on 1 May 2020, by section 7 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

9 Act binds the Crown

This Act binds the Crown.

Part 1A Lender responsibilities

Part 1A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, and 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 in compliance with the principles (see section 57A):

(c)

creditors to comply with the principles in relation to a repossession of consumer goods (see sections 83E(1)(c) and 83Q):

(d)

the District Court to order persons not to act as creditors, lessors, or transferees if those persons have failed to comply with the principles (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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9A(2)(a): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 8(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9A(2)(aa): inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 8(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9A(2)(d): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 8(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9A(2)(d): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Interpretation

Heading: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

9B Interpretation

(1)

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

advertising means any form of communication—

(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 means—

(a)

a consumer credit contract:

(b)

a buy-back transaction

borrower means any person who has entered into, or is seeking to enter into, an agreement with a lender

distribute includes—

(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 means finance provided under a buy-back transaction

lender means—

(a)

a creditor under a consumer credit contract:

(b)

a transferee under a buy-back transaction

relevant guarantee means a guarantee given, or proposed to be given, by a natural person in respect of a consumer credit contract, but does not include a guarantee under which the guarantor is a trustee acting in their capacity as a trustee of a family trust or as a partner of a partnership under the Partnership Act 1908

relevant insurance contract means, in relation to a lender, a credit-related insurance contract entered into, or to be entered into, by a borrower if—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9B(1) advertising: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 9(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9B(1) agreement paragraph (a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 20(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 9B(1) distribute: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 9(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9B(1) lender paragraph (a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 20(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 9B(1) relevant guarantee: replaced, on 1 June 2020, by section 9(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Principles

Heading: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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), so as to be satisfied that it is likely that—

(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) if—

(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 applies, that—

(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, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008, and subpart 5A of Part 6 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013, which include—

(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; and

(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) if—

(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 under section 119, that—

(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 is not, or is not likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing to borrowers; and

(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 so as to be satisfied of a matter includes a requirement to comply with regulations made under 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)

[Repealed]

(8)

The material changes for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) are—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9C(2)(a): replaced, on 13 January 2020, by section 21 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 9C(3)(a): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(3)(b)(i): replaced, on 1 June 2020, by section 10(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(3)(b)(iv): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(3)(f): amended, on 15 March 2021, by section 98 of the Financial Services Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 8).

Section 9C(4)(b)(iii): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(4) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(5)(b)(i): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(5) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(5A): inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 10(6) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(7): repealed, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(7) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9C(8): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 10(8) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

9CA Records about inquiries made

(1)

The lender must keep records about the inquiries made by the lender under section 9C (including the results of those inquiries).

(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) that relate to an agreement or a relevant insurance contract to which the borrower is a party.

(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) that relate to a relevant guarantee to which the guarantor is a party.

(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 of the Commerce Act 1986 to make a request under subsection (3).

(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, on 1 December 2021, by section 11 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Responsible Lending Code

Heading: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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); and

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 is not, or is not likely to be, misleading, deceptive, or confusing to borrowers:

(ii)

when making reasonable inquiries referred to in section 9C(3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a) so as to be satisfied of the matters referred to in those paragraphs 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 applies, to ensure that the agreement or guarantee is not oppressive, the lender does not exercise a right or power conferred by the agreement or guarantee in an oppressive manner, and the lender does not induce the borrower to enter into the agreement, or the guarantor to give the guarantee, by oppressive means:

(vi)

to promote or facilitate compliance with the legal obligations referred to in section 9C(3)(f) and (4)(e) (for example, by reference to compliance programmes):

(vii)

to ensure that fees are not unreasonable in terms of section 41, 80, or 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)) and that is not inconsistent with any other enactment.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9F(1)(b)(i): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 12(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9F(1)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 12(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9F(1)(b)(iii): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 12(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 9F(1)(da): inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 12(4) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

How Responsible Lending Code made and administered

Heading: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 to the public:

(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)

[Repealed]

(3B)

[Repealed]

(4)

The Code is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	The maker must:	LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 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. As a result the maker may also have to comply with s 75 of the Legislation Act 2019	LA19 ss 74(2), 75
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9G(2)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 9G(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Section 9G(3A): repealed, on 1 January 2022, by section 9G(3B).

Section 9G(3B): repealed, on 1 January 2022, by section 9G(3B).

Section 9G(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

9H Responsible Lending Code comes into force by notice in Gazette

[Repealed]

Section 9H: repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

9I Amendment of Responsible Lending Code

(1)

The Minister may, at any time, amend or replace the Responsible Lending Code.

(2)

Section 9G applies, with any necessary modifications, to any amendment to, or replacement of, the Code.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9I(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Publication of standard form contract terms and costs of borrowing

Heading: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Heading: amended, on 8 September 2018, by section 31 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2018 (2018 No 27).

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)

[Repealed]

Section 9J: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9J(5): repealed, on 1 June 2020, by section 13 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 offered by that creditor is publicly available in accordance with this section.

(2)

[Repealed]

(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; and

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 9K(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 22(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 9K(2): repealed, on 13 January 2020, by section 22(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 9K(3)(a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 22(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

9L Extended meaning of business premises

(1)

In sections 9J and 9K, business premises includes a vehicle, stand, or stall from which goods are offered or exposed for sale, or from which goods may be ordered, if those goods may be sold under a credit sale.

(2)

In subsection (1), vehicle has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998.

Section 9L: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 9 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Part 2 Consumer credit contracts

Subpart 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 if—

(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 and 15.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 6(1) (Qld)

Section 11(1)(b): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 10(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 11(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 10(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 11(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 10(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 11(1C): inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 14 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

12 Investment purposes

Investment by the debtor is not a personal, domestic, or household purpose.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 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 for business or investment purposes (or for both purposes).

(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 for personal, domestic, or household purposes.

(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.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 11(2), (3) (Qld)

Section 14(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 11 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 14(2): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 11 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011):

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 12 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 15(1)(ca): inserted, on 30 August 2011, by section 222 of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 (2011 No 62).

Section 15(1)(ca): amended, on 1 April 2012, by section 223 of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 (2011 No 62).

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; and

(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 of the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004.

(2)

In this section, pawnbroker has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2004.

Section 15A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 13 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, and a consumer credit contract if—

(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.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 10(1), (4) (Qld)

Section 16(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 16(1)(b): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 16(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 16(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 16(3): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 16(4): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 14(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, on 1 June 2020, by section 15 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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 as is applicable to the contract is made to every debtor under the contract before the contract is entered into.

(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)

[Repealed]

(b)

[Repealed]

(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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 16

Section 17(1): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 15(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 17(2): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 15(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 17(2)(a): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 15(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 17(2)(b): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 15(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 as is applicable to the contract is made periodically to every debtor under the contract in continuing disclosure statements.

(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.

Compare: 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 is a revolving credit contract under which credit is ordinarily obtained only by the use of a credit card:

(b)

a credit card is—

(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).

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 32 (Qld)

Section 19(1)(h): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 16(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 19(1)(i): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 16(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 19(2): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 16(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 33(1) (Qld)

21 Continuing disclosure not required

(1)

Disclosure under section 18 is not required if—

(a)

[Repealed]

(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 as is applicable to the contract for any reasonable statement period specified by the debtor; and

(ii)

the debtor consents to the information set out in section 19 being disclosed in the manner set out in subparagraph (i); or

(c)

neither interest charges nor credit fees are payable under the consumer credit contract.

(2)

Disclosure under section 18 is not required in relation to a particular period if—

(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 has not, in accordance with this section, been made in relation to a particular period, the next continuing disclosure statement that is required to be given or sent under this Act must cover every immediately preceding period for which a continuing disclosure statement has not been given or sent.

Section 21(1)(a): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 17 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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; or

(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; or

(c)

releases the whole or any part of a security interest relating to the contract; or

(d)

increases or decreases any credit limit under the consumer credit contract.

(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, at the same time as the creditor provides the debtor with the next continuing disclosure statement (as required under that section) after the change takes effect.

(5)

Subsection (4) does not apply to a high-cost consumer credit contract.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 17

Section 22(3): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 18(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 22(3)(d): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 18(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 22(3)(d): amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 16(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 22(4): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 18(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 22(5): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 16(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, make disclosure in accordance with any publication requirements prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section.

(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)

[Repealed]

(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)

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 19(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 23(5): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 19(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 23(5)(a)(iii): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 19(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 23(5)(b): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 19(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 23(6): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 19(5) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 23(7): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 17(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 23(8): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 17(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 as is applicable to the consumer credit contract for any reasonable statement period specified by the debtor or guarantor.

(2A)

Subsection (2)(g) does not apply if, under section 21, disclosure under section 18 is not required.

(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) (which allows any person to request a copy of the standard form contract terms used by a creditor).

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 19

Section 24(2)(g): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 20(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 24(2A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 20(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 24(2B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 20(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 24(5): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 20(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) as is applicable to each consumer credit contract that the creditor and the debtor enter into and to which the guarantee applies is made to every guarantor under the guarantee.

(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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 16A

Section 25(2): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 21(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 25(3): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 21(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, make disclosure in accordance with any publication requirements prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this section.

(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, on 20 December 2019, by section 18(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 26(6): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 18(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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) must ensure that the disclosure of the following information is made to every debtor and guarantor under the contract:

(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 does not require the new creditor to be a member of such a scheme):

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 22 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 26A(4): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 19 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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) (obligations of creditor in relation to hardship applications):

(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) (obligations of creditor in relation to hardship applications):

(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 does not apply to disclosure required under this section.

Section 26B: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 20 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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 of the day that disclosure is made under section 17 (or at any time if that disclosure has not been made) and either,—

(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 of the day that disclosure is made under section 17 (or at any time if that disclosure has not been made).

(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 has been made:

(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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 22(1), (2)

Section 27(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 23 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 27(1)(b): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 23 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 22(3)

29 Right of cancellation does not apply in certain situations

(1)

Section 27 does not apply if the credit is provided for a specified period of less than 2 months and no part of the credit is used, with the knowledge of the creditor, to pay amounts owing to the creditor or a related company under another credit contract.

(2)

Section 27 does not entitle a debtor to cancel a consumer credit contract on the ground that disclosure has not been made to a guarantor.

(3)

Section 27 does not apply to a layby sale agreement.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 22(4), (5)

Section 29(3): inserted, on 1 October 2020, by section 21 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

30 Effect of cancellation

(1)

If a consumer credit contract is cancelled under section 27(1)(b), the following rules apply:

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 24 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) applies to the contract except that—

(a)

the creditor need not return the cash price paid under section 27(1)(a) or any property forming part of the contract; and

(b)

the creditor’s obligation to provide the property or services to which the cash price relates continues.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 23(2)

Section 31: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 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 the required information in electronic form, whether by means of an electronic communication or otherwise, if—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 26(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 32(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 26(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 32(4): amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 22 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 27 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 and 99 to 102, when disclosure is made by sending the disclosure statement to a person by post, the disclosure is to be treated as having been made on the fourth working day after the day on which the statement is posted.

(4)

For the purposes of sections 27 and 99 to 102, when disclosure is made—

(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)

[Repealed]

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 20

Section 35(1)(c): replaced, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(1)(d): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(1)(e): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(1A): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(2): replaced, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(4): replaced, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(4) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(5): replaced, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(5) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 35(6): repealed, on 20 December 2019, by section 23(5) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 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, of default interest charges.

Compare: 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; or

(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 means a credit contract under which—

(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 or any other rule of law that limits the amount of a default interest charge that may be imposed.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 28 (Qld)

Section 40(2)(a): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 28(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 40(2A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 28(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 40(2B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 28(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 40(2C): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 28(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 29 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Commerce Act 1986 to make a request under subsection (4).

(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, on 1 December 2021, by section 24 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 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, a prepayment fee is a fee or charge that relates only to—

(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 means a credit contract under which an interest rate is fixed for an agreed period for the whole or a part of the unpaid balance.

Section 43: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 30 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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); or

(b)

a prepayment fee (see section 43).

Section 44: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) is to be treated as evidence that a credit fee or a default fee is not unreasonable.

Section 44B: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) in any respect.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 30 (Qld)

Section 45(5): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 32 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 45(6): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 32 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 6A—Provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts

Subpart 6A heading: inserted, on 1 May 2020, pursuant to section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Purpose, outline, and interpretation

Heading: inserted, on 1 May 2020, pursuant to section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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) and 96(1)(a)):

(b)

statutory damages (see section 88):

(c)

other court orders (see section 94):

(d)

pecuniary penalties (see subpart 5A of Part 4).

(3)

In addition,—

(a)

section 48 applies in some cases:

(b)

see section 124(1)(ea) (guidelines for reopening credit contracts).

Section 45B: inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

45C Meaning of high-cost consumer credit contract

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

high-cost consumer credit contract means a consumer credit contract of any of the following types:

(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 means the interest rate set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) of the definition of high-cost consumer credit contract.

Section 45C: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

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, Sch 1 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, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 45D(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Rules

Heading: inserted, on 1 May 2020, pursuant to section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 also applies if a payment results in that maximum amount being exceeded.

(5)

In this section,—

costs of borrowing, in relation to a consumer credit contract, means any or all of the following costs:

(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 means fees and charges payable as referred to in section 45 regardless of whether the other person, body, or agency referred to in that section is an associated person of the creditor

first advance means,—

(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, in respect of a high-cost consumer credit contract (contract A), means all other consumer credit contracts where—

(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) under a consumer credit contract that has an annual interest rate of 500% pa and a term of 6 weeks. The maximum costs of borrowing that Ms D will have to pay under that contract and any contract that replaces that contract is $100.

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 section 48).

In addition, C is liable in other ways, for example, to a pecuniary penalty, statutory damages, and other court orders.

Section 45E: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

45F Certain high-cost consumer credit contracts with other creditors prohibited

(1)

No creditor (C) may enter into a high-cost consumer credit contract with—

(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) has a defence in connection with a breach of this section if C proves that, before entering into the contract,—

(a)

C complied with section 9C in respect of the requirement to make reasonable inquiries; and

(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, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

45G High-cost consumer credit contracts with certain repeat debtors prohibited

(1)

No creditor (C) may enter into a high-cost consumer credit contract with a debtor who has entered into 2 or more high-cost consumer credit contracts at any time within the preceding 90 days.

(2)

A creditor (C) has a defence in connection with a breach of this section if C proves that, before entering into the contract,—

(a)

C complied with section 9C in respect of the requirement to make reasonable inquiries; and

(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, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 also applies if a payment results in that maximum rate being exceeded.

(5)

In this section,—

charge means the costs of borrowing within the meaning of section 45E, excluding default fees

credit provided means the unpaid balance excluding any amount that the regulations state must be excluded.

(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, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 also applies if a payment is in respect of compound interest.

(4)

In this section, compound interest, to avoid doubt, includes interest on any amount of additional credit that has been provided to repay accrued interest.

Section 45I: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

45J Default fees

(1)

This section applies, for the purposes of sections 41, 41A, and 44A and this subpart, in respect of a high-cost consumer credit contract.

(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) is more than the prescribed amount.

(3)

The fee must be presumed to be unreasonable, and to be in breach of this section and section 41, unless the creditor rebuts the presumption by proving, on the balance of probabilities, that the fee is reasonable.

(4)

The requirement to rebut in subsection (3) includes proving the things in section 44A, including that it was reasonable to take the action that incurred the cost to which the fee relates (for example, sending the default to a debt collection agency).

(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 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

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, Sch 1 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, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 45J(8): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

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 means any contract, arrangement, or other act that has the effect of, or any contracts, arrangements, or other acts that together have the effect of, in any way, directly or indirectly,—

(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, on 1 May 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Review of subpart

Heading: inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, on 1 June 2020, by section 25 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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 means the earliest time that, operating under the normal business conditions applying to the creditor, a reasonable creditor would have the payment available for reinvestment (whether or not on similar terms).

(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.

Compare: 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; or

(d)

the assignment of the date on which an interest charge is taken to be debited results in a breach of section 38.

Compare: 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 33 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Property Law Act 2007 limits this section or section 51.

Section 50(4): amended, on 1 January 2008, by section 364(1) of the Property Law Act 2007 (2007 No 91).

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, and 52B (as applicable):

(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); and

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 34 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 is an amount equal to a proportionate rebate of the premium paid under the insurance contract.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 35(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 52(5)(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 35(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

52A Rebate of repayment waiver

(1)

In the case of a repayment waiver, an amount to be deducted under section 51 is an amount equal to a proportionate rebate of the additional consideration paid for that waiver.

(2)

The rebate must be calculated using the procedure (if any) prescribed for the purposes of this section.

Section 52A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 36 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

52B Rebate of extended warranty

(1)

In the case of an extended warranty, an amount to be deducted under section 51 is an amount equal to a proportionate rebate of the additional consideration paid for that warranty.

(2)

The rebate must be calculated using the procedure (if any) prescribed for the purposes of this section.

Section 52B: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 36 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Subpart 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 may apply to the creditor to agree to that change.

(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, and spouse have the same meanings as in the Property (Relationships) Act 1976

end of a relationship means—

(a)

a situation described in section 25(2)(a) to (d) of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976; or

(b)

the death of the spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner of the debtor.

Section 55(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 37 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 55(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 37 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 55(2) de facto partner: repealed, on 26 April 2005, by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

Section 55(2) de facto partner, civil union partner, and spouse: inserted, on 26 April 2005, by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

Section 55(2) end of a relationship paragraph (b): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

Section 55(2) spouse: repealed, on 26 April 2005, by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

56 Changes that can be made

(1)

An application by a debtor under section 55 must seek to change the terms of the consumer credit contract in one of the following ways:

(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 if—

(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) or a notice under section 119 of the Property Law Act 2007; or

(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)

[Repealed]

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 38(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 57(1)(b): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 38(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 57(2): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 38(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

57A Obligations of creditor in relation to application

(1)

On receipt of an application by a debtor under section 55, the creditor must do the following:

(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), decide whether to agree to change the consumer credit contract in accordance with the application; and

(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 applies, comply with section 83J (which prevents enforcement action until the application is decided).

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 39 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 57A(1)(a): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 26 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

58 Changes by court

(1)

A debtor who has made an application under section 55 may apply to the court to change the terms of a consumer credit contract if—

(a)

the creditor fails, within the time specified in section 57A(1)(c) or (2), to notify the debtor of its decision on the application; or

(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; and

(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 of the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988.

Section 58(1): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 40 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 58(4): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

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 may apply to the court for an order varying or revoking the order.

(2)

A creditor subject to a stay of enforcement proceedings or other order under section 58 may apply to the court for an order varying or revoking the stay or order.

(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 to be given to any person must be in writing and is sufficiently 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 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 41 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 9—Duty of directors and senior managers of creditors under consumer credit contracts

Subpart 9: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 27 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 includes taking reasonable steps to ensure that the creditor—

(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) (being circumstances that relate to securitisation or covered bond arrangements or similar arrangements), this section applies as stated in the regulations.

Compare: 2015 No 70 s 44

Section 59B: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 27 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Part 3 Consumer leases, credit-related insurance, and buy-back transactions of land

Subpart 1—Consumer leases

60 Consumer leases

(1)

For the purposes of this Act, a lease is a consumer lease if—

(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)

(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)

(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 is not a consumer lease.

(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.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 148(1) (Qld)

Section 60(1)(b): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 42(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 60(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 42(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 60(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 42(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 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 for business purposes.

(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 for personal, domestic, or household purposes.

(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.

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 150(2), (3) (Qld)

Section 62(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 62(2): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Disclosure of consumer lease

63 Application of disclosure provisions

Sections 32 to 35 apply to disclosure under this subpart.

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 as is applicable to the lease is made to every lessee under the lease before the lease is made.

(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

[Repealed]

Section 66: repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 44 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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).

Compare: Consumer Credit Code (Appendix to Consumer Credit (Queensland) Act 1994) s 157(2) (Qld)

Subpart 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)

[Repealed]

Section 69(3): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 45 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 46(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 70(2): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 46(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 70(3)(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 46(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 3—Buy-back transactions of land

71 Application of disclosure provisions

Sections 32 to 35 apply to disclosure under this subpart.

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 as is applicable to the transaction is made to every occupier under the transaction before the occupier enters into any contract or arrangement that forms part of the buy-back transaction.

(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 means legal advice provided by a lawyer who has no relationship with, or interest in, the transferee or any buy-back promoter.

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 and 73 are to be treated as being imposed on the buy-back promoter (instead of on the transferee); and

(b)

the references in sections 72 and 73 to the transferee are to be read as references to the buy-back promoter.

(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 means legal advice provided by a lawyer who has no relationship with, or interest in, the buy-back promoter.

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 or section 73 has not been complied with by any person in connection with the buy-back transaction.

(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, and 52 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 of a person who derives an estate or interest in the land from the transferee.

Section 75(5): amended, on 12 November 2018, by section 250 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 (2017 No 30).

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) of the Land Transfer Act 2017.

(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) a caveat against dealings in the land; or

(b)

otherwise restricts the ability of the occupier to lodge with the Registrar a caveat against dealings in the land.

Section 76(1): amended, on 12 November 2018, by section 250 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 (2017 No 30).

Section 76(2)(a): amended, on 12 November 2018, by section 250 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 (2017 No 30).

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

[Repealed]

Section 78: repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 47 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) (which allows any person to request a copy of the standard form contract terms used by a transferee).

Section 79(5): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 48 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)

[Repealed]

(3)

[Repealed]

(4)

[Repealed]

Section 80(2): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 49 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 80(3): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 49 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 80(4): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 49 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)

[Repealed]

(3)

[Repealed]

(4)

[Repealed]

Section 82(2): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 82(3): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 82(4): repealed, on 6 June 2015, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83 No limit on Part 2

Nothing in this subpart limits any provision in Part 2.

Part 3A Repossession of consumer goods under consumer credit contract

Part 3A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Part 3A heading: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 23 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Subpart 1—Preliminary provisions

Subpart 1: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83A: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 24 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

83B References to consumer credit contracts include security agreements

(1)

This section applies, unless the context otherwise requires, for the purposes of—

(a)

this Part; and

(b)

Part 1A (to the extent that it relates to consumer credit contracts to which this Part applies); and

(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); or

(ii)

the enforcement, application, or effect of Part 1A (to the extent referred to in paragraph (b)).

(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; and

(b)

references to a creditor must be treated as including the secured party within the meaning of section 16 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999; and

(c)

references to a debtor must be treated as including the debtor within the meaning of section 16 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999.

(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 (for example, a guarantor who has given a security interest over consumer goods to secure the guarantor’s obligations under a guarantee that was given in respect of the consumer credit contract).

(4)

This Part applies whether or not a financing statement has been registered under the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 in respect of the security interest.

Section 83B: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83B heading: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 25(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83B(1)(b): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 25(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83B(2): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 25(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83B(2)(a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 25(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83B(3): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 25(3) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

83C Application of Part

(1)

This Part applies where a consumer credit contract provides that a creditor has a right to do 1 or more of the following:

(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 creates or provides for a security interest in both consumer goods and other goods, this Part applies only in relation to the consumer goods.

(3)

Subsection (1) does not limit subparts 3 and 6.

Compare: 1997 No 85 ss 5, 6

Section 83C: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83C(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 26 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83C(2): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 26 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 6(2), (3)

Section 83D: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 2—Rules that apply before repossession

Subpart 2: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 that are relevant to the repossession.

(2)

In this Part, consumer goods are at risk if the creditor believes, on reasonable grounds, that those goods have been, or will be, destroyed, damaged, endangered, disassembled, removed, concealed, sold, or otherwise disposed of contrary to the provisions of the relevant credit contract.

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 7

Section 83E: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83F Duty to ensure goods are specifically identified

(1)

A creditor must, before exercising a right referred to in section 83C in relation to consumer goods, ensure that—

(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; or

(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.

Compare: 1999 No 126 s 36(1)(b)(i)

Section 83F: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) on—

(a)

the debtor; and

(b)

every guarantor of the debtor in respect of the relevant credit contract; and

(c)

if section 83I(1) applies, each of the persons referred to in section 129(1) of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999; and

(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 as is applicable to the credit contract; and

(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 must be excluded when determining whether a repossession warning notice has expired under subsection (4).

(6)

Nothing in subsection (4) prevents a creditor from serving a further repossession warning notice that complies with this section.

Compare: 1997 No 85 ss 8, 9

Section 83G: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 applies with all necessary modifications as if the voluntary delivery were a repossession under subpart 4.

Section 83H: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999) must, in addition to complying with this Part, comply with sections 125 to 131 of that Act.

(2)

Despite section 83H, a debtor may not voluntarily deliver consumer goods that are, or include, accessions.

(3)

In this section, accessions has the meaning given to it in section 16 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999.

Section 83I: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 and that application has not been decided.

(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 is made, to the creditor, no further action may be taken to continue or complete that enforcement action until the complaint has been resolved or the application has been decided.

(3)

However, despite subsections (1) and (2), if the relevant consumer goods are at risk (see section 83E(2)), the creditor may repossess the goods but must not take any further enforcement action.

(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 means any of the following:

(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) and 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) the application has been decided.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83J(9): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 28 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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); and

(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, prevent the creditor or a creditor’s agent from taking or continuing enforcement action in relation to consumer goods unless—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 3—Disabling devices

Subpart 3: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83L Use of disabling device

(1)

This section applies where a consumer credit contract provides that the creditor—

(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 by the debtor that is sufficient, according to the terms of the contract, to give rise to the creditor’s right to activate the disabling device; and

(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, in relation to a disabling device, means that the disabling function of the device has been switched on, with the result that—

(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 means a device that is attached to consumer goods, the functions of which, when activated, include 1 or more of the following:

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83L(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 27 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83L(2)(a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 27 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83L(3) activated paragraph (d): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 27 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83L(3) disabling device paragraph (d): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 27 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

83M Connection or use of disabling device in connection with certain goods prohibited

(1)

A consumer credit contract may not provide for the connection of a disabling device to, or the use of a disabling device in connection with, a consumer good described in section 83ZN(1)(a) or prescribed for the purposes of section 83ZN(1)(c).

(2)

A provision of a consumer credit contract that contravenes subsection (1) is of no effect to the extent of the contravention.

(3)

Every creditor under a consumer credit contract must ensure that the contract does not contravene this section.

Section 83M: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83M(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 28 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83M(2): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 28 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83M(3): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 28 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Subpart 4—Rules that apply at time of repossession

Subpart 4: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)).

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 10

Section 83N: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)); and

(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, as the case may be; and

(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), a document setting out the debtor’s name, the address from which the goods will be repossessed, the creditor’s contact details, and the reason why the goods are being repossessed; and

(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 or on a Sunday or a public holiday, the debtor’s written consent to the exercise of the right of entry.

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 17

Section 83O: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) (other than paragraph (f)).

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 18

Section 83P: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 14

Section 83Q: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83R Creditor must not enter premises if complaint not resolved or unforeseen hardship application not decided

Nothing in this subpart limits section 83J (which provides that neither a creditor nor a creditor’s agent may exercise a right to repossess consumer goods or enter premises if the debtor has made a written complaint to the creditor in relation to any enforcement action and that complaint has not been resolved or an application has been made to the creditor under section 55 and that application has not been decided).

Section 83R: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 15

Section 83S: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83T Restrictions applying in relation to persons repossessing consumer goods

(1)

No creditor who is required to be registered under Part 2 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 may exercise any rights in relation to repossessing consumer goods (including entering residential premises) unless that creditor is registered.

(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 means a certificate issued under section 54 of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010

licensed means licensed in accordance with Part 2 of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010

registered means registered in accordance with Part 2 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008

repossession agent has the same meaning as in section 8A of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010

repossession employee has the same meaning as in section 16A of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010 (but does not include the creditor).

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 16

Section 83T: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 5—Rules that apply after repossession of consumer goods

Subpart 5: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83U Interpretation

In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires, auction means a process in which goods are offered for sale by auction or by any other bidding process in which the most recent bid made for the goods is disclosed to other participants and potential participants.

Section 83U: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) within 14 days of the repossession.

(2)

The post-repossession notice must—

(a)

be in writing; and

(b)

contain as much of the key information set out in Schedule 3B as is applicable to the relevant credit contract; and

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 ss 20, 21, 22

Section 83V: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 23

Section 83W: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 24

Section 83X: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 applies); or

(b)

the debtor reinstates the credit contract under section 83ZB; or

(c)

the debtor introduces a buyer under section 83ZD and the buyer completes the purchase of the consumer goods; or

(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)), the creditor is subject to the duty in subsection (1); but

(b)

any period during which the creditor is prevented from taking or continuing any enforcement action under section 83J must be excluded when determining the number of days from the date of service of the post-repossession notice on the debtor.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 25

Section 83Y: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) reasonable notice of the proposed sale (including the method of sale and the time, the place, and any reserve price placed on the goods, as applicable to the method of sale).

(3)

If the sale is by auction or tender, the creditor, the debtor, and every other person referred to in section 83G(1) are each entitled to bid or to submit tenders, as the case may be, and if the creditor is the successful bidder or tenderer, the consumer goods, for the purposes of this subpart, are deemed to have been sold for the amount of the creditor’s bid or tender.

(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 and the buyer completes the purchase of the consumer goods; or

(b)

the debtor forces a sale under section 83ZF.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 26

Section 83Z: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 27

Section 83ZA: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZB Debtor’s right to reinstate credit contract

(1)

(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 means any obligations that have fallen due for performance under the credit contract and that have not been performed

amount required to reinstate the contract means the aggregate of—

(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 of Part 2 (which applies with all necessary modifications as if any cost that is imposed is a credit fee or a fee or charge to which section 45 applies (as the case may be)).

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 28

Section 83ZB: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)), or confirmation of the performance of the accrued obligations, the creditor must immediately return the consumer goods to the debtor; and

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 29

Section 83ZC: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 30

Section 83ZD: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZE Debtor’s right to settle credit contract

(1)

(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 means the balance of the advance outstanding, together with any interest charges, credit fees, and default fees payable under the credit contract, and includes—

(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 of Part 2 (which applies with all necessary modifications as if any cost that is imposed is a credit fee or a fee or charge to which section 45 applies (as the case may be)).

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 31

Section 83ZE: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) reasonable notice of—

(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 limits the creditor’s duty to comply with this section.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 32

Section 83ZF: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 32A

Section 83ZG: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZH Extinguishment of creditor’s security interest and subordinate security interests on sale

(1)

If consumer goods have been sold under section 83Z or 83ZF, the following interests are extinguished on the sale of the consumer goods:

(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 the Personal Property Securities Act 1999 in respect of security interests in the proceeds of the consumer goods.

Section 83ZH: replaced, on 1 June 2020, by section 29 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

83ZI Creditor to give statement of account to debtor, guarantor, and other interested persons

(1)

If consumer goods are sold pursuant to section 83Z or 83ZF, the creditor must, within 7 days after the sale of the consumer goods, give the debtor and every other person referred to in section 83G(1) a statement of account in writing, showing—

(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 as at the date of the sale:

(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).

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 33

Section 83ZI: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZJ Distribution of surplus

(1)

If a creditor has sold consumer goods under section 83Z or 83ZF, the creditor must pay the following persons the amount of any surplus by satisfying the claims of those persons in the following order:

(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 or 8 of the Personal Property Securities Act 1999.

(3)

Subsection (1) applies despite the extinguishment of a security interest under section 83ZH.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 34

Section 83ZJ: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 34A

Section 83ZK: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZL Debtor’s, etc, right to recover surplus

The persons referred to in section 83ZJ are entitled to recover the amount of any surplus from the creditor.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 34B

Section 83ZL: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 as at the date of the sale.

(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; or

(iii)

any other payments that are in addition to the amount required to settle the contract under section 83ZE; and

(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).

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 35

Section 83ZM: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 6—Prohibitions relating to security interest over certain consumer goods

Subpart 6: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZN Consumer credit contract may not provide for security interest over certain consumer goods

(1)

A consumer credit contract may not provide for a security interest over—

(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 must ensure that the contract does not contravene this section.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83ZN heading: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 29(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83ZN(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 29(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 83ZN(3): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 29(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

83ZO Contravening provision of no effect

A provision of a consumer credit contract that contravenes section 83ZN is of no effect to the extent of the contravention.

Section 83ZO: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 83ZO: amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 30 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

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, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 7—Miscellaneous provisions

Subpart 7: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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)

(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.

Compare: 1997 No 85 s 38

Section 83ZQ: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

83ZR Part does not limit application of rules relating to conduct of servants or agents

Nothing in this Part limits section 113(b) (which applies section 90 of the Commerce Act 1986 (conduct by servants or agents) for the purposes of this Act).

Section 83ZR: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 51 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Part 4 Enforcement and remedies

Subpart 1—Preliminary provisions

84 Compliance programmes

For the purposes of this Part, a creditor or lessor has a compliance programme if the creditor or lessor—

(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 under this Act:

(b)

applications for injunctions under section 96:

(c)

applications for orders under any of the provisions of this Act (except sections 108 and 115).

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 37

Section 85(a): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

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 of the District Court Act 2016, that the District Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine the application.

(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 of the District Court Act 2016, an application made to the District Court for an order under this Act is to be treated as a proceeding.

Section 86: replaced, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

87 Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal

(1)

The Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 of the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 has jurisdiction to hear and determine applications for orders under sections 90, 93, 94A, 120, and 122 if the total amount in respect of which an order of the Tribunal is sought is not more than $30,000.

(2)

The Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 of the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 has jurisdiction to hear and determine applications for orders under sections 58 and 59 if, at the date that the claim is lodged with the Tribunal, the unpaid balance under the consumer credit contract does not exceed $30,000.

(3)

An order of the Disputes Tribunal under this Act must not—

(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 in value in any person:

(d)

direct the transfer or assignment or delivery of possession of any property exceeding $30,000 in value.

(4)

An order of the Tribunal that exceeds any restriction specified in subsection (3) is entirely of no effect.

(5)

[Repealed]

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 45A

Section 87 heading: amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 87(1): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(1): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 87(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 53 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 87(2): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(2): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 87(3): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 87(3)(a): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(3)(b): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(3)(c): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(3)(d): amended, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

Section 87(4): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 87(5): repealed, on 29 October 2019, by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).

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) of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008).

Section 87A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 54 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 2—Statutory damages

88 Creditors, creditors’ agents, lessors, transferees, and buy-back promoters liable for statutory damages

(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 if the creditor breaches, in connection with the contract, any of the following provisions:

(a)

section 9C(1) with respect to the lender responsibilities in section 9C(3)(a) to (e) or (5):

(b)

sections 17 to 24, 32 to 40, and 70:

(c)

subpart 6A of Part 2 (provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts):

(d)

section 131B (when person needs to be certified):

(e)

section 132A (disclosure about debt collection).

(1AA)

In the case of a breach of section 131B (when person needs to be certified), references in this Part to—

(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 if the creditor or the creditor’s agent breaches, in connection with the contract, any of the provisions of Part 3A; and

(b)

the creditor’s agent the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 if the creditor’s agent breaches, in connection with the contract, any of the provisions of Part 3A.

(1B)

However, if a creditor’s agent breaches, in connection with a contract, any of the provisions of Part 3A, the debtor is not entitled, under subsection (1A), to recover the amount of statutory damages from—

(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 if the creditor breaches, in connection with the guarantee, any of the provisions of sections 9C(4)(a) to (d), 24 to 26, and 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 if the lessor breaches, in connection with the lease, any of the provisions of sections 32 to 35, 64 to 67, and 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 if the transferee breaches, in connection with the transaction, any of the provisions of sections 32 to 35, 72, and 77 to 79.

(5)

If section 74 applies, the occupier under a buy-back transaction is entitled to recover from the buy-back promoter the amount of the statutory damages set out in section 89 if the buy-back promoter breaches, in connection with the transaction, any of the provisions of sections 32 to 35, and 72.

(6)

The statutory damages that are to be paid in relation to a consumer credit contract, other credit contract, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction must be divided equally between all of the debtors under the contract, the guarantors under the guarantee, the lessees under the lease, or the occupiers under the buy-back transaction, as the case may be.

Section 88 heading: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 55(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 88(1): replaced, on 20 December 2019, by section 30(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 88(1AA): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 30(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 88(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 55(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 88(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 55(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 88(2): amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 30(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 88(6): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 55(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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) (failure to make reasonable inquiries before entering into an agreement), an amount equal to the interest charges, credit fees, and default fees that have become payable under the agreement or, in the case of a breach of section 9C(3)(a) that relates to a material change, an amount equal to the interest charges, credit fees, and default fees that have become payable as a result of the change; and

(aab)

in the case of a breach of section 9C(4)(a) (failure to make reasonable inquiries before a guarantee is given), the amount paid by the guarantor in order to comply with the guarantee; and

(aac)

in the case of a breach of section 9C(5)(a) (failure to make reasonable inquiries before entering into a relevant insurance contract), the amount paid by the borrower under the contract; and

(aad)

in the case of a breach of section 45F or 45G, an amount equal to the interest charges, credit fees, and default fees that have become payable under the contract that was entered into in breach of the relevant section; and

(a)

in the case of a breach of section 18, an amount equal to the interest charges, credit fees, and default fees payable under the consumer credit contract during the period to which the breach relates; and

(b)

in the case of a breach of section 24, an amount equal to the interest charges, credit fees, and default fees payable under the consumer credit contract during the period commencing on the date that the request for disclosure was received and ending on the earlier of the following:

(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), the lesser of $6,000 or 5% of the total of all advances made and agreed to be made under the consumer credit contracts to which the guarantee applies at the time the guarantee is given; and

(d)

in the case of any other breach, the lesser of $6,000 or 5% of,—

(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, the total of all advances made and agreed to be made under the contract; or

(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, the amount of the statutory damages must be rounded up to $200.

(4)

If a person has breached 2 or more provisions referred to in section 88 in connection with the same consumer credit contract, other credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction and the breaches occur at or about the same time, the total statutory damages payable for those breaches is equal to the highest statutory damages payable for 1 of those breaches.

Section 89(1)(aaa): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 89(1)(aab): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 89(1)(aac): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 89(1)(aad): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 31 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 89(1)(a): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(1)(b): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(1)(c): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(1)(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(1)(d)(iii): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(2): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(3): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 89(4): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 56(5) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, make an order directing a creditor, a creditor’s agent, a lessor, a transferee, or a buy-back promoter to pay any statutory damages that are payable under 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 57(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 90(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 57(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 90(3): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 57(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, a lessor under a class of consumer lease, or a transferee or buy-back promoter under a class of buy-back transaction, order that the statutory damages payable in connection with a breach or breaches that affect that class be extinguished or reduced to an amount specified by the court if the court considers that it is just and equitable that an order be made.

(2)

Any order under this section may be made on the terms and conditions that the court thinks fit.

Section 91(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 58 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

92 Guidelines for reducing statutory damages

In deciding whether to make an order under section 91 and the terms and conditions applying to an order under that section, the court must have regard to the following matters:

(a)

the role that statutory damages have in providing incentives for compliance with this Act:

(b)

whether the creditor or lessor 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)

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, on 20 December 2019, by section 32 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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 if the court finds that a person (whether or not that person is a party to any proceedings) has suffered loss or damage by conduct of any creditor, creditor’s agent, lessor, transferee, buy-back promoter, paid adviser, or broker that constitutes, or would constitute,—

(aa)

a breach of any of the provisions of section 9C (lender responsibility principles) or of sections 9J and 9K:

(a)

a breach of any of the provisions of Part 2, 3, 3A, or 5A:

(b)

aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C, 9J, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 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, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 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, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 3A:

(e)

conspiring with any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C, 9J, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 3A.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 43(1)

Section 93: amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(aa): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(a): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(a): amended, on 1 June 2021, by section 33 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 93(b): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(c): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 93(e): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 59(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 are as follows:

(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) (lender responsibility principles) or subpart 6A of Part 2 (provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts),—

(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) as if the court were reopening the consumer credit contract):

(ca)

an order that—

(i)

a fee imposed in contravention of section 41, 80, or 82, and any interest paid or payable in relation to that fee, must be reduced by a specified amount, in which case—

(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), an order that—

(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.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 43(2)

Section 94(1)(caa): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 34(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 94(1)(ca): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 60 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 94(1)(cb): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 60 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 94(1)(cc): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 60 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 94(3): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 34(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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, the court must have regard to the following matters:

(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 and 83ZM.

Compare: 1997 No 85 ss 12, 13, 36

Section 94A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 61 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

95 Miscellaneous provisions concerning court’s general power to make orders

(1)

An order under section 93 or 94A may be made on the application of the Commission or any party to a consumer credit contract, other credit contract, guarantee, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, as the case may be.

(2)

An application for an order under section 93 or 94A may be made at any time within 3 years after the date on which the loss or damage was discovered or ought reasonably to have been discovered.

(3)

An application made by the Commission for an order under section 93 or 94A may be made on behalf of a person or a class of persons.

(4)

Nothing in section 93 or 94A or this section limits or affects subpart 5 of Part 2 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.

Section 95(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(1)(a) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 95(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(1)(b) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 95(1): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(1)(c) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 95(2): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 95(3): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(3) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 95(4): amended, on 1 September 2017, by section 347 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 (2017 No 5).

Section 95(4): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 62(4) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 or 99(1A) of a failure to make initial disclosure under section 17, or variation disclosure under section 22, be extinguished or reduced to an amount specified by the court if the court considers that it is just and equitable that an order be made.

(2)

The court may, on the application of a lessor under a class of consumer leases, order that the effect under section 101(2) of a failure to make disclosure under section 64 or 65 be extinguished or reduced to an amount specified by the court if the court considers that it is just and equitable that an order be made.

(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) of a failure to make disclosure under section 72 or 77 be extinguished or reduced to an amount specified by the court if the court considers that it is just and equitable that an order be made.

(4)

The order may be made on the terms and conditions that the court thinks fit.

Section 95A: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 35 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

95B Guidelines for reducing effect of failure to make disclosure

In deciding whether to make an order under section 95A and the terms and conditions applying to the order, the court must have regard to the following matters:

(a)

the role that sections 99(1A), 101(2), and 102(2) have in providing incentives for compliance with this Act:

(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, on 20 December 2019, by section 35 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 (lender responsibility principles) or of sections 9J and 9K:

(a)

a breach of any of the provisions of Parts 2, 3, 3A, and 5A:

(b)

any attempt to breach any of the provisions of section 9C, 9J, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, 3A, or 5A:

(c)

aiding, abetting, counselling, or procuring any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C, 9J, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 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, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 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, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 3A:

(f)

conspiring with any other person to breach any of the provisions of section 9C, 9J, or 9K or of Part 2, 3, or 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.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 41(1), (2)

Section 96(1)(aa): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(a): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(a): amended, on 1 June 2021, by section 36(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 96(1)(b): amended, on 1 June 2021, by section 36(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 96(1)(b): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(c): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(e): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 96(1)(f): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 63(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 restraining a person from engaging in conduct of a particular kind.

(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.

Compare: 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 restraining a person from engaging in conduct of a particular kind.

(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.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 41(3), (4); 1986 No 5 s 88A

Compliance and similar orders

Heading: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 37 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 (a 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.

Compare: 2003 No 114 s 110A; 2013 No 69 s 469

Section 98A: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 37 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 (a 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.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 42

Section 98B: inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 37 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Prohibited enforcement

99 Enforcement of consumer credit contract prohibited

(1)

If disclosure is required under section 17 or section 22, no person (other than a debtor under the consumer credit contract) may, before that disclosure is made,—

(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 or 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 or 22 is made.

(1C)

However, subsection (1A) does not apply in relation to fees or charges payable as referred to in section 45 unless the other person, body, or agency referred to in that section is an associated person of the creditor.

(2)

This section does not limit any rights that a person has in connection with a bill of exchange.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 24

Section 99(1)(ba): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 64(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 99(1)(bb): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 64(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 99(1A): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 64(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 99(1B): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 64(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 99(1C): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 64(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

99A Enforcement of rights of repossession, etc, prohibited

If the notice requirements under section 83G or 83V, as the case may be, have not been complied with, no creditor that fails to so comply may, before a notice is given, enforce any rights that the creditor otherwise has under Part 3A.

Section 99A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 65 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

99B Enforcement prohibited if creditor unregistered

(1)

If a creditor who is required to be registered under Part 2 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 is not registered under that Act,—

(a)

neither the creditor nor any other person may, in relation to a consumer credit contract to which the creditor is a party,—

(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 unless that person, body, or agency is an associated person of the creditor.

(3)

On becoming registered under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008, the creditor may enforce the creditor’s rights in relation to the costs of borrowing, but only—

(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; and

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 65 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 99B(1)(a): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 31(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 99B(4): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 31(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

100 Enforcement of guarantee prohibited

(1AAA)

No person may enforce a guarantee after the court finds a breach of section 9C(4)(a) in respect of the guarantee, unless the court grants relief to the creditor under subsection (1AAB).

(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 or section 26, no person may enforce the guarantee before disclosure is made.

(2)

Failure to comply with section 9C(4)(a) or section 25 or section 26 does not affect the ability of a person to enforce a consumer credit contract against the debtor.

(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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 24A

Section 100(1AAA): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 38(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 100(1AAB): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 38(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 100(2): amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 38(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

101 Enforcement of consumer lease prohibited

(1)

If disclosure is required under section 64 or section 65, no person (other than a lessee under the consumer lease) may, before that disclosure is made,—

(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 or 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 or 65 is made.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 66(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 101(1)(bb): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 66(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 101(2): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 66(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 101(3): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 66(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 101(4): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 66(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

102 Enforcement of buy-back transaction prohibited

(1)

If disclosure is required under section 72 or section 77, no person (other than an occupier under the buy-back transaction) may, before that disclosure is made,—

(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 or 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 or 77 is made.

(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 unless that person, body, or agency is an associated person of the transferee.

Section 102(1)(ba): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 67(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 102(1)(bb): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 67(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 102(2): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 67(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 102(3): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 67(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 102(4): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 67(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Subpart 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, or 3 or section 19(1) requires, or regulations prescribing information that must be disclosed under section 132A require, information to be contained in the disclosure statement that is to be given or sent for the purposes of the disclosure section; and

(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, or 79 commits an offence if the creditor, lessor, or transferee breaches that section.

(4)

Every lender who is subject to section 9J commits an offence if the lender breaches section 9J(4).

(4A)

Every creditor who is subject to section 9K commits an offence if the creditor breaches section 9K(4).

(4B)

Every creditor who is subject to section 9K commits an offence if both of the following apply:

(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) by failing to make any information publicly available for the purposes of that paragraph.

(4C)

Every person commits an offence if the person is subject to a disclosure requirement under section 26B and the person breaches the requirement.

(5)

Every creditor who is subject to Part 3A commits an offence if both of the following apply:

(a)

a paragraph in Schedule 3A requires information to be contained in the repossession warning notice that is to be served for the purposes of section 83G; and

(b)

the creditor breaches section 83G by failing to include any information in the repossession warning notice for the purposes of that paragraph.

(6)

Every creditor or creditor’s agent who is subject to Part 3A commits an offence if the creditor or creditor’s agent breaches section 83O(1) by failing to produce a document or information referred to in a paragraph of that subsection.

(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 or a complete failure to comply with section 83O(1) (but such a breach is an offence under section 103).

(7A)

Every person commits an offence if the person is subject to section 116AAA (requirement for annual return) and the person breaches the requirement.

(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 means an offence under this section.

(10)

See sections 105A to 105F (which relate to infringement offences).

(11)

In this section,—

disclosure section means any of sections 17, 18, 25, 64, 70, 72, and 132A

relevant terms means, in relation to—

(a)

section 17, the terms of the contract referred to in section 17(2):

(b)

section 25, the terms of the guarantee referred to in section 25(1)(a):

(c)

section 64, the terms of the lease referred to in section 64(2):

(d)

section 70, the terms of the credit-related insurance, repayment waiver, or extended warranty referred to in section 70(1) or (2) (as the case may be):

(e)

section 72, the terms of the buy-back transaction referred to in section 72(2).

Section 102A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 68 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 102A(1)(a)(i): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 39(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 102A(4A): inserted, on 13 January 2020, by section 32 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 102A(4B): inserted, on 13 January 2020, by section 32 of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 102A(4C): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 39(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 102A(7A): inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 39(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 102A(11) disclosure section: replaced, on 1 December 2021, by section 39(4) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

103 Other offences

(1)

Every creditor, lender, creditor’s agent, lessor, transferee, or buy-back promoter who breaches any of the provisions of sections 9J, 9K, 17 to 74 (except sections 41 and 41A, subpart 6A of Part 2, and section 59B), 76 to 82, 83E, 83F, 83G, 83O, 83P, 83S, 83T, 83ZN, and 132A commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

(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) is not an offence under subsection (1).

(3)

Every transferee who breaches section 75 commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

(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 commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

(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 does not constitute an offence under this section.

(6)

Every person commits an offence if, with respect to a document required by or for the purposes of section 116AAA or Part 5A, the person makes, or authorises the making of, a statement in the document that is false or misleading in a material particular if the person knows it to be false or misleading, and is liable on conviction,—

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 68 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 103(1): amended, on 1 December 2021, by section 40(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 103(1): amended, on 1 May 2020, by section 40(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 103(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 33(1) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 103(1): amended, on 13 January 2020, by section 33(2) of the Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 62).

Section 103(6): inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 40(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 40(2)

105 When proceedings may be commenced

Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, the limitation period in respect of an offence against section 102A or 103 ends on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the matter giving rise to the breach was discovered or ought reasonably to have been discovered.

Compare: 1986 No 121 s 40(3)

Section 105: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 69 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

105A Infringement fee, etc, defined

(1)

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

infringement fee means the amount, not exceeding $2,000, that is prescribed by regulations made under section 105F as the amount payable in respect of an infringement offence for which an infringement notice has been issued

infringement notice means a notice, in the form prescribed by regulations made under section 105F and issued under section 105C, in respect of an infringement offence.

(2)

See section 102A (which relates to infringement offences).

Section 105A: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011; or

(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) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

Compare: 1992 No 122 s 165A

Section 105B: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

(3)

An infringement notice is revoked by giving written notice to the person to whom it was issued that the notice is revoked.

Compare: 1992 No 122 s 165B

Section 105C: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

105D Procedural requirements for infringement notices

(1)

An infringement notice may be served on a person (a recipient) who is alleged to have committed an infringement offence—

(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, an infringement notice sent under subsection (1)(b) must be treated as having been served on the recipient on the date it was posted.

(3)

An infringement notice must be in the form prescribed by regulations made under section 105F and must contain—

(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) of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957; and

(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 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957; and in that case, section 21 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 applies, with all necessary modifications.

(5)

Reminder notices must be prescribed by regulations made under section 105F and must contain the information referred to in subsection (3).

Compare: 1992 No 122 s 165C

Section 105D: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

105E What Commission does with infringement fees

The Commission must pay all infringement fees received into a Crown Bank Account.

Compare: 1992 No 122 s 165D

Section 105E: inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

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, Sch 1 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, on 6 June 2015, by section 70 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 105F(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

Subpart 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), or proceedings for pecuniary penalties under subpart 5A, in connection with a breach of this Act, if the person proves that—

(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 does not include a mistake of law or a mistake in the interpretation of any enactment or of any document.

Section 106(1): amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 41 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 in place an appropriate compliance programme.

Section 107: amended, on 20 December 2019, by section 42 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 5A—Pecuniary penalties

Subpart 5A: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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) (lender responsibility principles), except to the extent that that provision relates to section 9C(3)(f):

(ii)

section 9CA (failure to keep records about reasonable inquiries and provide records on request):

(iii)

section 41 (unreasonable credit fee or default fee):

(iv)

section 41A (duties in respect of records and reviews about how fees calculated):

(v)

subpart 6A of Part 2 (provisions relating to debtors under high-cost consumer credit contracts):

(vi)

section 59B(1) (duty of directors and senior managers of creditors):

(vii)

section 131B (when person needs to be certified):

(viii)

section 131D (prohibitions on holding out that person is certified):

(ix)

section 131R (duty to notify changes):

(x)

an order made under section 98A (compliance orders) or section 98B (order to disclose information or publish advertisement); or

(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); and

(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.

Compare: 1986 No 5 s 80

Section 107A: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 1986 No 5 s 79A

Section 107B: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 1986 No 5 s 79B

Section 107C: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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) in respect of—

(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 includes relieve or excuse from liability, whether before or after the liability arises, and indemnity has a corresponding meaning.

Compare: 1986 No 5 s 80A

Section 107D: inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

107E Restriction on insurance

(1)

No person may enter into a contract of insurance that indemnifies or purports to indemnify a person (person A) in respect of—

(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, on 20 December 2019, by section 43 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 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 may make an order prohibiting or restricting a person from doing all or any of the matters set out in subsection (2) if—

(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) of the Crimes Act 1961); or

(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; or

(iv)

is, or has been, a buy-back promoter in connection with a buy-back transaction that has been reopened under section 120; or

(v)

has failed to comply with any of the provisions of this Act (including, to avoid doubt, the lender responsibility principles (see section 9C(2)); or

(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; or

(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); and

(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)

[Repealed]

(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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 39(1)

Section 108(1): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 108(1)(a)(v): replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 71(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 108(1)(a)(v): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 44(1) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 108(1)(a)(va): inserted, on 1 June 2020, by section 44(2) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 108(1)(a)(vi): amended, on 1 June 2020, by section 44(3) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 108(1A): repealed, on 1 June 2020, by section 44(4) of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

109 Who may apply and nature of order

(1)

Any person (including the Commission) may apply to the District Court for an order under 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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 39(2), (3)

Section 109(1): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

110 Costs

(1)

In any proceedings under section 108, the District Court may 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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 39(4)

Subpart 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 and under the relevant credit contract; and

(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); and

(ca)

exercise the powers in Part 5A (certification); and

(d)

make available appropriate information for the guidance of consumers, creditors, debtors, lessors, transferees, and other interested persons in relation to promoting compliance with this Act.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 72(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 111(2)(ac): inserted, on 6 June 2015, by section 72(1) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 111(2)(ca): inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 45 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 111(2)(d): amended, on 6 June 2015, by section 72(2) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, or the 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, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 112(1): amended, on 1 January 2004, by section 48(1) of the Supreme Court Act 2003 (2003 No 53).

113 Application of Commerce Act 1986

The following provisions of the Commerce Act 1986 apply with all necessary modifications:

(a)

sections 15 to 17 (proceedings of the Commission):

(aa)

sections 74A to 74C (enforceable undertakings):

(b)

section 90 (conduct by servants or agents):

(c)

section 98 (Commission may require person to supply information or documents or give evidence):

(d)

sections 98A and 98G (Commission’s powers of search and seizure):

(e)

section 99 (powers of Commission to take evidence):

(ea)

sections 99B to 99P (assistance to overseas regulators), as if—

(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 (powers of Commission to prohibit disclosure of information, documents, and evidence):

(g)

section 100A (Commission may state case for opinion of High Court):

(h)

sections 101 (notices) and 102 (service of notices):

(i)

section 103 (offences):

(j)

section 104 (determinations of Commission):

(k)

[Repealed]

(l)

section 106 (proceedings privileged):

(m)

section 106A (judicial notice):

(n)

section 109 (Commission may prescribe forms).

Section 113(a): substituted, on 25 January 2005, by section 200 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115).

Section 113(aa): inserted, on 20 December 2019, by section 46 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Section 113(d): amended, on 1 October 2012, by section 314(2) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).

Section 113(ea): inserted, on 24 October 2012, by section 4 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (International Co-operation) Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 85).

Section 113(k): repealed, on 25 January 2005, by section 200 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115).

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, the operation of the order is suspended,—

(a)

in any case, until the expiration of the time prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 for the filing of a notice of appeal or an application for leave to appeal; and

(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, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).

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, on 1 December 2021, by section 47 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Subpart 8—Miscellaneous

Subpart 8: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 48 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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 or 3, the court is satisfied that there has been—

(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; or

(b)

a breach referred to in section 93.

(2)

If the court is satisfied that a director or senior manager has breached section 59B in respect of the matter, the court may order that the director or manager is liable to pay statutory damages under section 90 in respect of the matter or to pay an amount under section 94 (as the case may be).

(3)

See section 106, which provides a defence to a claim for statutory damages under section 88.

(4)

See also section 107A(1)(a)(vi) (civil pecuniary penalties).

(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 or 94 is made.

(6)

If this section applies, a director or senior manager may apply to the court under section 91 and the court must take directors and senior managers into account under section 92(e).

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 534

Section 116A: inserted, on 1 December 2021, by section 48 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Part 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 means oppressive, harsh, unjustly burdensome, unconscionable, or in breach of reasonable standards of commercial practice.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 9

119 Collateral contracts and linked transactions

(1)

If a security interest or guarantee is or may be taken in connection with a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction, the contract or arrangement that creates or provides for the security interest or guarantee is to be treated as forming part of the credit contract, lease, or transaction for the purposes of this Part.

(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, on 6 June 2015, by section 73 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

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.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 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) applies.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 11(1)

124 Guidelines for reopening credit contracts, consumer leases, and buy-back transactions

(1)

In deciding whether section 120 applies and whether to reopen a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction (an arrangement), the court must, to the extent that the following matters are applicable in the particular circumstances, have regard to:

(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)); and

(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 of Part 2 applies, the need to protect consumers in accordance with the purpose of that subpart; and

(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), the references to the debtor in subsection (1)(d), (f), (g), (i), and (l) must, in relation to the guarantee, be treated as including the guarantor.

Section 124: replaced, on 6 June 2015, by section 74 of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2014 (2014 No 33).

Section 124(1)(ea): inserted, on 1 May 2020, by section 49 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 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), evidence regarding the terms on which credit was available from other persons, goods could be hired from other persons, or land could be sold to other persons at the time the contract, lease, or transaction was made is admissible in evidence.

(2)

If the court considers reopening a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction under section 120(b), evidence regarding the exercise of the rights or powers by other persons at the time the right or power was exercised is admissible in evidence.

(3)

If the court considers reopening a credit contract, consumer lease, or buy-back transaction under section 120(c), evidence regarding the inducements offered by other persons at the time the inducement was offered is admissible in evidence.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 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.

Compare: 1981 No 27 s 14(4)

131 No limit on sections 41, 80, and 82

Nothing in this Part limits section 41 or section 80 or section 82.

Part 5A Certification and fit and proper person requirements

Part 5A: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

131A Interpretation for this Part

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

licensed provider has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008

Registrar has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008.

Section 131A: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Requirement for certification

Heading: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 388

Section 131B: inserted, on 1 October 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

131C Exemptions from need for certification

(1)

A person is exempt from the certification requirement under section 131B to the extent that the person—

(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 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008; or

(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.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 389

Section 131C: inserted, on 1 October 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 391

Section 131D: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

Issue of certifications

Heading: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

131E Commission may issue certification

The Commission may issue a certification in accordance with this Part.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 394

Section 131E: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

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.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 395

Section 131F: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

131G When certification must be issued

(1)

The Commission must, after receiving an application under section 131F, issue a certification if the Commission is satisfied that the applicant’s directors, senior managers, and proposed directors and senior managers, are fit and proper persons to hold their respective positions.

(2)

See section 131L for the Commission’s power to impose conditions when it issues a certification.

Compare: 2013 No 69 s 396

Section 131G: inserted, on 1 June 2021, by section 50 of the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 81).

131H Procedural requirements

(1)

This section applies to a decision of the Commission as to whether to issue certification under section 131G or to impose conditions under 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 means—

(a)

the person applying for certification (for example, the entity that will provide the service); and

(b)

List of access keys

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003

Note

Contents

1 Title

Part 1 Preliminary provisions

2 Commencement

(a)

(b)

3 Purposes

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(i)

(ii)

(a)

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(i)

(ii)

(f)

(g)

(i)

(ii)

(h)

(i)

(j)

4 Overview

(a)

(ab)

(b)

(c)

(ca)

(d)

(e)

(ea)

(f)

5 Interpretation

(a)

(b)

(c)

(i)

(ii)

(d)

(e)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(b)

(a)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(b)

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(a)

(b)