CP18/12 and CP18/13: Consultations on High-cost Credit and on Overdrafts

Consultation papers First published: Last updated: 19/12/2018

As part of our ongoing review of high-cost credit products, we are publishing our proposed rules and guidance for consultation. We have also identified a number of areas for discussion.

Show CP18/12 (PDF)

Show CP18/13 (PDF)

These documents follow on from our Feedback Statement (FS17/2), published in July 2017, and then our update, published in January 2018. These publications identified our key areas of concern and the way we are thinking about high-cost credit.

We have focused on arranged and unarranged overdrafts, as well as rent-to-own, home-collected credit and catalogue credit products. We have also included store cards.

We are also working on alternatives to high-cost credit. These are designed to increase choice and encourage the availability of alternatives.

Who this applies to 

This update will be of interest to:

  • banks and building societies that provide overdrafts
  • consumer credit lenders that provide overdrafts, home-collected credit, rent-to-own, and catalogue credit and store cards
  • credit unions and community development finance institutions and commercial innovators in alternatives to high-cost credit
  • trade bodies representing these firms
  • social investors, foundations  and other investors with an interest in alternative credit
  • local authorities and other social landlords
  • consumer organisations

Publication

We are publishing two consultation papers:

High-cost credit: CP18/12

This paper addresses rent-to-own, home-collected credit, catalogue credit and store cards, and alternatives to high-cost credit. It includes: 

  • proposals for consultation (chapters 2 to 5)
  • a discussion on rent-to-own pricing (chapter 2)
  • cost-benefit analysis for the proposals (annex 2)

Error: In Appendix 2 of the version of CP18/12 published 31 May 2018, we have updated the reference to the ‘by way of business test’ in paragraph 2.4. We have also inserted a footnote in para 2.3 to our perimeter guidance and an additional sentence in para 2.5 concerning the criminal offence of engaging in credit broking if unauthorised.

Overdrafts: CP18/13

This paper addresses arranged and unarranged overdrafts. It includes:

  • proposals for consultation (chapter 3)
  • a discussion on changes to overdraft charges (chapters 4 and 5) 
  • cost-benefit analysis for the proposals (annex 2)
  • a review of the monthly maximum charge for unarranged overdrafts (annex 3)

Video: consumer credit focus group

We have analysed a large amount of data, including millions of anonymised credit files, randomised controlled trials and extensive research and listened to high-cost credit customers. Andrew Bailey recently took part in a Glasgow focus group to hear people’s views and experiences of credit.

Next steps

This consultation has now closed.

On 18 December 2018, we published an update on our work on high-cost credit. This includes:

  • a consultation on proposals to radically reform the ways banks and building societies charge for overdrafts and final rules and guidance we have made to address low awareness and engagement in this market (CP18/42),
  • feedback on CP18/12 with final rules and guidance, and consultation on Buy Now Pay Later offers (CP18/43) and
  • our finalised guidance on helping tenants find alternatives to high-cost credit and what this means for social housing landlords (FG18/6).

We also published our Strategic Review of Retail Banking Business Models final report.

Background research

We have used the following research and occasional papers to create our proposals:

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