DIRECTIVE 2014/17/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 4 February 2014
on credit agreements for consumers relating to residential immovable property and amending Directives 2008/48/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010
(Text with EEA relevance)
CHAPTER 1
SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE, DEFINITIONS AND COMPETENT AUTHORITIES
Article 1
Subject matter
This Directive lays down a common framework for certain aspects of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning agreements covering credit for consumers secured by a mortgage or otherwise relating to residential immovable property, including an obligation to carry out a creditworthiness assessment before granting a credit, as a basis for the development of effective underwriting standards in relation to residential immovable property in the Member States, and for certain prudential and supervisory requirements, including for the establishment and supervision of credit intermediaries, appointed representatives and non-credit institutions.
Article 2
Level of harmonisation
Article 3
Scope
This Directive shall apply to:
credit agreements which are secured either by a mortgage or by another comparable security commonly used in a Member State on residential immovable property or secured by a right related to residential immovable property; and
credit agreements the purpose of which is to acquire or retain property rights in land or in an existing or projected building.
This Directive shall not apply to:
Equity release credit agreements where the creditor:
contributes a lump sum, periodic payments or other forms of credit disbursement in return for a sum deriving from the future sale of a residential immovable property or a right relating to residential immovable property; and
will not seek repayment of the credit until the occurrence of one or more specified life events of the consumer, as defined by Member States, unless the consumer breaches his contractual obligations which allows the creditor to terminate the credit agreement;
credit agreements where the credit is granted by an employer to his employees as a secondary activity where such a credit agreement is offered free of interest or at an APRC lower than those prevailing on the market and not offered to the public generally;
credit agreements where the credit is granted free of interest and without any other charges except those that recover costs directly related to the securing of the credit;
credit agreements in the form of an overdraft facility and where the credit has to be repaid within one month;
credit agreements which are the outcome of a settlement reached in court or before another statutory authority;
credit agreements which relate to the deferred payment, free of charge, of an existing debt and which do not fall within the scope of point (a) of paragraph 1.
Member States may decide not to apply:
Articles 11 and 14 and Annex II to credit agreements for consumers, secured by a mortgage or by another comparable security commonly used in a Member State on residential immovable property or secured by a right related to residential immovable property, the purpose of which is not to acquire or retain the right to residential immovable property, provided that the Member States apply to such credit agreements Articles 4 and 5 of and Annexes II and III to Directive 2008/48/EC;
this Directive to credit agreements which relate to an immovable property where the credit agreement provides that the immovable property cannot at any time be occupied as a house, apartment or another place of residence by the consumer or a family member of the consumer and is to be occupied as a house, apartment or another place of residence on the basis of a rental agreement;
this Directive to credit agreements which relate to credits granted to a restricted public under a statutory provision with a general interest purpose, free of interest or at lower borrowing rates than those prevailing on the market or on other terms which are more favourable to the consumer than those prevailing on the market and at borrowing rates not higher than those prevailing on the market;
this Directive to bridging loans;
this Directive to credit agreements where the creditor is an organisation within the scope of Article 2(5) of Directive 2008/48/EC.
Article 4
Definitions
For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions shall apply:
‘Consumer’ means a consumer as defined in point (a) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC.
‘Creditor’ means a natural or legal person who grants or promises to grant credit falling within the scope of Article 3 in the course of his trade, business or profession.
‘Credit agreement’ means an agreement whereby a creditor grants or promises to grant, to a consumer, a credit falling within the scope of Article 3 in the form of a deferred payment, loan or other similar financial accommodation.
‘Ancillary service’ means a service offered to the consumer in conjunction with the credit agreement.
‘Credit intermediary’ means a natural or legal person who is not acting as a creditor or notary and not merely introducing, either directly or indirectly, a consumer to a creditor or credit intermediary, and who, in the course of his trade, business or profession, for remuneration, which may take a pecuniary form or any other agreed form of financial consideration:
presents or offers credit agreements to consumers;
assists consumers by undertaking preparatory work or other pre-contractual administration in respect of credit agreements other than as referred to in point (a); or
concludes credit agreements with consumers on behalf of the creditor.
‘Group’ means a group of creditors which are to be consolidated for the purposes of drawing up consolidated accounts, as defined in Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings ( 1 ).
‘Tied credit intermediary’ means any credit intermediary who acts on behalf of and under the full and unconditional responsibility of:
only one creditor;
only one group; or
a number of creditors or groups which does not represent the majority of the market.
‘Appointed representative’ means a natural or legal person who performs activities referred to in point 5 that is acting on behalf of and under the full and unconditional responsibility of only one credit intermediary.
‘Credit institution’ means credit institution as defined in point 1 of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013.
‘Non-credit institution’ means any creditor that is not a credit institution.
‘Staff’ means:
any natural person working for the creditor, or credit intermediary who is directly engaged in the activities covered by this Directive or who has contacts with consumers in the course of activities covered by this Directive;
any natural person working for an appointed representative who has contacts with consumers in the course of activities covered by this Directive;
any natural person directly managing or supervising the natural persons referred to in points (a) and (b).
‘Total amount of credit’ means the total amount of credit as defined in point (l) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC.
‘Total cost of the credit to the consumer’ means the total cost of the credit to the consumer as defined in point (g) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC including the cost of valuation of property where such valuation is necessary to obtain the credit but excluding registration fees for the transfer of ownership of the immovable property. It excludes any charges payable by the consumer for non-compliance with the commitments laid down in the credit agreement.
‘Total amount payable by the consumer’ means the total amount payable by the consumer as defined in point (h) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC.
‘Annual percentage rate of charge’ (APRC) means the total cost of the credit to the consumer, expressed as an annual percentage of the total amount of credit, where applicable, including the costs referred to in Article 17(2) and equates, on an annual basis, to the present value of all future or existing commitments (drawdowns, repayments and charges) agreed by the creditor and the consumer.
‘Borrowing rate’ means the borrowing rate as defined in point (j) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC.
‘Creditworthiness assessment’ means the evaluation of the prospect for the debt obligation resulting from the credit agreement to be met.
‘Durable medium’ means durable medium as defined in point (m) of Article 3 of Directive 2008/48/EC.
‘Home Member State’ means:
where the creditor or credit intermediary is a natural person, the Member State in which his head office is situated;
where the creditor or credit intermediary is a legal person, the Member State in which its registered office is situated or, if under its national law it has no registered office, the Member State in which its head office is situated.
‘Host Member State’ means the Member State, other than the home Member State, in which the creditor or credit intermediary has a branch or provides services.
‘Advisory services’ means the provision of personal recommendations to a consumer in respect of one or more transactions relating to credit agreements and constitutes a separate activity from the granting of a credit and from the credit intermediation activities set out in point 5.
‘Competent authority’ means an authority designated as competent by a Member State in accordance with Article 5.
‘Bridging loan’ means a credit agreement either of no fixed duration or which is due to be repaid within 12 months, used by the consumer as a temporary financing solution while transitioning to another financial arrangement for the immovable property.
‘Contingent liability or guarantee’ means a credit agreement which acts as a guarantee to another separate but ancillary transaction, and where the capital secured against an immovable property is only drawn down if an event or events specified in the contract occur.
‘Shared equity credit agreement’ means a credit agreement where the capital repayable is based on a contractually set percentage of the value of the immovable property at the time of the capital repayment or repayments.
‘Tying practice’ means the offering or the selling of a credit agreement in a package with other distinct financial products or services where the credit agreement is not made available to the consumer separately.
‘Bundling practice’ means the offering or the selling of a credit agreement in a package with other distinct financial products or services where the credit agreement is also made available to the consumer separately but not necessarily on the same terms or conditions as when offered bundled with the ancillary services.
‘Foreign currency loan’ means a credit agreement where the credit is:
denominated in a currency other than that in which the consumer receives the income or holds the assets from which the credit is to be repaid; or
denominated in a currency other than that of the Member State in which the consumer is resident.
Article 5
Competent authorities
The authorities referred to in the first subparagraph shall be either public authorities or bodies recognised by national law or by public authorities expressly empowered for that purpose by national law. They shall not be creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives.
Member States shall ensure that the authorities designated as competent for ensuring the application and enforcement of Articles 9, 29, 32, 33, 34 and 35 of this Directive are either or both of the following:
competent authorities as defined in Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010;
authorities other than the competent authorities referred to in point (a) provided that national laws, regulations or administrative provisions require those authorities to cooperate with the competent authorities referred to in point (a) whenever necessary in order to carry out their duties under this Directive, including for the purposes of cooperating with the European Supervisory Authority (European Banking Authority) (EBA) as required under this Directive.
The competent authorities shall exercise their powers in conformity with national law either:
directly under their own authority or under the supervision of the judicial authorities; or
by application to courts which are competent to grant the necessary decision, including, where appropriate, by appeal, if the application to grant the necessary decision is not successful, except for Articles 9, 29, 32, 33, 34 and 35.
CHAPTER 2
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Article 6
Financial education of consumers
CHAPTER 3
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO CREDITORS, CREDIT INTERMEDIARIES AND APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES
Article 7
Conduct of business obligations when providing credit to consumers
Member States shall ensure that, when establishing and applying remuneration policies for staff responsible for the assessment of creditworthiness, creditors comply with the following principles in a way and to the extent that is appropriate to their size, internal organisation and the nature, scope and complexity of their activities:
the remuneration policy is consistent with and promotes sound and effective risk management and does not encourage risk-taking that exceeds the level of tolerated risk of the creditor;
the remuneration policy is in line with the business strategy, objectives, values and long-term interests of the creditor, and incorporates measures to avoid conflicts of interest, in particular by providing that remuneration is not contingent on the number or proportion of applications accepted.
Article 8
Obligation to provide information free of charge to consumers
Member States shall ensure that, when information is provided to consumers in compliance with the requirements set out in this Directive, such information is provided without charge to the consumer.
Article 9
Knowledge and competence requirements for staff
Where a creditor or credit intermediary provides its services within the territory of one or more other Member States:
through a branch, the host Member State shall be responsible for establishing the minimum knowledge and competence requirements applicable to the staff of a branch;
under the freedom to provide services, the home Member State shall be responsible for establishing the minimum knowledge and competence requirements applicable to the staff in accordance with Annex III, however host Member States may establish the minimum knowledge and competence requirements for those requirements referred to in points (b), (c), (e) and (f) of paragraph 1 of Annex III.
CHAPTER 4
INFORMATION AND PRACTICES PRELIMINARY TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT
Article 10
General provisions applicable to advertising and marketing
Without prejudice to Directive 2005/29/EC, Member States shall require that any advertising and marketing communications concerning credit agreements are fair, clear and not misleading. In particular, wording that may create false expectations for a consumer regarding the availability or the cost of a credit shall be prohibited.
Article 11
Standard information to be included in advertising
Member States may provide that the first subparagraph shall not apply where national law requires the indication of the APRC in advertising concerning credit agreements which does not indicate an interest rate or any figures relating to any cost of credit to the consumer within the meaning of the first subparagraph.
The standard information shall specify in a clear, concise and prominent way:
the identity of the creditor or, where applicable, the credit intermediary or appointed representative;
where applicable, that the credit agreement will be secured by a mortgage or another comparable security commonly used in a Member State on residential immovable property or by a right related to residential immovable property;
the borrowing rate, indicating whether this is fixed or variable or a combination of both, together with particulars of any charges included in the total cost of the credit to the consumer;
the total amount of credit;
the APRC which shall be included in the advertisement at least as prominently as any interest rate;
where applicable, the duration of the credit agreement;
where applicable, the amount of the instalments;
where applicable, the total amount payable by the consumer;
where applicable, the number of instalments;
where applicable, a warning regarding the fact that possible fluctuations of the exchange rate could affect the amount payable by the consumer.
Article 12
Tying and bundling practices
Notwithstanding paragraph 1, Member States may provide that creditors can request the consumer or a family member or close relation of the consumer to:
open or maintain a payment or a savings account, where the only purpose of such an account is to accumulate capital to repay the credit, to service the credit, to pool resources to obtain the credit, or to provide additional security for the creditor in the event of default;
purchase or keep an investment product or a private pension product, where such product which primarily offers the investor an income in retirement serves also to provide additional security for the creditor in the event of default or to accumulate capital to repay the credit, to service the credit or to pool resources to obtain the credit;
conclude a separate credit agreement in conjunction with a shared-equity credit agreement to obtain the credit.
Article 13
General information
Such general information shall include at least the following:
the identity and the geographical address of the issuer of the information;
the purposes for which the credit may be used;
the forms of security, including, where applicable, the possibility for it to be located in a different Member State;
the possible duration of the credit agreements;
types of available borrowing rate, indicating whether fixed or variable or both, with a short description of the characteristics of a fixed and variable rate, including related implications for the consumer;
where contracts that reference a benchmark as defined in point (3) of Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 2 ) are available, the names of the benchmarks and of their administrators and the potential implications on the consumer;
where foreign currency loans are available, an indication of the foreign currency or currencies, including an explanation of the implications for the consumer where the credit is denominated in a foreign currency;
a representative example of the total amount of credit, the total cost of the credit to the consumer, the total amount payable by the consumer and the APRC;
an indication of possible further costs, not included in the total cost of the credit to the consumer, to be paid in connection with a credit agreement;
the range of different options available for reimbursing the credit to the creditor, including the number, frequency and amount of the regular repayment instalments;
where applicable, a clear and concise statement that compliance with the terms and conditions of the credit agreement does not guarantee repayment of the total amount of credit under the credit agreement;
a description of the conditions directly relating to early repayment;
whether a valuation of the property is necessary and, where applicable, who is responsible for ensuring that the valuation is carried out, and whether any related costs arise for the consumer;
indication of ancillary services the consumer is obliged to acquire in order to obtain the credit or to obtain it on the terms and conditions marketed and, where applicable, a clarification that the ancillary services may be purchased from a provider that is not the creditor; and
a general warning concerning possible consequences of non-compliance with the commitments linked to the credit agreement.
Article 14
Pre-contractual information
Member States shall ensure that the creditor and, where applicable, the credit intermediary or appointed representative, provides the consumer with the personalised information needed to compare the credits available on the market, assess their implications and make an informed decision on whether to conclude a credit agreement:
without undue delay after the consumer has given the necessary information on his needs, financial situation and preferences in accordance with Article 20; and
in good time before the consumer is bound by any credit agreement or offer.
Member States shall ensure that when an offer binding on the creditor is provided to the consumer, it shall be provided on paper or on another durable medium and accompanied by an ESIS where:
no ESIS has been provided to the consumer previously; or
the characteristics of the offer are different from the information contained in the ESIS previously provided.
Member States shall specify that the time period referred to in the first subparagraph shall be either a reflection period before the conclusion of the credit agreement or a period for exercising a right of withdrawal after the conclusion of the credit agreement or a combination of the two.
Where a Member State specifies a reflection period before the conclusion of a credit agreement:
the offer shall be binding on the creditor for the duration of the reflection period; and
the consumer may accept the offer at any time during the reflection period.
Member States may provide that consumers cannot accept the offer for a period not exceeding the first 10 days of the reflection period.
Where the borrowing rate or other costs applicable to the offer are determined on the basis of the selling of underlying bonds or other long-term funding instruments, Member States may provide that the borrowing rate or other costs may vary from that stated in the offer in accordance with the value of the underlying bond or other long-term funding instrument.
Where the consumer has a right of withdrawal in accordance with the second subparagraph of this paragraph, Article 6 of Directive 2002/65/EC shall not apply.
Article 15
Information requirements concerning credit intermediaries and appointed representatives
Member States shall ensure that in good time before the carrying out of any of the credit intermediation activities set out in point 5 of Article 4, the credit intermediary or appointed representative shall provide the consumer with at least the following information on paper or on another durable medium:
the identity and the geographical address of the credit intermediary;
the register in which he has been included, the registration number, where applicable, and the means for verifying such registration;
whether the credit intermediary is tied to or works exclusively for one or more creditors. Where the credit intermediary is tied to or works exclusively for one or more creditors, it shall provide the names of the creditors for which it is acting. The credit intermediary may disclose that it is independent where it meets the conditions laid down in accordance with Article 22(4);
whether the credit intermediary offers advisory services;
the fee, where applicable, payable by the consumer to the credit intermediary for its services or where this is not possible, the method for calculating the fee;
the procedures allowing consumers or other interested parties to register complaints internally about credit intermediaries and, where appropriate, the means by which recourse to out-of-court complaint and redress procedures can be sought;
where applicable, the existence and where known the amount of commissions or other inducements, payable by the creditor or third parties to the credit intermediary for their services in relation to the credit agreement. Where the amount is not known at the time of disclosure the credit intermediary shall inform the consumer that the actual amount will be disclosed at a later stage in the ESIS.
Article 16
Adequate explanations
The explanations shall, where applicable, include in particular:
the pre-contractual information to be provided in accordance with:
Article 14 in the case of creditors;
Articles 14 and 15 in the case of credit intermediaries or appointed representatives;
the essential characteristics of the products proposed;
the specific effects the products proposed may have on the consumer, including the consequences of default in payment by the consumer; and
where ancillary services are bundled with a credit agreement, whether each component of the bundle can be terminated separately and the implications for the consumer of doing so.
CHAPTER 5
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE OF CHARGE
Article 17
Calculation of the APRC
CHAPTER 6
CREDITWORTHINESS ASSESSMENT
Article 18
Obligation to assess the creditworthiness of the consumer
Member States shall ensure that:
the creditor only makes the credit available to the consumer where the result of the creditworthiness assessment indicates that the obligations resulting from the credit agreement are likely to be met in the manner required under that agreement;
in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 95/46/EC, the creditor informs the consumer in advance that a database is to be consulted;
where the credit application is rejected the creditor informs the consumer without delay of the rejection and, where applicable, that the decision is based on automated processing of data. Where the rejection is based on the result of the database consultation, the creditor shall inform the consumer of the result of such consultation and of the particulars of the database consulted.
Article 19
Property valuation
Article 20
Disclosure and verification of consumer information
Member States shall not allow a creditor to terminate the credit agreement on the grounds that the information provided by the consumer before the conclusion of the credit agreement was incomplete.
The second subparagraph shall not prevent Member States from allowing the termination of the credit agreement by the creditor where it is demonstrated that the consumer knowingly withheld or falsified the information.
CHAPTER 7
DATABASE ACCESS
Article 21
Database access
CHAPTER 8
ADVISORY SERVICES
Article 22
Standards for advisory services
Member States shall ensure that before the provision of advisory services or, where applicable, the conclusion of a contract for the provision of advisory services, the creditor, credit intermediary or appointed representative provides the consumer with the following information on paper or another durable medium:
whether the recommendation will be based on considering only their own product range in accordance with point (b) of paragraph 3 or a wide range of products from across the market in accordance with point (c) of paragraph 3 so that the consumer can understand the basis on which the recommendation is made;
where applicable, the fee payable by the consumer for the advisory services or, where the amount cannot be ascertained at the time of disclosure, the method used for its calculation.
The information referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph may be provided to the consumer in the form of additional pre-contractual information.
Where advisory services are provided to consumers, Member States shall ensure, in addition to the requirements set out in Articles 7 and 9, that:
creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives obtain the necessary information regarding the consumer’s personal and financial situation, his preferences and objectives so as to enable the recommendation of suitable credit agreements. Such an assessment shall be based on information that is up to date at that moment in time and shall take into account reasonable assumptions as to risks to the consumer’s situation over the term of the proposed credit agreement;
creditors, tied credit intermediaries or appointed representatives of tied credit intermediaries consider a sufficiently large number of credit agreements in their product range and recommend a suitable credit agreements or several suitable credit agreements from among their product range for the consumer’s needs, financial situation and personal circumstances;
non-tied credit intermediaries or appointed representatives of non-tied credit intermediaries consider a sufficiently large number of credit agreements available on the market and recommend a suitable credit agreement or several suitable credit agreements available on the market for the consumer’s needs, financial situation and personal circumstances;
creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives act in the best interests of the consumer by:
informing themselves about the consumer’s needs and circumstances; and
recommending suitable credit agreements in accordance with points (a), (b) and (c); and
creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives give the consumer a record on paper or on another durable medium of the recommendation provided.
Where Member States do not prohibit the use of the term ‘advice’ and ‘advisor’, they shall impose the following conditions on the use of the term ‘independent advice’ or ‘independent advisor’ by creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives providing advisory services:
creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives shall consider a sufficiently large number of credit agreements available on the market; and
creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives shall not be remunerated for those advisory services by one or more creditors.
Point (b) of the second subparagraph shall apply only where the number of creditors considered is less than a majority of the market.
Member States may impose more stringent requirements in relation to the use of the terms ‘independent advice’ or ‘independent advisor’ by creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives, including a ban on receiving remuneration from a creditor.
Member States may decide not to apply the first subparagraph to persons:
carrying out the credit intermediation activities set out in point 5 of Article 4 or providing advisory services where those activities are carried out or services are provided in an incidental manner in the course of a professional activity and that activity is regulated by legal or regulatory provisions or a code of ethics governing the profession which do not exclude carrying out of those activities or the provision of those services;
providing advisory services in the context of managing existing debt which are insolvency practitioners where that activity is regulated by legal or regulatory provisions or public or voluntary debt advisory services which do not operate on a commercial basis; or
providing advisory services who are not creditors, credit intermediaries or appointed representatives where such persons are admitted and supervised by competent authorities in accordance with the requirements for credit intermediaries under this Directive.
Persons benefiting from the waiver in the second subparagraph shall not benefit from the right referred to in Article 32(1) to provide services for the entire territory of the Union.
CHAPTER 9
FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS AND VARIABLE RATE LOANS
Article 23
Foreign currency loans
Member States shall ensure that, where a credit agreement relates to a foreign currency loan, an appropriate regulatory framework is in place at the time the credit agreement is concluded to at least ensure that:
the consumer has a right to convert the credit agreement into an alternative currency under specified conditions; or
there are other arrangements in place to limit the exchange rate risk to which the consumer is exposed under the credit agreement.
The alternative currency referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 shall be either:
the currency in which the consumer primarily receives income or holds assets from which the credit is to be repaid, as indicated at the time the most recent creditworthiness assessment in relation to the credit agreement was made; or
the currency of the Member State in which the consumer either was resident at the time the credit agreement was concluded or is currently resident.
Member States may specify whether both of the choices referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph are available to the consumer or only one of them or may allow creditors to specify whether both of the choices referred to in points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph are available to the consumer or only one of them.
Article 24
Variable rate credits
Where the credit agreement is a variable rate credit, Member States shall ensure that:
any indexes or reference rates used to calculate the borrowing rate are clear, accessible, objective and verifiable by the parties to the credit agreement and the competent authorities; and
historical records of indexes for calculating the borrowing rates are maintained either by the providers of these indexes or the creditors.
CHAPTER 10
SOUND EXECUTION OF CREDIT AGREEMENTS AND RELATED RIGHTS
Article 25
Early repayment
Article 26
Flexible and reliable markets
Article 27
Information concerning changes in the borrowing rate
Article 28
Arrears and foreclosure
Where after foreclosure proceedings outstanding debt remains, Member States shall ensure that measures to facilitate repayment in order to protect consumers are put in place.
CHAPTER 11
REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND SUPERVISION OF CREDIT INTERMEDIARIES AND APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES
Article 29
Admission of credit intermediaries
Member States shall ensure that the admission of credit intermediaries is made subject to fulfilment of at least the following professional requirements in addition to the requirements provided for in Article 9:
Credit intermediaries shall hold professional indemnity insurance covering the territories in which they offer services, or some other comparable guarantee against liability arising from professional negligence. However, for tied credit intermediaries, the home Member State may provide that such insurance or comparable guarantee can be provided by a creditor for which the credit intermediary is empowered to act.
Powers are delegated to the Commission to adopt and, where necessary amend, regulatory technical standards to stipulate the minimum monetary amount of the professional indemnity insurance or comparable guarantee referred to in the first paragraph of this point. Those regulatory technical standards shall be adopted in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010.
EBA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards to stipulate the minimum monetary amount of the professional indemnity insurance or comparable guarantee referred to in the first paragraph of this point for submission to the Commission by 21 September 2014. EBA shall review, and if necessary, develop draft regulatory technical standards to amend the minimum monetary amount of the professional indemnity insurance or comparable guarantee referred to in the first paragraph of this point for submission to the Commission for the first time by 21 March 2018 and every two years thereafter.
A natural person established as a credit intermediary, the members of the board of a credit intermediary established as a legal person and natural persons performing equivalent tasks within a credit intermediary which is a legal person but does not have a board shall be of good repute. As a minimum they shall have a clean police record or any other national equivalent in relation to serious criminal offences linked to crimes against property or other crimes related to financial activities and they shall not have previously been declared bankrupt, unless they have been rehabilitated in accordance with national law.
A natural person established as a credit intermediary, the members of the board of a credit intermediary established as a legal person and natural persons performing equivalent tasks within a credit intermediary which is a legal person but does not have a board shall possess the appropriate level of knowledge and competence in relation to credit agreements. The home Member State shall establish the appropriate level of knowledge and competence in accordance with the principles set out in Annex III.
The register of credit intermediaries shall contain at least the following information:
the names of the persons within the management who are responsible for the intermediation business. Member States may require the registration of all natural persons who exercise a client-facing function in an undertaking that pursues the activity of credit intermediation;
the Member States in which the credit intermediary conducts business under the rules on the freedom of establishment or on the freedom to provide services and of which the credit intermediary has informed the competent authority of the home Member State in accordance with Article 32(3);
whether the credit intermediary is tied or not.
Member States that decide to avail themselves of the option referred to in Article 30 shall ensure that the register indicates the creditor on whose behalf the tied credit intermediary acts.
Member States that decide to avail themselves of the option referred to in Article 31 shall ensure that the register indicates the credit intermediary or in the case of an appointed representative of a tied credit intermediary, the creditor on whose behalf the appointed representatives acts.
Member States shall ensure that:
any credit intermediary which is a legal person has its head office in the same Member State as its registered office if under its national law it has a registered office;
any credit intermediary which is not a legal person or any credit intermediary which is a legal person but under its national law has no registered office has its head office in the Member State in which it actually carries on its main business.
EBA shall publish on its website references or hyperlinks to that information point.
Article 30
Credit intermediaries tied to only one creditor
In such cases, the creditor shall remain fully and unconditionally responsible for any action or omission on the part of the tied credit intermediary that is acting on behalf of the creditor in areas regulated by this Directive. Member States shall require the creditor to ensure that those tied credit intermediaries comply with at least the professional requirements set out in Article 29(2).
Article 31
Appointed representatives
Where the appointed representative is appointed by a tied credit intermediary specified in point (a) of point 7 of Article 4, the creditor shall remain fully and unconditionally responsible for any action or omission on the part of the appointed representative that is acting on behalf of that tied credit intermediary in areas regulated by this Directive. In other cases the credit intermediary shall remain fully and unconditionally responsible for any action or omission on the part of the appointed representative acting on behalf of the credit intermediary in areas regulated by this Directive.
Article 32
Freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services by credit intermediaries
Within a period of one month after being informed, those competent authorities shall notify the competent authorities of the host Member States concerned of the intention of the credit intermediary and shall at the same time inform the credit intermediary concerned of that notification. They shall notify the competent authorities of the host Member States concerned of the creditors to which the credit intermediary is tied and whether the creditors take full and unconditional responsibility for the credit intermediary’s activities. The host Member State shall use the information received from the home Member State to enter the necessary information into its register.
The credit intermediary may start business one month after the date on which he was informed by the competent authorities of the home Member State of the notification referred to in the second subparagraph.
Article 33
Withdrawal of admission of credit intermediaries
The competent authority of the home Member State may withdraw the admission granted to a credit intermediary in accordance with Article 29 where such a credit intermediary:
expressly renounces the admission or has carried out neither credit intermediation activities set out in point 5 of Article 4 nor provided advisory services for the preceding six months, unless the Member State concerned has provided for admission to lapse in such cases;
has obtained the admission through false or misleading statements or any other irregular means;
no longer fulfils the requirements under which admission was granted;
falls within any of the cases where national law, in respect of matters outside the scope of this Directive, provides for withdrawal;
has seriously or systematically infringed the provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive governing the operating conditions for credit intermediaries.
Article 34
Supervision of credit intermediaries and appointed representatives
Home Member States shall provide that tied credit intermediaries are to be subject to supervision directly or as part of the supervision of the creditor on behalf of which they act if the creditor is a credit institution authorised in accordance with Directive 2013/36/EU or another financial institution which under national law is subject to an equivalent authorisation and supervision regime. However, if the tied credit intermediary provides services in a Member State other than the home Member State, then the tied credit intermediary shall be subject to supervision directly.
Home Member States which allow credit intermediaries to appoint representatives in accordance with Article 31 shall ensure that such appointed representatives are subject to supervision either directly or as part of the supervision of the credit intermediary on behalf of which it acts.
Where the competent authorities of a host Member State ascertain that a credit intermediary that has a branch within its territory is in breach of the measures adopted in that Member State pursuant to Article 7(1) and Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22 and 39, those authorities shall require the credit intermediary concerned to put an end to its irregular situation.
If the credit intermediary concerned fails to take the necessary steps, the competent authorities of the host Member State shall take all appropriate action to ensure that the credit intermediary concerned puts an end to its irregular situation. The nature of that action shall be communicated to the competent authorities of the home Member State.
If, despite the action taken by the host Member State, the credit intermediary persists in breaching the measures referred to in the first subparagraph in force in the host Member State, the host Member State may, after informing the competent authorities of the home Member State, take appropriate action to prevent or to penalise further irregularities and, in so far as necessary, to prevent the credit intermediary from initiating any further transactions within its territory. The Commission shall be informed of any such action without undue delay.
Where the competent authority of the home Member State disagrees with such action taken by the host Member State, it may refer the matter to EBA and request its assistance in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010. In that case, EBA may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it by that Article.
Where the competent authority of the home Member State fails to take any action within one month from obtaining those findings or where, despite the action taken by the competent authority of the home Member State, a credit intermediary persists in acting in a manner that is clearly prejudicial to the interests of the host Member State consumers or orderly functioning of the markets, the competent authority of the host Member State:
shall, after having informed the competent authority of the home Member State, take all appropriate action needed to protect consumers and ensure the proper functioning of the markets, including by preventing the offending credit intermediary from initiating any further transactions within its territory. The Commission and EBA shall be informed of such action without undue delay;
may refer the matter to EBA and request its assistance in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010. In that case EBA may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it by that Article.
CHAPTER 12
ADMISSION AND SUPERVISION OF NON-CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
Article 35
Admission and supervision of non-credit institutions
Member States shall ensure that non-credit institutions are subject to adequate admission process including entering the non-credit institution in a register and supervision arrangements by a competent authority.
CHAPTER 13
COOPERATION BETWEEN COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF DIFFERENT MEMBER STATES
Article 36
Obligation to cooperate
Competent authorities shall render assistance to competent authorities of the other Member States. In particular, they shall exchange information and cooperate in any investigation or supervisory activities.
In order to facilitate and accelerate cooperation, and more particularly the exchange of information, Member States shall designate one single competent authority as a contact point for the purposes of this Directive. Member States shall communicate to the Commission and to the other Member States the names of the authorities which are designated to receive requests for exchange of information or cooperation pursuant to this paragraph.
Competent authorities exchanging information with other competent authorities under this Directive may indicate at the time of communication that such information must not be disclosed without their express agreement, in which case such information may be exchanged solely for the purposes for which those authorities gave their agreement.
The competent authority having been designated as the contact point may transmit the information received to the other competent authorities, however it shall not transmit the information to other bodies or natural or legal persons without the express agreement of the competent authorities which disclosed it and solely for the purposes for which those authorities gave their agreement, except in duly justified circumstances in which case it shall immediately inform the contact point that supplied the information.
A competent authority may refuse to act on a request for cooperation in carrying out an investigation or supervisory activity or to exchange information as provided for in paragraph 3 only where:
such an investigation, on-the-spot verification, supervisory activity or exchange of information might adversely affect the sovereignty, security or public policy of the Member State addressed;
judicial proceedings have already been initiated in respect of the same actions and the same persons before the authorities of the Member State addressed;
final judgement has already been delivered in the Member State addressed in respect of the same persons and the same actions.
In the event of such a refusal, the competent authority shall notify the requesting competent authority accordingly, providing as detailed information as possible.
Article 37
Settlement of disagreements between competent authorities of different Member States
The competent authorities may refer the situation to EBA where a request for cooperation, in particular the exchange of information, has been rejected or has not been acted upon within a reasonable time, and request EBA’s assistance in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010. In such cases, EBA may act in accordance with the powers conferred on it by that Article and any binding decision made by EBA in accordance with that Article shall be binding on the competent authorities concerned regardless of whether those competent authorities are members of EBA or not.
CHAPTER 14
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 38
Sanctions
Article 39
Dispute resolution mechanisms
Article 40
Exercise of the delegation
Article 41
Imperative nature of this Directive
Member States shall ensure that:
consumers may not waive the rights conferred on them by national law transposing this Directive;
the measures they adopt in transposing this Directive cannot be circumvented in a way which could lead to consumers losing the protection granted by this Directive as a result of the way in which agreements are formulated, in particular by integrating credit agreements falling within the scope of this Directive into credit agreements the character or purpose of which would make it possible to avoid the application of those measures.
Article 42
Transposition
By 1 July 2018, Member States shall adopt and publish the provisions necessary to comply with point (ea) of the second subparagraph of Article 13(1) and shall communicate them to the Commission. They shall apply those provisions from 1 July 2018.
When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
Article 43
Transitional provisions
Point (ea) of the second subparagraph of Article 13(1) shall not apply to credit agreements existing before 1 July 2018.
Article 44
Review clause
The Commission shall undertake a review of this Directive by 21 March 2019. The review shall consider the effectiveness and appropriateness of the provisions on consumers and the internal market.
The review shall include the following:
an assessment of the use and consumer understanding of and satisfaction with the ESIS;
an analysis of other pre-contractual disclosures;
an analysis of cross-border business by credit intermediaries and creditors;
an analysis of the evolution of the market for non-credit institutions providing credit agreements relating to residential immovable property;
an assessment on the need for further measures, including a passport for non-credit institutions providing credit agreements relating to residential immovable property;
an examination of the need to introduce additional rights and obligations with regard to the post-contractual stage of credit agreements;
an assessment of whether the scope of this Directive remains appropriate, taking account of its impact on other, substitutable forms of credit;
an assessment of whether additional measures are necessary to ensure the traceability of credit agreements secured against residential immovable property;
an assessment of the availability of data on trends in prices of residential immovable property and on the extent to which data are comparable;
an assessment of whether it continues to be appropriate to apply Directive 2008/48/EC to unsecured credits the purpose of which is the renovation of a residential immovable property involving a total amount of credit above the maximum amount specified in point (c) of Article 2(2) of that Directive;
an assessment of whether the arrangements for the publication of sanctions under Article 38(2) provide sufficient transparency;
an assessment of the proportionality of warnings referred to in Articles 11(6) and 13(2) and the potential for further harmonisation of risk warnings.
Article 45
Further initiatives on responsible lending and borrowing
By 21 March 2019, the Commission shall submit a comprehensive report assessing the wider challenges of private over-indebtedness directly linked to credit activity. It will also examine the need for the supervision of credit registers and the possibility for the development of more flexible and reliable markets. That report shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by legislative proposals.
Article 46
Amendment of Directive 2008/48/EC
In Article 2 of Directive 2008/48/EC, the following paragraph is inserted:
Article 47
Amendment of Directive 2013/36/EU
In Directive 2013/36/EU, the following Article is inserted:
‘Article 54a
Articles 53 and 54 shall be without prejudice to the powers of investigation conferred on the European Parliament pursuant to Article 226 TFEU.’
Article 48
Amendment of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010
Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 is amended as follows:
The second subparagraph of Article 13(1) is replaced by the following:
‘Where the Commission adopts a regulatory technical standard which is the same as the draft regulatory technical standard submitted by the Authority, the period during which the European Parliament and the Council may object shall be 1 month from the date of notification. At the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council that period shall be extended for an initial period of 1 month and shall be extendable for a further period of 1 month.’
The second subparagraph of Article 17(2) is replaced by the following:
‘Without prejudice to the powers laid down in Article 35, the competent authority shall, without delay, provide the Authority with all information which the Authority considers necessary for its investigation including as to how the acts referred to in Article 1(2) are applied in accordance with Union law.’
Article 49
Entry into force
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 50
Addressees
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX I
CALCULATION OF THE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE OF CHARGE (APRC)
|
I. |
Basic equation expressing the equivalence of drawdowns on the one hand and repayments and charges on the other. The basic equation, which establishes the annual percentage rate of charge (APRC), equates, on an annual basis, the total present value of drawdowns on the one hand and the total present value of repayments and payments of charges on the other hand, i.e.:
where:
Remarks:
(a)
The amounts paid by both parties at different times shall not necessarily be equal and shall not necessarily be paid at equal intervals.
(b)
The starting date shall be that of the first drawdown.
(c)
Intervals between dates used in the calculations shall be expressed in years or in fractions of a year. A year is presumed to have 365 days (or 366 days for leap years), 52 weeks or 12 equal months. An equal month is presumed to have 30,41666 days (i.e. 365/12) regardless of whether or not it is a leap year. Where intervals between dates used in the calculations cannot be expressed as a whole number of weeks, months or years, the intervals shall be expressed as a whole number of one of those periods in combination with a number of days. Where using days:
(i)
every day shall be counted, including weekends and holidays;
(ii)
equal periods and then days shall be counted backwards to the date of the initial drawdown;
(iii)
the length of the period of days shall be obtained excluding the first day and including the last day and shall be expressed in years by dividing this period by the number of days (365 or 366 days) of the complete year counted backwards from the last day to the same day of the previous year.
(d)
The result of the calculation shall be expressed with an accuracy of at least one decimal place. If the figure at the following decimal place is greater than or equal to 5, the figure at the preceding decimal place shall be increased by one.
(e)
The equation can be rewritten using a single sum and the concept of flows (Ak ), which will be positive or negative, in other words either paid or received during periods 1 to n, expressed in years, i.e.:
S being the present balance of flows. If the aim is to maintain the equivalence of flows, the value will be zero. |
|
II. |
Additional assumptions for the calculation of the APRC (a) If a credit agreement gives the consumer freedom of drawdown, the total amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down immediately and in full. (b) If a credit agreement provides different ways of drawdown with different charges or borrowing rates, the total amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down at the highest charge and borrowing rate applied to the most common drawdown mechanism for this type of credit agreement. (c) If a credit agreement gives the consumer freedom of drawdown in general but imposes, amongst the different ways of drawdown, a limitation with regard to the amount of credit and period of time, the amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down on the earliest date provided for in the credit agreement and in accordance with those drawdown limits. (d) If different borrowing rates and charges are offered for a limited period or amount, the highest borrowing rate and charges shall be deemed to be the borrowing rate and charges for the whole duration of the credit agreement. (e) For credit agreements for which a fixed borrowing rate is agreed in relation to the initial period, at the end of which a new borrowing rate is determined and subsequently periodically adjusted according to an agreed indicator or internal reference rate the calculation of the APRC shall be based on the assumption that, at the end of the fixed borrowing rate period, the borrowing rate is the same as at the time of calculation of the APRC, based on the value of the agreed indicator or internal reference rate at that time, but is not less than the fixed borrowing rate. (f) If the ceiling applicable to the credit has not yet been agreed, that ceiling is assumed to be EUR 170 000 . In the case of credit agreements — other than contingent liabilities or guarantees — the purpose of which is not to acquire or retain a right in immovable property or land, overdrafts, deferred debit cards or credit cards this ceiling is assumed to be EUR 1 500 . (g) In the case of credit agreements other than overdrafts, bridging loans, shared equity credit agreements, contingent liabilities or guarantees and open-ended credit agreements as referred to in the assumptions set out in points (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m):
(i)
if the date or amount of a repayment of capital to be made by the consumer cannot be ascertained, it shall be assumed that the repayment is made at the earliest date provided for in the credit agreement and is for the lowest amount for which the credit agreement provides;
(ii)
if the interval between the date of initial drawdown and the date of the first payment to be made by the consumer cannot be ascertained, it shall be assumed to be the shortest interval. (h) Where the date or amount of a payment to be made by the consumer cannot be ascertained on the basis of the credit agreement or the assumptions set out in points (g), (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m) it shall be assumed that the payment is made in accordance with the dates and conditions required by the creditor and, when these are unknown:
(i)
interest charges are paid together with the repayments of the capital;
(ii)
non-interest charges expressed as a single sum are paid at the date of the conclusion of the credit agreement;
(iii)
non-interest charges expressed as several payments are paid at regular intervals, commencing with the date of the first repayment of capital, and if the amount of such payments is not known they shall be assumed to be equal amounts;
(iv)
the final payment clears the balance of capital, interest and other charges, if any. (i) In the case of an overdraft facility, the total amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down in full and for the whole duration of the credit agreement. If the duration of the overdraft facility is not known, the APRC shall be calculated on the assumption that the duration of the credit is three months. (j) In the case of a bridging loan, the total amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down in full and for the whole duration of the credit agreement. If the duration of the credit agreement is not known the APRC shall be calculated on the assumption that the duration of the credit is 12 months. (k) In the case of an open ended credit agreement, other than an overdraft facility and bridging loan, it shall be assumed that:
(i)
for credit agreements, the purpose of which is to acquire or retain rights in immovable property the credit is provided for a period of 20 years starting from the date of the initial drawdown, and that the final payment made by the consumer clears the balance of capital, interest and other charges, if any; in the case of credit agreements the purpose of which is not to acquire or retain rights in immovable property or which are drawn down by deferred debit cards or credit cards, this period shall be of one year;
(ii)
the capital is repaid by the consumer in equal monthly payments, commencing one month after the date of the initial drawdown. However, in cases where the capital must be repaid only in full, in a single payment, within each payment period, successive drawdowns and repayments of the entire capital by the consumer shall be assumed to occur over the period of one year. Interest and other charges shall be applied in accordance with those drawdowns and repayments of capital and as provided for in the credit agreement. For the purposes of this point, an open-ended credit agreement is a credit agreement without fixed duration and includes credits which must be repaid in full within or after a period but, once repaid, become available to be drawn down again. (l) In the case of contingent liabilities or guarantees, the total amount of credit shall be deemed to be drawn down in full as a single amount at the earlier of:
(a)
the latest draw down date permitted under the credit agreement being the potential source of the contingent liability or guarantee; or
(b)
in the case of a rolling credit agreement at the end of the initial period prior to the rollover of the agreement. (m) In the case of shared equity credit agreements:
(i)
the payments by consumers shall be deemed to occur at the latest date or dates permitted under the credit agreement;
(ii)
percentage increases in value of the immovable property which secures the shared equity credit agreement, and the rate of any inflation index referred to in the agreement, shall be assumed to be a percentage equal to the higher of the current central bank target inflation rate or the level of inflation in the Member State where the immovable property is located at the time of conclusion of the credit agreement or 0 % if those percentages are negative. |
ANNEX II
EUROPEAN STANDARDISED INFORMATION SHEET (ESIS)
PART A
The text in this model shall be reproduced as such in the ESIS. Indications between square brackets shall be replaced with the corresponding information. Instructions for the creditor or, where applicable, credit intermediary on how to complete the ESIS are provided in Part B.
Wherever the words ‘where applicable’ are indicated, the creditor shall provide the information required if it is relevant to the credit agreement. Where the information is not relevant, the creditor shall delete the information in question or the entire section (for example, in cases where the section is not applicable). Where the entire section is deleted, the numbering of the ESIS sections shall be adjusted accordingly.
The information below shall be provided in a single document. The font used shall be clearly readable. Bold font, shading or larger font sizes shall be used for the information elements to be highlighted. All applicable risk warnings shall be highlighted.
ESIS Model
(Introductory text)
This document was produced for [name of consumer] on [current date].
This document was produced on the basis of the information that you have provided so far and on the current financial market conditions.
The information below remains valid until [validity date], (where applicable) apart from the interest rate and other costs. After that date, it may change in line with market conditions.
(Where applicable) This document does not constitute an obligation for [name of creditor] to grant you a loan.
1. Lender
[Name]
[Telephone number]
[Geographical address]
(Optional) [E-mail address]
(Optional) [Fax number]
(Optional) [Web address]
(Optional) [Contact person/point]
(Where applicable information as to whether advisory services are being provided:) [(We recommend, having assessed your needs and circumstances, that you take out this mortgage./We are not recommending a particular mortgage for you. However, based on your answers to some questions, we are giving you information about this mortgage so that you can make your own choice.)]
2. (Where applicable) Credit intermediary
[Name]
[Telephone number]
[Geographical address]
(Optional) [E-mail address]
(Optional) [Fax number]
(Optional) [Web address]
(Optional) [Contact person/point]
(Where applicable [information as to whether advisory services are being provided]) [(We recommend, having assessed your needs and circumstances, that you take out this mortgage./We are not recommending a particular mortgage for you. However, based on your answers to some questions, we are giving you information about this mortgage so that you can make your own choice.)]
[Remuneration]
3. Main features of the loan
Amount and currency of the loan to be granted: [value][currency]
(Where applicable) This loan is not in [national currency of the borrower].
(Where applicable) The value of your loan in [national currency of the borrower] could change.
(Where applicable) For example, if the value of [national currency of the borrower] fell by 20 % relative to [credit currency], the value of your loan would increase to [insert amount in national currency of the borrower]. However, it could be more than this if the value of [national currency of the borrower] falls by more than 20 %.
(Where applicable) The maximum value of your loan will be [insert amount in national currency of the borrower]. (Where applicable) You will receive a warning if the credit amount reaches [insert amount in national currency of the borrower]. (Where applicable) You will have the opportunity to [insert right to renegotiate foreign currency loan or right to convert loan into [relevant currency] and conditions].
Duration of the loan: [duration]
[Type of loan]
[Type of applicable interest rate]
Total amount to be reimbursed:
This means that you will pay back [amount] for every [unit of the currency] borrowed.
(Where applicable) [This/Part of this] is an interest-only loan. You will still owe [insert amount of loan on an interest-only basis] at the end of the mortgage term.
(Where applicable) Value of the property assumed to prepare this information sheet: [insert amount]
(Where applicable) Maximum available loan amount relative to the value of the property [insert ratio] or Minimum value of the property required to borrow the illustrated amount [insert amount]
(Where applicable) [Security]
4. Interest rate and other costs
The annual percentage rate of charge (APRC) is the total cost of the loan expressed as an annual percentage. The APRC is provided to help you to compare different offers.
The APRC applicable to your loan is [APRC].
It comprises:
Interest rate [value in percentage or, where applicable, indication of a reference rate and percentage value of creditor’s spread]
[Other components of the APRC]
Costs to be paid on a one-off basis
(Where applicable) You will need to pay a fee to register the mortgage. [Insert amount of fee where known or basis for calculation.]
Costs to be paid regularly
(Where applicable) This APRC is calculated using assumptions regarding the interest rate.
(Where applicable) Because [part of] your loan is a variable interest rate loan, the actual APRC could be different from this APRC if the interest rate for your loan changes. For example, if the interest rate rose to [scenario as described in Part B], the APRC could increase to [insert illustrative APRC corresponding to the scenario].
(Where applicable) Please note that this APRC is calculated on the basis that the interest rate remains at the level fixed for the initial period throughout the duration of the contract.
(Where applicable) The following costs are not known to the lender and are therefore not included in the APRC: [Costs]
(Where applicable) You will need to pay a fee to register the mortgage.
Please make sure that you are aware of all other taxes and costs associated with your loan.
5. Frequency and number of payments
Repayment frequency: [frequency]
Number of payments: [number]
6. Amount of each instalment
[Amount] [currency]
Your income may change. Please consider whether you will still be able to afford your [frequency] repayment instalments if your income falls.
(Where applicable) Because [this/part of this] is an interest-only loan you will need to make separate arrangements to repay the [insert amount of loan on an interest-only basis] you will owe at the end of the mortgage term. Remember to add any extra payments you will need to make to the instalment amount shown here.
(Where applicable) The interest rate on [part of] this loan can change. This means the amount of your instalments could increase or decrease. For example, if the interest rate rose to [scenario as described in Part B] your payments could increase to [insert instalment amount corresponding to the scenario].
(Where applicable) The value of the amount you have to pay in [national currency of the borrower] each [frequency of instalment] could change. (Where applicable) Your payments could increase to [insert maximum amount in national currency of the borrower] each [insert period]. (Where applicable) For example, if the value of [national currency of the borrower] fell by 20 % relative to [credit currency] you would have to pay an extra [insert amount in national currency of the borrower] each [insert period]. Your payments could increase by more than this.
(Where applicable) The exchange rate used for converting your repayment in [credit currency] to [national currency of the borrower] will be the rate published by [name of institution publishing exchange rate] on [date] or will be calculated on [date] using [insert name of benchmark or method of calculation].
(Where applicable) [Details on tied savings products, deferred-interest loans]
7. (Where applicable) Illustrative repayment table
This table shows the amount to be paid every [frequency].
The instalments (column [relevant no.]) are the sum of interest to be paid (column [relevant no.]), where applicable, capital paid (column [relevant no.]) and, where applicable, other costs (column [relevant no.]). (Where applicable) The costs in the other costs column relate to [list of costs]. Outstanding capital (column [relevant no.]) is the amount of the loan that remains to be reimbursed after each instalment.
[Table]
8. Additional obligations
The borrower must comply with the following obligations in order to benefit from the lending conditions described in this document.
[Obligations]
(Where applicable) Please note that the lending conditions described in this document (including the interest rate) may change if these obligations are not complied with.
(Where applicable) Please note the possible consequences of terminating at a later stage any of the ancillary services relating to the loan:
[Consequences]
9. Early repayment
You have the possibility to repay this loan early, either fully or partially.
(Where applicable) [Conditions]
(Where applicable) Exit charge: [insert amount or, where not possible, the method of calculation]
(Where applicable) Should you decide to repay this loan early, please contact us to ascertain the exact level of the exit charge at that moment.
10. Flexible features
(Where applicable) [Information on portability/subrogation] You have the possibility to transfer this loan to another [lender][or] [property]. [Insert conditions]
(Where applicable) You do not have the possibility to transfer this loan to another [lender] [or] [property].
(Where applicable) Additional features: [insert explanation of additional features listed in Part B and, optionally, any other features offered by the lender as part of the credit agreement not referred to in previous sections].
11. Other rights of the borrower
(Where applicable) You have [length of reflection period] after [point in time when the reflection period begins] to reflect before committing yourself to taking out this loan. (Where applicable) Once you have received the credit contract from the lender, you may not accept it before the end of [length of reflection period].
(Where applicable) For a period of [length of withdrawal period] after [point in time when the withdrawal period begins] you may exercise your right to cancel the agreement. [Conditions] [Insert procedure]
(Where applicable) You may lose your right to cancel the agreement if, during that period, you buy or sell a property connected to this credit agreement.
(Where applicable) Should you decide to exercise your right of withdrawal [from the credit agreement], please verify whether you will remain bound by your other obligations relating to the loan [including the ancillary services relating to the loan] [, referred to in Section 8].
12. Complaints
If you have a complaint please contact [insert internal contact point and source of information on procedure].
(Where applicable) Maximum time for handling the complaint [period of time]
(Where applicable) [If we do not resolve the complaint to your satisfaction internally,] you can also contact: [insert name of external body for out-of-court complaints and redress] (Where applicable) or you can contact FIN-NET for details of the equivalent body in your own country.
13. Non-compliance with the commitments linked to the loan: consequences for the borrower
[Types of non-compliance]
[Financial and/or legal consequences]
Should you encounter difficulties in making your [frequency] payments, please contact us straight away to explore possible solutions.
(Where applicable) As a last resort, your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up with payments.
(Where applicable) 14. Additional information
(Where applicable) [Indication of the law applicable to the credit contract].
(Where the lender intends to use a language different from the language of the ESIS) Information and contractual terms will be supplied in [language]. With your consent, we intend to communicate in [language/s] during the duration of the credit agreement.
[Insert statement on right to be provided with or offered, as applicable, a draft credit agreement]
15. Supervisor
This lender is supervised by [Name(s), and web address(es) of supervisory authority/ies]
(Where applicable) This credit intermediary is supervised by [Name and web address of supervisory authority].
PART B
Instructions to complete the ESIS
In completing the ESIS, at least the following instructions shall be followed. Member States may however elaborate or further specify the instructions for completing the ESIS.
Section ‘Introductory text’
(1) The validity date shall be properly highlighted. For the purpose of this section, the ‘validity date’ means the length of time the information, e.g. the borrowing rate, contained in the ESIS will remain unchanged and will apply should the creditor decide to grant the credit within this period of time. Where the determination of the applicable borrowing rate and other costs depends on the results of the selling of underlying bonds, the eventual borrowing rate and other costs may be different from those stated. In those circumstances only, it shall be stipulated that the validity date does not apply to the borrowing rate and other costs by adding the words: ‘apart from the interest rate and other costs’.
Section ‘1. Lender’
(1) Name, telephone number, and geographical address of the creditor shall refer to the contact information that the consumer may use for future correspondence.
(2) Information on the e-mail address, fax number, web address and contact person/point is optional.
(3) In line with Article 3 of Directive 2002/65/EC, where the transaction is being offered at a distance, the creditor shall indicate, where applicable, the name and geographical address of its representative in the Member State of residence of the consumer. Indication of the telephone number, e-mail address and web address of the representative of the credit provider is optional.
(4) Where Section 2 is not applicable, the creditor shall inform the consumer whether advisory services are being provided and on what basis using the wording in Part A.
(Where applicable) Section ‘2. Credit intermediary’
Where the product information is being provided to the consumer by a credit intermediary, that intermediary shall include the following information:
Name, telephone number and geographical address of the credit intermediary shall refer to the contact information that the consumer may use for future correspondence.
Information on the e-mail address, fax number, web address and contact person/point is optional.
The credit intermediary shall inform the consumer whether advisory services are being provided and on what basis using the wording in Part A.
An explanation of how the credit intermediary is being remunerated. Where it is receiving commission from a creditor, the amount and, where different from the name in Section 1, the name of the creditor shall be provided.
Section ‘3. Main features of the loan’
(1) This section shall clearly explain the main characteristics of the credit, including the value and currency and the potential risks associated with the borrowing rate, including the ones referred to in point (8), and amortisation structure.
(2) Where the credit currency is different from the national currency of the consumer, the creditor shall indicate that the consumer will receive a regular warning at least when the exchange rate fluctuates by more than 20 %, where applicable the right to convert the currency of the credit agreement or to the possibility to renegotiate the conditions and any other arrangements available to the consumer to limit their exposure to exchange rate risk. Where there is a provision in the credit agreement to limit the exchange rate risk, the creditor shall indicate the maximum amount the consumer could have to pay back. Where there is no provision in the credit agreement to limit the exchange rate risk to which the consumer is exposed to a fluctuation in the exchange rate of less than 20 %, the creditor shall indicate an illustration of the effect of a 20 % fall in the value of consumer’s national currency relative to the credit currency on the value of the credit.
(3) The duration of the credit shall be expressed in years or months, whichever is the most relevant. Where the duration of the credit can vary during the lifetime of the contract, the creditor shall explain when and under which conditions this can occur. Where the credit is open-ended, for example, for a secured credit card, the creditor shall clearly state that fact.
(4) The type of credit shall be clearly indicated (e.g. mortgage credit, home loan, secured credit card). The description of the type of credit shall clearly indicate how the capital and the interest shall be reimbursed during the life of the credit (i.e. the amortisation structure), specifying clearly whether the credit agreement is on capital repayment or interest-only basis, or a mixture of the two.
(5) Where all or part of the credit is an interest-only credit, a statement clearly indicating that fact shall be inserted prominently at the end of this section using the wording in Part A.
(6) This section shall explain whether the borrowing rate is fixed or variable and, where applicable, the periods during which it will remain fixed; the frequency of subsequent revisions and the existence of limits to the borrowing rate variability, such as caps or floors.
The formula used to revise the borrowing rate and its different components (e.g. reference rate, interest rate spread) shall be explained. The creditor shall indicate, e.g. by means of a web address, where further information on the indices or rates used in the formula can be found, e.g. Euribor or central bank reference rate.
(7) If different borrowing rates apply in different circumstances, the information shall be provided on all applicable rates.
(8) The ‘total amount to be reimbursed’ corresponds to the total amount payable by the consumer. It shall be shown as the sum of the credit amount and the total cost of the credit to the consumer. Where the borrowing rate is not fixed for the duration of the contract, it shall be highlighted that this amount is illustrative and may vary in particular in relation with the variation in the borrowing rate.
(9) Where the credit will be secured by a mortgage on the immovable property or another comparable security or by a right related to immovable property, the creditor shall draw the consumer’s attention to this. Where applicable the creditor shall indicate the assumed value of the immovable property or other security used for the purpose of preparing this information sheet.
(10) The creditor shall indicate, where applicable, either:
‘maximum available loan amount relative to the value of the property’, indicating the loan-to-value ratio. This ratio is to be accompanied by an example in absolute terms of the maximum amount that can be borrowed for a given property value; or
the ‘minimum value of the property required by the creditor to lend the illustrated amount’.
(11) Where credits are multi-part credits (e.g. concurrently part fixed rate, part variable rate), this shall be reflected in the indication of the type of credit and the required information shall be given for each part of the credit.
Section ‘4. Interest rate’ and other costs
(1) The reference to ‘interest rate’ corresponds to the borrowing rate or rates.
(2) The borrowing rate shall be mentioned as a percentage value. Where the borrowing rate is variable and based on a reference rate the creditor may indicate the borrowing rate by stating a reference rate and a percentage value of creditor’s spread. The creditor shall however indicate the value of the reference rate valid on the day of issuing the ESIS.
Where the borrowing rate is variable the information shall include: (a) the assumptions used to calculate the APRC; (b) where relevant, the applicable caps and floors and (c) a warning that the variability could affect the actual level of the APRC. In order to attract the consumer’s attention the font size used for the warning shall be bigger and shall figure prominently in the main body of the ESIS. The warning shall be accompanied by an illustrative example on the APRC. Where there is a cap on the borrowing rate, the example shall assume that the borrowing rate rises at the earliest possible opportunity to the highest level foreseen in the credit agreement. Where there is no cap the example shall illustrate the APRC at the highest borrowing rate in at least the last 20 years, or where the underlying data for the calculation of the borrowing rate is available for a period of less than 20 years the longest period for which such data is available, based on the highest value of any external reference rate used in calculating the borrowing rate where applicable or the highest value of a benchmark rate specified by a competent authority or EBA where the creditor does not use an external reference rate. Such requirement shall not apply to credit agreements where the borrowing rate is fixed for a material initial period of several years and may then be fixed for a further period following negotiation between the creditor and the consumer. For credit agreements where the borrowing rate is fixed for a material initial period of several years and may then be fixed for a further period following negotiation between the creditor and the consumer, the information shall include a warning that the APRC is calculated on the basis of the borrowing rate for the initial period. ►C1 The warning shall be accompanied by an additional, illustrative APRC calculated in accordance with Article 17(5). ◄ Where credits are multi-part credits (e.g. concurrently part fixed rate, part variable rate), the information shall be given for each part of the credit.
(3) In the section on ‘other components of the APRC’ all the other costs contained in the APRC shall be listed, including one-off costs such as administration fees, and regular costs, such as annual administration fees. The creditor shall list each of the costs by category (costs to be paid on a one-off basis, costs to be paid regularly and included in the instalments, costs to be paid regularly but not included in the instalments), indicating their amount, to whom they are to be paid and when. This does not have to include costs incurred for breaches of contractual obligations. Where the amount is not known, the creditor shall provide an indication of the amount if possible, or if not possible, how the amount will be calculated and specify that the amount provided is indicative only. Where certain costs are not included in the APRC because they are unknown to the creditor, this shall be highlighted.
Where the consumer has informed the creditor of one or more components of his preferred credit, such as the duration of the credit agreement and the total amount of credit, the creditor shall, where possible, use those components; if a credit agreement provides different ways of drawdown with different charges or borrowing rates and the creditor uses the assumptions set out in Part II of Annex I, it shall indicate that other drawdown mechanisms for this type of credit agreement may result in a higher APRC. Where the conditions for drawdown are used for calculating the APRC, the creditor shall highlight the charges associated with other drawdown mechanisms that are not necessarily the ones used in calculating the APRC.
(4) Where a fee is payable for registration of the mortgage or comparable security that shall be disclosed in this section with the amount, where known, or where this is not possible the basis for determining the amount. Where the fees are known and included in the APRC the existence and amount of the fee shall be listed under ‘Costs to be paid on a one-off basis’. Where the fees are not known to the creditor and therefore not included in the APRC the existence of the fee shall be clearly mentioned in the list of costs which are not known to the creditor. In either case the standardised wording in Part A shall be used under the appropriate heading.
Section ‘5. Frequency and number of payments’
(1) Where payments are to be made on a regular basis, the frequency of payments shall be indicated (e.g. monthly). Where the frequency of payments will be irregular, this shall be clearly explained to the consumer.
(2) The number of payments indicated shall cover the whole duration of the credit.
Section ‘6. Amount of each instalment’
(1) The credit currency and currency of the instalments shall be clearly indicated.
(2) Where the amount of the instalments may change during the life of the credit, the creditor shall specify the period during which that initial instalment amount will remain unchanged and when and how frequently afterwards it will change.
(3) Where all or part of the credit is an interest-only credit, a statement clearly indicating that fact, shall be inserted prominently at the end of this section using the wording in Part A.
If there is a requirement for the consumer to take out a tied savings product as a condition for being granted an interest-only credit secured by a mortgage or another comparable security, the amount and frequency of any payments for this product shall be provided.
(4) Where the borrowing rate is variable the information shall include a statement indicating that fact, using the wording in Part A and an illustration of a maximum instalment amount. Where there is a cap, the illustration shall show the amount of the instalments if the borrowing rate rises to the level of the cap. Where there is no cap, the worst case scenario shall illustrate the level of instalments at the highest borrowing rate in the last 20 years, or where the underlying data for the calculation of the borrowing rate is available for a period of less than 20 years the longest period for which such data is available, based on the highest value of any external reference rate used in calculating the borrowing rate where applicable, or the highest value of a benchmark rate specified by a competent authority or EBA where the creditor does not use an external reference rate. The requirement to provide an illustrative example shall not apply to credit agreements where the borrowing rate is fixed for a material initial period of several years and may then be fixed for a further period following negotiation between the creditor and the consumer. Where credits are multi-part credits (e.g. concurrently part fixed rate, part variable rate), the information shall be given for each part of the credit, and in total.
(5) (Where applicable) Where the credit currency is different from the consumer’s national currency or where the credit is indexed to a currency which is different from the consumer’s national currency, the creditor shall include a numerical example clearly showing how changes to the relevant exchange rate may affect the amount of the instalments using the wording in Part A. That example shall be based on a 20 % reduction in the value of the consumer’s national currency together with a prominent statement that the instalments could increase by more than the amount assumed in that example. Where there is a cap which limits that increase to less than 20 %, the maximum value of the payments in the consumer’s currency shall be given instead and the statement on the possibility of further increases omitted.
(6) Where the credit is fully or partly a variable rate credit and point 3 applies, the illustration in point 5 shall be given on the basis of the instalment amount referred to in point 1.
(7) Where the currency used for the payment of instalments is different from the credit currency or where the amount of each instalment expressed in the consumer’s national currency depends on the corresponding amount in a different currency, this section shall indicate the date at which the applicable exchange rate is calculated and either the exchange rate or the basis on which it will be calculated and the frequency of their adjustment. Where applicable such indication shall include the name of institution publishing the exchange rate.
(8) Where the credit is a deferred-interest credit under which interest due is not fully repaid by the instalments and is added to the total amount of credit outstanding, there shall be an explanation of: how and when deferred interest is added to the credit as a cash amount; and what the implications are for the consumer in terms of their remaining debt.
Section ‘7. Illustrative repayment table’
(1) This section shall be included where the credit is a deferred interest credit under which interest due is not fully repaid by the instalments and is added to the total amount of credit outstanding or where the borrowing rate is fixed for the duration of the credit agreement. Member States may provide that the illustrative amortisation table is compulsory in other cases.
Where the consumer has the right to receive a revised amortisation table, this shall be indicated along with the conditions under which the consumer has that right.
(2) Member States may require that where the borrowing rate may vary during the lifetime of the credit, the creditor shall indicate the period during which that initial borrowing rate will remain unchanged.
(3) The table to be included in this section shall contain the following columns: ‘repayment schedule’ (e.g. month 1, month 2, month 3), ‘amount of the instalment’, ‘interest to be paid per instalment’, ‘other costs included in the instalment’ (where relevant), ‘capital repaid per instalment’ and ‘outstanding capital after each instalment’.
(4) For the first repayment year the information shall be given for each instalment and a subtotal shall be indicated for each of the columns at the end of that first year. For the following years, the detail can be provided on an annual basis. An overall total row shall be added at the end of the table and shall provide the total amounts for each column. The total cost of the credit paid by the consumer (i.e. the overall sum of the ‘amount of the instalment’ column) shall be clearly highlighted and presented as such.
(5) Where the borrowing rate is subject to revision and the amount of the instalment after each revision is unknown, the creditor may indicate in the amortisation table the same instalment amount for the whole credit duration. In such a case, the creditor shall draw that fact to the attention of the consumer by visually differentiating the amounts which are known from the hypothetical ones (e.g. using a different font, borders or shading). In addition, a clearly legible text shall explain for which periods the amounts represented in the table may vary and why.
Section ‘8. Additional obligations’
(1) The creditor shall refer in this section to obligations such as the obligation to insure the immovable property, to purchase life insurance, to have a salary paid into an account with the creditor or to buy any other product or service. For each obligation, the creditor shall specify towards whom and by when the obligation needs to be fulfilled.
(2) The creditor shall specify the duration of the obligation, e.g. until the end of the credit agreement. The creditor shall specify for each obligation any costs to be paid by the consumer, which are not included in the APRC.
(3) The creditor shall state whether it is compulsory for the consumer to hold any ancillary services to obtain the credit on the stated terms, and if so whether the consumer is obliged to purchase them from the creditor’s preferred supplier or whether they may be purchased from a provider of consumer’s choice. Where such possibility is conditional on the ancillary services meeting certain minimum characteristics, such characteristics shall be described in this section.
Where the credit agreement is bundled with other products the creditor shall state the key features of those other products and clearly state whether the consumer has a right to terminate the credit agreement or the bundled products separately, the conditions for and implications of doing so, and, where applicable, of the possible consequences of terminating the ancillary services required in connection with the credit agreement.
Section ‘9. Early repayment’
(1) The creditor shall indicate under what conditions the consumer can repay the credit early, either fully or partially.
(2) In the section on exit charges the creditor shall draw the consumer’s attention to any exit charge or other costs payable on early repayment in order to compensate the creditor and where possible indicate their amount. In cases where the amount of compensation would depend on different factors, such as the amount repaid or the prevailing interest rate at the moment of the early repayment, the creditor shall indicate how the compensation will be calculated and provide the maximum amount that the charge might be, or where this is not possible, an illustrative example in order to demonstrate to the consumer the level of compensation under different possible scenarios.
Section ‘10. Flexible features’
(1) Where applicable, the creditor shall explain the possibility to and conditions for transferring the credit to another creditor or immovable property.
(2) (Where appropriate) Additional features: Where the product contains any of the features listed in point 5, this section must list these features and provide a brief explanation of: the circumstances in which the consumer can use the feature; any conditions attached to the feature; if the feature being part of the credit secured by a mortgage or comparable security means that the consumer loses any statutory or other protections usually associated with the feature; and the firm providing the feature (if not the creditor).
(3) If the feature contains any additional credit, then this section must explain to the consumer: the total amount of credit (including the credit secured by the mortgage or comparable security); whether the additional credit is secured or not; the relevant borrowing rates; and whether it is regulated or not. Such additional credit amount shall either be included in the original creditworthiness assessment or, if it is not, this section shall make clear that the availability of the additional amount is dependent on a further assessment of the consumer’s ability to repay.
(4) If the feature involves a savings vehicle, the relevant interest rate must be explained.
(5) The possible additional features are: ‘Overpayments/Underpayments’ [paying more or less than the instalment ordinarily required by the amortisation structure]; ‘Payment holidays’ [periods where the consumer is not required to make payments]; ‘Borrow back’ [ability for the consumer to borrow again funds already drawn down and repaid]; ‘Additional borrowing available without further approval’; ‘Additional secured or unsecured borrowing’ [in accordance with point 3 above]; ‘Credit card’; ‘Linked current account’; and ‘Linked savings account’.
(6) The creditor may include any other features offered by the creditor as part of the credit agreement not mentioned in previous sections.
Section ‘11. Other rights of the borrower’
(1) The creditor shall clarify the right(s) of e.g. withdrawal or reflection and where applicable other rights such as, portability (including subrogation) that exist, specify the conditions to which this/these right(s) is subject, the procedure that the consumer will need to follow in order to exercise this/these right(s), inter alia, the address to which the notification of withdrawal shall be sent, and the corresponding fees (where applicable).
(2) Where a reflection period or right of withdrawal for the consumer applies this shall be clearly mentioned.
(3) In line with Article 3 of Directive 2002/65/EC, where the transaction is being offered at a distance, the consumer shall be informed of the existence or absence of a right of withdrawal.
Section ‘12. Complaints’
(1) This Section shall indicate the internal contact point [name of the relevant department] and a means of contacting them to complain [Geographical address] or [Telephone number] or [Contact person:] [contact details] and a link to the complaints procedure on the relevant page of a website or similar information source.
(2) It shall indicate the name of the relevant external body for out-of-court complaints and redress and where using the internal complaint procedure is a precondition for access to that body, indicate that fact using the wording in Part A.
(3) In the case of credit agreements with a consumer who is resident in another Member State, the creditor shall refer to the existence of FIN-NET (http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/fin-net/).
Section ‘13. Non-compliance with the commitments linked to the credit: consequences for the borrower’
(1) Where non-observance of any of the consumer’s obligations linked to the credit may have financial or legal consequences for the consumer, the creditor shall describe in this section the different main cases (e.g. late payments/default, failure to respect the obligations set out in Section 8 ‘Additional obligations’) and indicate where further information could be obtained.
(2) For each of those cases, the creditor shall specify, in clear, easy comprehensible terms, the sanctions or consequences to which they may give rise. Reference to serious consequences shall be highlighted.
(3) Where the immovable property used to secure the credit may be returned or transferred to the creditor, if the consumer does not comply with the obligations, this section shall include a statement indicating that fact, using the wording in Part A.
Section ‘14. Additional information’
(1) In the case of distance marketing, this section will include any clause stipulating the law applicable to the credit agreement or the competent court.
(2) Where the creditor intends to communicate with the consumer during the life of the contract in a language different from the language of the ESIS that fact shall be included and the language of communication named. This is without prejudice to point (g) of point 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 3 of Directive 2002/65/EC.
(3) The creditor or credit intermediary shall state the consumer’s right to be provided with or offered, as applicable, a copy of the draft credit agreement at least once an offer binding on the creditor has been made.
Section ‘15. Supervisor’
(1) The relevant authority or authorities for the supervision of the pre-contractual stage of lending shall be indicated.
ANNEX III
MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The minimum knowledge and competence requirements for creditors’, credit intermediaries’ and appointed representatives’ staff referred to in Article 9 and for persons involved in the management of credit intermediaries or appointed representatives referred to in point (c) of Article 29(2) and Article 31(2) need to include at least:
appropriate knowledge of credit products within the scope of Article 3 and the ancillary services typically offered with them;
appropriate knowledge of the laws related to the credit agreements for consumers, in particular consumer protection;
appropriate knowledge and understanding of the immovable property purchasing process;
appropriate knowledge of security valuation;
appropriate knowledge of organisation and functioning of land registers;
appropriate knowledge of the market in the relevant Member State;
appropriate knowledge of business ethics standards;
appropriate knowledge of the consumer’s creditworthiness assessment process or where applicable, competence in assessing consumers’ creditworthiness;
appropriate level of financial and economic competency.
2. When establishing minimum knowledge and competence requirements Member States may differentiate between the levels and types of requirements applicable to the staff of creditors, the staff of credit intermediaries or appointed representatives and the management of credit intermediaries or appointed representatives.
3. Member States shall determine the appropriate level of knowledge and competence on the basis of:
professional qualifications, e.g. diplomas, degrees, training, competency tests; or
professional experience, which may be defined as a minimum number of years working in areas related to the origination, distribution or intermediation of credit products.
After 21 March 2019, the determination of the appropriate level of knowledge and competence shall not be based solely on the methods listed in point (b) of the first subparagraph.