Case C‑755/22

Nárokuj s.r.o.

v

EC Financial Services, a.s.

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Okresní soud Praha-západ)

Judgment of the Court (Third Chamber) of 11 January 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Consumer protection – Directive 2008/48/EC – Credit agreements for consumers – Article 8 – Obligation of a creditor to check a consumer’s creditworthiness – Regularisation of a breach due to full performance of the credit agreement – Article 23 – Effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties – Credit agreement void and creditor’s entitlement to payment of the agreed interest forfeited – No harmful consequences for the consumer – Holding creditors accountable and preventing irresponsible practices when granting credit to consumers)

1. Consumer protection – Credit agreements for consumers – Directive 2008/48 – Scope – Contract concluded without prior examination of creditworthiness of the consumer – Claims to be asserted against the creditor, transferred to an undertaking – Included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/48)

   (see paragraph 27)

2. Consumer protection – Credit agreements for consumers – Directive 2008/48 – Pre-contractual obligations – Obligation of a creditor to check a borrower’s creditworthiness – Infringement – National rules on penalties – Agreement void and entitlement to payment of the agreed interest forfeited – Whether permissible – Penalty imposed after the agreement has been fully performed – Infringement which did not have a detrimental effect on the consumer – Irrelevant

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2008/48, Arts 8 and 23)

   (see paragraphs 37-42, 45-52, operative part)

See the text of the decision.