Case C‑28/22

TL
and
WE

v

Liquidator of Getin Noble Bank S.A., formerly Getin Noble Bank S.A.

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie)

Judgment of the Court (Ninth Chamber) of 14 December 2023

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Consumer protection – Directive 93/13/EEC – Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Article 6(1) and Article 7(1) – Effects of a finding that a term is unfair – Mortgage loan agreement indexed to a foreign currency containing unfair terms concerning the exchange rate – Nullity of that contract – Claims for restitution – Limitation period)

1. Consumer protection – Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Directive 93/13 – Means to prevent the use of unfair terms – Mortgage loan agreement – Contract not capable of continuing in existence after removal of unfair terms – Contract cancellation – Claims for restitution – Limitation period – Starting point of the limitation period – National case-law fixing that starting point as from the date of definitive unenforceability of the contract, so far as concerns sellers or suppliers, and the date of awareness of the abusive nature of the term, so far as concerns consumers – Not permissible – Failure to comply with the principle of effectiveness

   (Council Directive 93/13, Arts 6(1) and 7(1))

   (see paragraphs 66-75, operative part 3)

2. Consumer protection – Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Directive 93/13 – Means to prevent the use of unfair terms – Mortgage loan agreement – National case-law not requiring the seller or supplier to ascertain whether the consumer is aware of the consequences of the removal of the unfair terms contained in the contract or of it being no longer possible to allow the contract to continue after those terms are removed – Whether permissible

   (Council Directive 93/13, Arts 6(1) and 7(1))

   (see paragraphs 77-81, operative part 2)

3. Consumer protection – Unfair terms in consumer contracts – Directive 93/13 – Means to prevent the use of unfair terms – Mortgage loan agreement – Contract not capable of continuing in existence after removal of unfair terms – Contract cancellation – Claims for restitution – Seller or supplier’s right of retention allowing him or her to make the restitution of the sums conditional on the consumer making an offer to repay or to provide a security recognised by national case-law – Consumer’s loss of the right to obtain default interest – Not permissible – Failure to comply with the principle of effectiveness

   (Council Directive 93/13, Arts 6(1) and 7(1))

   (see paragraphs 84-87, operative part 3)

See the text of the decision.