FCA confirms temp financial relief for customers

FCA confirms temporary financial relief for customers impacted by coronavirus

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today confirmed a package of targeted temporary measures to help people with some of the most commonly used consumer credit products.

Following a short consultation the FCA will be going ahead with the proposals outlined last week, which will give firms the flexibility under our rules to provide temporary financial relief to those facing payment difficulties during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Christopher Woolard, interim Chief Executive at the FCA, said:

"We know many people are suffering financial pressures brought on as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The measures we've announced are designed to provide people affected with short-term financial support through what could be a very difficult time.  The changes will provide support for consumers with credit cards, loans and overdrafts, facing temporary financial difficulties because of the pandemic.

"Customers should think carefully before making use of these measures and only do so if they need immediate help.  Where they can still afford to make payments, they should continue to do so.

"We know there is still more work to be done, and we will be announcing further measures to support consumers in other parts of the credit market in the future, including in the motor finance sector next week."

The measures include firms being expected to:

·      offer a temporary payment freeze on loans and credit cards for up to three months, for consumers negatively impacted by coronavirus.

·      allow customers who are negatively impacted by coronavirus and who already have an arranged overdraft on their main personal current account, up to £500 charged at zero interest for three months.

·      make sure that all overdraft customers are no worse off on price when compared to the prices they were charged before the recent overdraft pricing changes came into force.

·      ensure consumers using any of these temporary payment freeze measures will not have their credit file affected.

The rule changes will be in force from today and the full range of measures will apply by Tuesday 14 April 2020. This is to allow firms time to ensure they have the appropriate level of resources available to handle customer requests.  All firms will be ready to receive customer requests by 14 April, although some firms including the major banks and building societies, will be adopting the changes today.

Consumers should check firm websites or social media posts for more information, and where possible use online services to request assistance.  This will reduce the pressure on firm call centres who are experiencing a high demand in calls due to the current pandemic situation.  If consumers need to get in touch by telephone please be patient and, if you can, wait until after the Easter weekend, even if your lender is offering help sooner than the 14 April 2020.

In response to the consultation, the guidance now includes clarification on which products are in scope. In particular, the FCA are confirming that the following products are covered: guarantor loans, logbook loans, home collected credit, a loan issued by Community Development Finance Institution and some loans issued by credit unions, but only where these are regulated. The guidance also applies to firms which have acquired such loans.

These measures won't replace normal forbearance rules where these would be more suitable for a consumer in serious and immediate financial difficulty. Consumers in financial difficulty should contact the Money Advice Service (MAS) for further guidance.

The FCA will keep this guidance under review.

Notes to editors

·      FCA proposes temporary financial relief for customers impacted by coronavirus 

·      Coronavirus: information for consumers on personal loans, credit cards and overdrafts

·      Credit cards (including retail revolving credit) and coronavirus: temporary guidance for firms

·      Personal loans and coronavirus: temporary guidance for firms

·      Overdrafts and coronavirus: temporary guidance for firms

·      Feedback statement on draft guidance and rules

·      The banks and building societies who are implementing the changes from today are - HSBC, Lloyds, RBS, Barclays, Santander and Nationwide.