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Part XII U.K. SupplementalF1

InterpretationU.K.

184 Associates.U.K.

[F2(1)A person is an associate of an individual if that person is—

(a)the individual’s husband or wife or civil partner,

(b)a relative of—

(i)the individual, or

(ii)the individual’s husband or wife or civil partner, or

(c)the husband or wife or civil partner of a relative of—

(i)the individual, or

(ii)the individual’s husband or wife or civil partner.]

(2)A person is an associate of any person with whom he is in partnership, and of the husband or wife [F3or civil partner] or a relative of any individual with whom he is in partnership.

(3)A body corporate is an associate of another body corporate—

(a)if the same person is a controller of both, or a person is a controller of one and persons who are his associates, or he and persons who are his associates, are controllers of the other; or

(b)if a group of two or more persons is a controller of each company, and the groups either consist of the same persons or could be regarded as consisting of the same persons by treating (in one or more cases) a member of either group as replaced by a person of whom he is an associate.

(4)A body corporate is an associate of another person if that person is a controller of it or if that person and persons who are his associates together are controllers of it.

(5)In this section “relative ” means brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal ancestor or lineal descendant, F4. . . references to a husband or wife include a former husband or wife and a reputed husband [F5or wife, and references to a civil partner include a former civil partner [F6and a reputed civil partner];] and for the purposes of this subsection a relationship shall be established as if any illegitimate child, step-child or adopted child of a person [F7were the legitimate child of the relationship in question] .

185 Agreement with more than one debtor or hirer.U.K.

(1)Where an actual or prospective regulated agreement has two or more debtors or hirers (not being a partnership or an unincorporated body of persons)—

(a)anything required by or under this Act to be done to or in relation to the debtor or hirer shall be done to or in relation to each of them; and

(b)anything done under this Act by or on behalf of one of them shall have effect as if done by or on behalf of all of them.

(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1)(a), where running-account credit is provided to two or more debtors jointly, any of them may by a notice signed by him (a “dispensing notice ”) authorise the creditor not to comply in his case with section 78(4) (giving of periodical statement of account); and the dispensing notice shall have effect accordingly until revoked by a further notice given by the debtor to the creditor:

Provided that:

(a)a dispensing notice shall not take effect if previous dispensing notices are operative in the case of the other debtor, or each of the other debtors, as the case may be;

(b)any dispensing notices operative in relation to an agreement shall cease to have effect if any of the debtors dies.

[F8(c)a dispensing notice which is operative in relation to an agreement shall be operative also in relation to any subsequent agreement which, in relation to the earlier agreement, is a modifying agreement]

(3)Subsection (1)(b) does not apply for the purposes of section 61(1)(a) or 127(3).

(4)Where a regulated agreement has two or more debtors or hirers (not being a partnership or an unincorporated body of persons), section 86 applies to the death of any of them.

(5)An agreement for the provision of credit, or the bailment or (in Scotland) the hiring of goods, to two or more persons jointly where—

(a)one or more of those persons is an individual, and

(b)one or more of them is a body corporate,

is a consumer credit agreement or consumer hire agreement if it would have been one had they all been individuals; and the body corporate or bodies corporate shall accordingly be included among the debtors or hirers under the agreement.

(6)Where subsection (5) applies, references in this Act to the signing of any document by the debtor or hirer shall be construed in relation to a body corporate as referring to a signing on behalf of the body corporate.

186 Agreement with more than one creditor or owner.U.K.

Where an actual or prospective regulated agreement has two or more creditors or owners, anything required by or under this Act to be done to, or in relation to, or by, the creditor or owner shall be effective if done to, or in relation to, or by, any one of them.

187 Arrangements between creditor and supplier.U.K.

(1)A consumer credit agreement shall be treated as entered into under pre-existing arrangements between a creditor and a supplier if it is entered into in accordance with, or in furtherance of, arrangements previously made between persons mentioned in subsection (4)(a), (b) or (c).

(2)A consumer credit agreement shall be treated as entered into in contemplation of future arrangements between a creditor and a supplier if it is entered into in the expectation that arrangements will subsequently be made between persons mentioned in subsection (4)(a), (b) or (c) for the supply of cash, goods and services (or any of them) to be financed by the consumer credit agreement.

(3)Arrangements shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (1) or (2) if—

(a)they are arrangements for the making, in specified circumstances, of payments to the supplier by the creditor, and

(b)the creditor holds himself out as willing to make, in such circumstances, payments of the kind to suppliers generally.

[F9(3A)Arrangements shall also be disregarded for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) if they are arrangements for the electronic transfer of funds from a current account at a bank within the meaning of the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879.]

(4)The persons referred to in subsections (1) and (2) are—

(a)the creditor and the supplier;

(b)one of them and an associate of the other’s;

(c)an associate of one and an associate of the other’s.

(5)Where the creditor is an associate of the supplier’s, the consumer credit agreement shall be treated, unless the contrary is proved, as entered into under pre-existing arrangements between the creditor and the supplier.

Textual Amendments

[F10187ADefinition of ‘default sum’U.K.

(1)In this Act ‘default sum’ means, in relation to the debtor or hirer under a regulated agreement, a sum (other than a sum of interest) which is payable by him under the agreement in connection with a breach of the agreement by him.

(2)But a sum is not a default sum in relation to the debtor or hirer simply because, as a consequence of his breach of the agreement, he is required to pay it earlier than he would otherwise have had to.]

Textual Amendments

F10S. 187A inserted (16.6.2006) by Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c. 14), ss. {18(1)}, 71(2); S.I. 2006/1508, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

188 Examples of use of new terminology.U.K.

(1)Schedule 2 shall have effect for illustrating the use of terminology employed in this Act.

(2)The examples given in Schedule 2 are not exhaustive.

(3)In the case of conflict between Schedule 2 and any other provision of this Act, that other provision shall prevail.

(4)The Secretary of State may by order amend Schedule 2 by adding further examples or in any other way.

189 Definitions.U.K.

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

(2)A person is not to be treated as carrying on a particular type of business merely because occasionally he enters into transactions belonging to a business of that type.

(3)Any provision of this Act requiring a document to be signed is complied with by a body corporate if the document is sealed by that body.

This subsection does not apply to Scotland.

(4)A document embodies a provision if the provision is set out either in the document itself or in another document referred to in it.

(5)An application dismissed by the court or the [F37OFT] shall, if the court or the [F37OFT](as the case may be) so certifies, be taken to be dismissed on technical grounds only.

(6)Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to an enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

(7)In this Act, except where otherwise indicated—

(a)a reference to a numbered Part, section or Schedule is a reference to the Part or section of, or the Schedule to, this Act so numbered, and

(b)a reference in a section to a numbered subsection is a reference to the subsection of that section so numbered, and

(c)a reference in a section, subsection or Schedule to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph of that section, subsection or Schedule so numbered.]

Textual Amendments

F11S. 189(1): definition of "appropriate method" inserted (31.12.2004) by The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3236), art. 2(8)

F12S. 189(1): definitions repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, art. 176(a)

F13Definition of “building society ” substituted by Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53, SIF 16), s. 120, Sch. 18 para. 10(4)

F14S. 189(1): words in definition of “charity ” substituted (1.8.1993) by 1993 c. 10, ss. 98(1), 99(1), Sch. 6 para. 30.

F17S. 189(1): definition of "credit information services" inserted (16.6.2006) by Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c. 14), ss. {25(5)}, 71(2); S.I. 2006/1508, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

F18S. 189(1): definition of "debt administration" inserted (16.6.2006) by Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c. 14), ss. {24(6)}, 71(2); S.I. 2006/1508, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

F19S. 189(1): definition of "default sum" inserted (16.6.2006) by Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c. 14), ss. {18(2)}, 71(2); S.I. 2006/1508, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

F20S. 189(1): words in definition of “deposit ” inserted (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, art. 176(b)

F21S. 189(1): definition of "Director" repealed (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 6(38)(a)(i), Sch. 26; S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F22Words “the Electricity Act 1989 ” substituted (E.W.S.) for “the Electric Lighting Act 1882 ” by Electricity Act 1989 (c. 29, SIF 44:1), s. 112(1)(3), Sch. 16 para. 17(1)(3), Sch. 17 paras. 33, 35(1)

F23S. 189(1): words in definition of "electric line" substituted (N.I.) (1.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/231 (N.I. 1), art. 95(1), Sch. 12 para. 15; S.R. 1992/117, art. 3.

F24S. 189(1): definition of "electronic communication" inserted (31.12.2004) by The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Electronic Communications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3236), art. 2(8)

F25S. 189(1): words in definition of “friendly society ” substituted (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, art. 176(c)

F26S. 189(1): word in definition of "general notice" substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 6(38)(a)(ii); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F27S. 189(1): word in definition of "general notice" substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 6(38)(a)(ii); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

F30Words in s. 189(1) repealed (E.W) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 66(6)(8), Sch. 16 para. 45, Sch. 18 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F32Words in s. 189(1) inserted (E.W) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s.66(6)(8), Sch. 16 para. 45 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5)); S.I. 1996/396, art. 4, Sch. 2

F33Words in s. 189(1) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para. 94; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)

F34Definition of “minor” in relation to Scotland repealed (S.) (25.9.1991) by Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 50, SIF 60), ss. 10, 11(2), Sch. 2 (with s. 1(3)).

F36S. 189(1): words in definition of "register" substituted (1.4.2003) by Enterprise Act 2002 (c. 40), ss. 278, 279, Sch. 25 para. 6(38)(a)(iv); S.I. 2003/766, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)

Marginal Citations

M31970 c. 31. (N.I.)

[F38189A Meaning of “consumer credit EEA firm ”U.K.

In this Act “consumer credit EEA firm ” means an EEA firm falling within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 carrying on, or seeking to carry on, consumer credit business, consumer hire business or ancillary credit business for which a licence would be required under this Act but for paragraph 15(3) of Schedule 3 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.]

Textual Amendments

F38S. 189A inserted (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, art. 177

190 Financial provisions.U.K.

(1)There shall be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament—

(a)all expenses incurred by the Secretary of State in consequence of the provisions of this Act;

(b)any expenses incurred in consequence of those provisions by any other Minister of the Crown or Government department;

(c)any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of money so provided under the M8Superannuation Act 1972 or the M9Fair Trading Act 1973.

(2)Any fees [F39, charges, penalties or other sums] received by the Director under this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Textual Amendments

F39Words in s. 190(2) inserted (16.6.2006) by Consumer Credit Act 2006 (c. 14), ss. {65}, 71(2); S.I. 2006/1508, art. 3(1), Sch. 1

Marginal Citations

191 Special provisions as to Northern Ireland.U.K.

(1)The [F40OFT] may make arrangements with the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland for the Department, on [F41the OFT’s] behalf,—

(a)to receive applications, notices and fees;

(b)to maintain, and make available for inspection and copying, copies of entries in the register; and

(c)to provide certified copies of entries in the register,

to the extent that seems to [F42the OFT] desirable for the convenience of persons in Northern Ireland.

(2)The [F40OFT] shall give general notice of any arrangements made under subsection (1).

(3)Nothing in this Act shall authorise any Northern Ireland department to incur any expenses attributable to the provisions of this Act until provision has been made for those expenses to be defrayed out of money appropriated for the purpose.

(4)The power of the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland to make an order under section 178 shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the [F43Statutory Rules (Northern Ireland) Order 1979], and any such order shall be subject to negative resolution within the meaning of the M10Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 as if it were a statutory instrument within the meaning of that Act.

(5)In this Act “enactment ” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland Assembly, and “Act ” shall be construed in a corresponding manner; and (without prejudice to section 189(6)) any reference in this Act to such an enactment shall include a reference to any enactment re-enacting it with or without modifications.

(6)Section 38 of the M11Interpretation Act 1889 (effect of repeals) shall have the same operation in relation to any repeal by this Act of an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland as it has in relation to the repeal of an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, references in that section of the Act of 1889 to Acts and enactments being construed accordingly.

192 Transitional and commencement provisions, amendments and repeals.U.K.

(1)The provisions of Schedule 3 shall have effect for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The appointment of a day for the purposes of any provision of Schedule 3 shall be effected by an order of the Secretary of State made by statutory instrument; and any such order shall include a provision amending Schedule 3 so as to insert an express reference to the day appointed.

X1(3)Subject to subsection (4)—

(a)the enactments specified in Schedule 4 shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule (being minor amendments or amendments consequential on the preceding provisions of this Act), and

(b)the enactments specified in Schedule 5 are hereby repealed to the extent shown in column 3 of that Schedule.

(4)The Secretary of State shall by order made by statutory instrument provide for the coming into operation of the amendments contained in Schedule 4 and the repeals contained in Schedule 5, and those amendments and repeals shall have effect only as provided by an order so made.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1Power of appointment conferred by s. 192(2) fully exercised: S.I. 1975/2123, 1977/325, 802, 2163, 1980/50, 1983/1551, 1984/436 and 1989/1128

P2Power of appointment conferred by s. 192(4) exercised: S.I. 1977/325, 802, 1979/1685, 1980/50, 1981/280, 1983/1551

Editorial Information

X1The text of ss. 3(a)(b)(c), 5, 42(1)(2)(3), 192(3)(a)(b), Sch. 4 Pt. I paras. 1, 2, 5, 7 - 9, 11 - 17, 19, 22 - 28, 30 - 32, 34 - 37, Sch. 4 Pt. II paras. 39, 40, 43 -45, 49 - 51 and Sch. 5 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

193 Short title and extent.U.K.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

(2)This Act extends to Northern Ireland.