In the future, consumers in the EU will be better protected when incurring debt on the internet and when shopping online on credit. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU states agreed on the so-called consumer credit directive. Information on loans should be made particularly clear and understandable. At the same time, consumers’ creditworthiness should be better monitored. The goal is to protect people from excessive debt and financial hardship. The new rules aim, for example, to ensure that the existing protection rules also apply in the future to loans of less than 200 euros and to crowdlending, in which an online platform brokers money from private individuals to other people or companies . Online purchases where consumers pay later are also covered by the new rules. Malte Gallee MEP (Greens), who took part in the negotiations, welcomed the deal. The new directive improves consumer protection in the credit sector and makes an important contribution to preventing the growing over-indebtedness. “What looks like a loan should be treated like a loan,” said Gallee. The agreement still needs to be confirmed by parliament and the federal states, but this is considered a formality.
