What the SECCI form is designed to do
The Standard European Consumer Credit Information form, commonly called SECCI, is a structured pre-contract disclosure format that helps consumers understand and compare the terms of covered consumer credit agreements. Under Article 5 of Directive 2008/48/EC it appears in Annex II. Under Directive (EU) 2023/2225, the revised form appears in Annex I and is referenced by Article 10. Both regimes use standard presentation to make different credit offers more comparable, but their annexes, layout requirements and legal application dates differ. The CCD2 national measures generally apply from 20 November 2026. A provider should therefore identify which national legal framework governs the offer rather than choosing a document solely because it is labelled SECCI.
How the standard form is organised
SECCI groups the relevant information into identifiable categories rather than leaving lenders to create an entirely free-form sales brochure. These include the identities and contact information of the creditor and any relevant credit intermediary, the principal features of the credit product, the costs, and other important legal aspects. Fields may call for the credit amount, repayment arrangement, borrowing rate, APR, total amount payable, missed-payment consequences and rights concerning withdrawal and early repayment. The prescribed form tells the provider when information is applicable and how it is to be completed. A standalone marketing summary can help consumers, but should not be assumed to replace the statutory form where the law requires one. The content must match the particular offer, not a generic product brochure.
Why the first-page layout changes under CCD2
CCD2 introduces a stronger emphasis on making important information immediately visible. Article 10 requires specified key elements to appear prominently at the beginning of the Annex I SECCI form, normally on the first page. If all the specified elements cannot be displayed prominently there, the first part may extend to two pages at most, with identified essential elements on the first page. This responds to the difficulty of reading large documents on phones while seeking to preserve comparability. It is not a licence to omit the remaining prescribed content. Regulatory teams should review the actual PDF, app and browser rendering instead of relying only on a populated data template. Mobile layout decisions require accessibility and readability checks.
Know when a different information form is required
The phrase SECCI must not be applied indiscriminately. Article 11 of CCD2 concerns credit agreements referred to in Article 2(6) or 2(7) and uses the European Consumer Credit Information form in Annex II, with its own presentation provisions. The earlier Directive likewise distinguishes certain agreements and their pre-contract information regime. There can also be agreements outside the Directive's scope. A compliance system should record an explicit product classification before it assigns a disclosure template. Teams working with overdrafts, debt arrangements, BNPL and other specialised products need to confirm the precise national law and statutory conditions instead of assuming that one EU form fits every transaction. Template choice is a legal-scope decision as well as a document-production task.
How consumers should receive SECCI
The legal duty concerns providing information in good time before the consumer is bound. Under CCD2 Article 10 the prescribed information is to be supplied on paper or another durable medium chosen by the consumer, as specified in that framework. A durable medium permits the consumer to store information addressed personally to them and reproduce it unchanged for an appropriate period. An inaccessible or disappearing screen may not achieve that purpose. Providers should test whether a consumer can retain the document after the checkout session closes and whether revised offers generate updated information. The obligation to provide adequate explanations is separate from handing over SECCI. Firms should not assume that a signature or checkbox proves that all relevant information was accurately delivered and understood.
Use the form as part of a controlled process
Maintain a documented mapping from each statutory field to product data and the corresponding contractual term. Check that lender and intermediary identities are current; rates and compulsory costs reconcile; repayment illustrations use the right period; and consumer rights are stated for the correct jurisdiction. Retain example outputs for different products and terms, with a date and authorising version. Where a translated form is used, assess both numerical content and the accuracy of legal labels. Audit real delivery events as well as the template. Review after national CCD2 implementation, technical changes to mobile delivery, changes in pricing and regulator interpretations. A SECCI generator is a compliance aid, not independent proof that the credit agreement or the customer journey complies with the law.
Frequently asked questions
Is the same disclosure document required for every EU credit product?
No. Product scope, agreement classification and applicable national law determine the prescribed form and its contents.
When does CCD2 replace the previous framework?
Member States must generally apply their CCD2 implementing measures from 20 November 2026, subject to the applicable transitional provisions.
Is providing a form the same as giving adequate explanations?
No. Information delivery and the legally required explanations are distinct obligations and should be assessed separately.
Primary sources
Directive 2008/48/EC: Article 5 and Annex II ↗Directive (EU) 2023/2225: Articles 10 to 12 and Annexes I and II ↗Read the source in its current version. National implementing measures and product-specific applicability may require additional research.
Related research
consumer credit pre-contract information and disclosure requirements ↗