Pre-contract information & disclosures
Manage document versions, presentation, delivery and evidence of the customer journey.
Pre-contract disclosure: version and delivery evidence
Disclosure controls should connect the approved document to the product configuration and the point at which the borrower receives it. A document library alone cannot describe the customer journey.
What Information Must Be Provided Before Consumer Credit?
Before a consumer enters a covered credit agreement, the creditor and, where relevant, the credit intermediary must supply information enabling the consumer to compare offers and understand the proposed commitment.
Standard European Consumer Credit Information Explained
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.
SECCI Requirements Explained
SECCI requirements depend first on the law governing the actual consumer credit agreement.
When Must Pre-Contract Information Be Provided?
Under Article 5 of Directive 2008/48/EC, the creditor and, where applicable, the credit intermediary must provide the prescribed pre-contract information in good time before the consumer is bound by a covered credit agreement or offer.
Adequate Explanations Before Credit Is Granted
Adequate explanations help a consumer assess whether a proposed credit agreement and related ancillary services suit their needs and financial situation.
Credit Amount Disclosure Requirements
Under Directive 2008/48/EC Article 3(l), the total amount of credit means the ceiling or total sums made available under a credit agreement.
Repayment Schedule Disclosure Requirements
Repayment disclosures identify when and how much a consumer must pay. Current EU-law-derived national rules require information about instalment amount, number and frequency for covered credit; CCD2 adds detailed pre-contract schedule information for relevant agreements from its national application date.
Interest Rate Disclosure Requirements
Pre-contract interest-rate disclosures explain the borrowing rate, whether it is fixed or variable, relevant conditions and rate changes. They must be distinguished from the APR, which expresses the broader cost of credit using prescribed calculation rules.
Fee Disclosure Requirements
Consumer-credit fee disclosures must identify relevant charges in addition to interest, including applicable account, payment instrument, ancillary-service and default costs. Whether a charge enters the total cost of credit or APR depends on legal definitions, conditions and the agreement.
APR Disclosure Requirements
For covered EU consumer credit agreements, pre-contract information must disclose the annual percentage rate of charge and total amount payable using the prescribed format and assumptions. APR is distinct from the borrowing rate; national implementation and the type of agreement determine the applicable form.
Late-Payment Cost Disclosures
Covered EU consumer credit pre-contract information must explain the interest applicable to late payments, how it can change and any default charges, together with a warning about late or missed payments. These disclosures do not create one EU-wide late-fee amount.
Withdrawal-Right Disclosures
Pre-contract credit information must identify whether the consumer has a right to withdraw and, where applicable, the withdrawal period. The required notice should be distinguished from the later steps for exercising withdrawal and from national exclusions or transitional rules.
Early-Repayment Disclosures
Pre-contract disclosure should tell a consumer whether early repayment is available, what that right covers and whether the creditor may seek compensation.
Digital Delivery of Credit Disclosures
A consumer applying for credit online must still receive the information required under the applicable consumer credit rules.
Mobile-App Credit Disclosures
Creditors delivering pre-contract information through a mobile application face the same starting question as other channels: what must be supplied under the applicable legal regime before the consumer is bound? Directive 2008/48/EC Article 5 and national implementing law remain relevant for covered agreements; CCD2 Article 10 modernises the requirements, generally applicable through national measures from 20 November 2026.
Accessibility of Consumer Credit Disclosures
Consumer-credit pre-contract information should be available in a form that people can actually use, including consumers with disabilities.
Pre-Contract Disclosure Compliance Checklist
A disclosure checklist starts by recording the consumer, creditor, intermediary, type of credit, jurisdiction and stage at which the applicant becomes bound.
Consumer Credit Pre-Contract Information and Disclosure Requirements
Pre-contract credit information allows a consumer to compare proposed agreements and understand essential costs, obligations and rights before becoming bound.
Put the topic in context.
Choose a jurisdiction before applying a rule. Use the sources attached to each guide and record unresolved product questions.