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Consumer rights & money

Chapters in this topic

Credit contracts: Hire purchase, loans and other credit

Key terms and concepts

What is “credit”?

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, ss 5, 6

A “credit” contract is an agreement you make to borrow money, or an agreement that gives you the right to put off (“defer”) payment of an existing debt or pay something off over time (for example, hire purchase).

The lender is called a “creditor” in the CCCF Act and sometimes a “credit provider” in other Acts. A lender is a person or institution that lends money to people under a consumer credit contract.

You the borrower are called the “debtor” in the CCCF Act.

What is a “consumer credit contract”?

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, s 11; Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, ss 7, 11, 16, 16A; Fair Trading Act 1986, s 36B(4)

The protections in the CCCF Act apply only to what the Act calls “consumer credit contracts”. The Act’s protections don’t cover you when you get credit for your business or trade.

Your credit arrangements will be a “consumer credit contract” covered by the CCCF Act only if all the following conditions apply:

  • you’re getting the credit as an individual and not as a company or organisation, and
  • you’re getting the credit mainly for personal, domestic or household use, and
  • you’re being charged interest or credit fees (such as an establishment fee or insurance fee), or you’ve put up some of your property as security for the loan, and
  • the lender is someone who provides credit in the course of their business, or you and the lender were introduced by a paid adviser or broker.

A consumer credit contract can take the form of:

  • a hire purchase, also known as a “credit sale” (see “What is hire purchase (‘credit sales’)?” below)
  • a secured loan (see “What is a secured loan?” below)
  • an unsecured loan (see “What is an unsecured loan?” below)
  • a bank overdraft
  • revolving credit – for example, a credit card
  • a layby sale agreement, if you have to pay interest charges or credit fees under the agreement (for layby sales, see the chapter “Consumer protection”)
  • mobile trader credit sales, for example a truck shop
  • a lease of goods hiring or renting goods, such as a car. The CCCF Act treats a lease of goods as a hire purchase (and therefore a consumer credit contract) if the goods are mainly for your personal, domestic or household use, and either:
    • the lease payments will be substantially the same as the cash price for the goods, or
    • you have an option to buy the goods for no additional charge, or for a token amount, or for an additional amount that’s substantially less than what the goods will be worth at the end of the lease.
Buy now, pay later schemes

Buy now, pay later schemes like Afterpay are not consumer credit contracts. Buy now, pay later is a payment method that lets you buy an item and pay after receiving it, with no interest. Buy now, pay later sales are not currently covered by the CCCF Act. For buy now, pay later sales, see the chapter “Consumer protection”.

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, ss 60–68

Since new laws have been introduced, truck shops and other mobile traders are now covered by the CCCF Act. That means that they must now follow responsible lending rules just as other lenders covered by the CCCF Act, see “Responsible lending requirements” in this section.

What is “interest”?

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, s 16A

Interest is the cost of borrowing money, where the borrower pays a fee to the lender for the loan. For example, if you borrow $1,000 and the interest rate is 10% per year it will cost: $1,000 × 10% = $100 for 1 year. At the end of the contract period, you will pay back the lender the $1000 plus the $100 = $1100.

The interest rate is set by the lender and is usually shown in an annual basis, for example, ‘per annum’.

Note: The CCCF Act also provides separate, more limited protections for other types of leases of goods. It calls those other types of leases “consumer leases”.

What is hire purchase (“credit sales”)?

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, s 5 (definitions of “credit sale” and “security interest”)

“Credit sale” is the name the CCCF Act uses for what’s often called “hire purchase”. This is when you buy goods or services but pay for them later, usually by instalments. Sometimes the seller will provide the credit, but usually the lender will be a finance company that’s separate from the seller. With hire purchase, unlike a layby sale, you get to take the goods home when you sign the contract.

However, until you pay off the goods the lender will usually have the right to repossess the goods if you miss your payments. Sometimes this means that the lender has formal legal ownership of the goods (legal “title”) until they’re fully paid off. But regardless of who has legal ownership of the goods while you’re still making your payments, you’ll be protected by the rules in the CCCF Act for consumer credit contracts, and the lender will have to follow the detailed processes in the Act if they want to repossess the goods (see “Repossession” in this chapter).

What is a secured loan?

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, ss 9E-9I; Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, ss 83ZN, 83ZO; Personal Property Securities Act 1999, s 16(1)

A secured loan is where you borrow money and you (or a guarantor) provide property as security for the loan. The lender then has a “security interest” in that property. If you don’t meet your repayments on the loan, the property that was provided as security can be taken by the lender and sold – this is called “repossession” (see “Repossession” in this chapter). If the price the property sells for doesn’t cover the amount you borrowed plus the interest and other charges, you may still end up owing money to the lender.

Finance companies who offer secured loans often charge very high interest rates and sometimes ask you to provide some sort of security. The security will often be property that’s worth far more than the loan – for example, a car, or sometimes even your house. In these cases, you may be able to go through the disputes resolution process to change the terms of the agreement (see, “Dispute resolution schemes” below).

Lenders can’t take a security interest in some types of consumer goods, and any term in a credit contract that seems to do this will be legally invalid. This applies to beds and bedding, stoves and other cooking equipment, medical equipment, portable heaters, washing machines and fridges.

However, that restriction doesn’t apply when a bank or other lender loans you money specifically for the purpose of you buying an item in one of these categories. In such cases, the security over the item is called a “purchase money security interest”.

Lenders can’t take a security interest in passports and other travel documents, ID cards and documents, and bank cards.

What is an unsecured loan?

An unsecured loan is where you borrow money without providing any security. You can still be charged interest or credit fees. You can generally expect the interest rate for an unsecured loan to be higher than that for a secured loan.

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Credit and debt

Where to go for more support

Community Law

www.communitylaw.org.nz

Your local Community Law Centre can provide free initial legal advice and information.

Consumer Protection

www.consumerprotection.govt.nz

Consumer Protection helpline: 0508 426 678 (0508 4 CONSUMER)

Email: cpinfo@mbie.govt.nz

The Consumer Protection website has useful information on a range of consumer topics. Consumer Protection is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

MoneyTalks

www.moneytalks.co.nz

Phone: 0800 345 123

Email: help@moneytalks.co.nz

MoneyTalks provides free, confidential budgeting support. They can pair you with a financial mentor to help you if you are struggling with debt or need advice on budgeting.

FinCap

www.fincap.org.nz

Phone: 0800 345 123

Email: kiaora@fincap.org.nz

FinCap can help you with budgeting information online or on the phone. They may also suggest a local budgeting service to help you with debt and other budgeting issues.

Consumer NZ

www.consumer.org.nz

Phone: 0800 266 786

Email: info@consumer.org.nz

The Consumer NZ website provides a wide range of information on consumer credit and debt issues, including debt collectors, repossession and bankruptcy

Commerce Commission

www.comcom.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 943 600
Email: contact@comcom.govt.nz
The Commerce Commission enforces the consumer credit legislation (the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act) and the laws against misleading and deceptive conduct by traders (the Fair Trading Act). The Commission provides information on these areas on its website.

It’s All Good

www.comcom.govt.nz/business/resources-for-consumer-organisations/its-all-good

It’s All Good is an animated series produced by The Commerce Commission about consumer rights.

Citizens Advice

www.cab.org.nz

Phone: 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222)
Citizens Advice Bureaux have volunteers trained in consumer law who can provide information and advice if you have a problem with credit and debt issues.

Dispute resolution schemes

There are four dispute resolution schemes for consumers dealing with lenders and other credit providers.

  • Financial Services Complaints Limited – www.fscl.org.nz
    Phone:
    0800 347 257
  • Email: info@fscl.org.nz
  • Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman –
    Phone: 0800 888 202
  • Email: info@ifso.nz
  • Banking Ombudsman – www.bankomb.org.nz
    Phone:
    0800 805 950
  • Email: help@bankomb.org.nz
  • Financial Dispute Resolution – www.fdrs.org.nz Phone: 0508 337 337
  • Email: enquiries@fdrs.org.nz

Cases in the District Courts

The Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice website has information about civil claims in the District Courts: see www.justice.govt.nz and search “Claims you can take to civil court”.

Credit reporting

Privacy Commission

www.privacy.org.nz
Phone:
0800 803 909

The Privacy Commission has information on your rights in relation to credit reporting and how to complain if you feel your rights have been breached.

Your credit record

Three credit reporting companies operate nationally in New Zealand. To check your record or correct any information, you’ll need to contact them all.

You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit record. You should make sure you choose the free option when you contact each company.

Centrix – www.centrix.co.nz 0800 236 874

Illion – www.illion.co.nz 0800 733 707

Equifax – www.equifax.co.nz 0800 698 332

Personal Properties Securities Register (PPSR)

www.ppsr.companiesoffice.govt.nz

Search the PPSR register to see if there is any security interest registered against a vehicle. This can be done for a small fee by registering to check online.

Bankruptcy and other options

Insolvency and Trustee Service

www.insolvency.govt.nz

Phone: 0508 INSOLVENCY (0508 467 658)

The Insolvency and Trustee Service (ITS) deals with bankruptcies, no-asset procedures, summary instalment orders and some company liquidations. Information about those processes is available on its website. The ITS is part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

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