Federal Law on Consumer Credit

In Switzerland, consumer loans are subject to a maximum interest rate of 15 percent in order to protect consumers against excessive interest. The Federal Law on Consumer Credit offers a further degree of protection by awarding consumers comprehensive information rights. Lenders are also obliged to check the credit standing of their customers. To do so, they have created a consumer credit information office. This is the agency to which lenders report all of the consumer loans they grant and which holds a database of reliable information which enables them to check the financial circumstances of their customers. Consumer loans may be granted only if the customer's income permits the loan to be repaid within three years. Anyone intending to grant and broker consumer loans on a commercial basis requires a licence from their respective canton.

• Federal Law on Consumer Credit of 23 March 2001, in force since 1 January 2003 (PDF, 149 kB, 28.09.2010)

  (unofficial translation)

• Bundesgesetz über den Konsumkredit (KKG)

  (SR 221.214.1)

• Loi fédérale sur le crédit à la consommation

  (RS 221.214.1)

• Legge federale sul credito al consumo

  (RS 221.214.1)

• Ordinance relative to the Federal Law on Consumer Credit (PDF, 96 kB, 28.09.2010)

  (unofficial translation)

• Verordnung zum Konsumkreditgesetz

  (SR 221.214.11)

• Ordonnance relative à la loi fédérale sur le crédit à la consommation

  (RS 221.214.11)

• Ordinanza concernente la legge sul credito al consumo

  (RS 221.214.11)

Note

For the complete documentation see the pages in German, French or Italian.

Dossier

Press releases

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Last modification 24.11.2005