UK consumer credit regulation under the FCA

From April 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority takes over responsibility for the regulation of the consumer credit industry from the Office of Fair Trading. The FCA promises a more proactive type of regulatory approach and has already indicated its interest in the payday loan and debt collection sectors. The changeover involves a switch from a regulatory system based on statute – the Consumer Credit Acts, to one based on the FCA’s Rulebook. The Government hope that this will make the system more flexible and responsive to market developments.