Morning, Thursday, 16th July 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for consumer credit reform.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess key issues moving forward, following HM Treasury’s Phase 1 consultation on the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) and the Financial Conduct Authority’s policy statement on Regulation of Deferred Payment Credit, which brings lenders that offer Buy Now Pay Later agreements under FCA regulation from 15th July 2026.
The agenda considers next steps for reform to the CCA, with discussion on strategic approaches to modernising the legislative framework and how legal uncertainty might best be avoided, in the context of translation of requirements into the FCA Handbook, simplification of outdated provisions, and priorities for improving proportionality across the credit lifecycle.
Delegates will assess priorities ahead of HM Treasury’s publication of consultation Phase 2, including clarity needed on the scope of repeal and replacement, the way forward for information requirements and sanctions, and priorities for maintaining consumer protections. Practical steps required for firms, regulators and government to deliver the updated regime will be discussed, alongside implications for legal certainty, operational change, and alignment with the Consumer Duty.
Policy & regulatory reform
Attendees will consider how the regulatory framework can evolve alongside innovation in the lending ecosystem, balancing market growth and product development with consumer protections, and how the BNPL regime might be implemented to avoid consumer friction. Delegates will assess priorities for firms in demonstrating authorisation readiness, as well as effective practice in implementing complaints handling infrastructure, changes to operating systems, and improving data capabilities.
The FCA’s ongoing consultation on proposed changes to financial promotion rules for consumer credit will also be assessed, including priorities for firms in delivering the ‘consumer understanding’ duty, balancing legal certainty and effective consumer protection with flexibility for firms, and approaches to communicating APR and other credit costs. The simplification of language, clarity on exemptions, and measures to enhance consumer comprehension and comparability across credit products will also be discussed.
Implementation challenges associated with the new Deferred Payment Credit regime will be considered, looking at affordability, credit-worthiness assessments, complaints handling, operational readiness, alongside implications of bringing BNPL products within the Financial Ombudsman Service’s compulsory jurisdiction.
Financial inclusion, alternative lending & access to affordable credit
The agenda examines expansion of alternative forms of lending to support underserved consumers, drawing on the Financial Inclusion Strategy and the FCA and Prudential Regulation Authority’s plans to support growth in the mutual sector. Delegates will consider how increasing access to credit - including through mergers, new account openings, and supporting regional economies, as well as Variable Recurring Payments and small-sum personal loan pilots - could reduce reliance on high-risk lending.
Discussion will also examine how developments in Open Banking, Open Finance, data-sharing frameworks and emerging payment mechanisms might effectively improve access to affordable credit for vulnerable consumers, reduce reliance on higher-cost borrowing, and support innovation in inclusive lending, while maintaining appropriate safeguards around data use, affordability and consumer understanding.
Those attending will assess strategies for mutuals, credit unions and community finance providers in supporting financial inclusion and regional access to financial services, alongside questions around proportionality in prudential and conduct regulation for smaller providers. We expect discussion on the role of collaboration between mainstream lenders, FinTech firms and community finance providers to support underserved groups and expand access to fair and affordable credit.
Consumer protection, redress & debt enforcement reform
Further sessions will assess reform to debt enforcement, including proposals to make the Enforcement Conduct Board an independent statutory regulator, alongside emerging approaches to debt and financial advice and technological solutions aimed at reducing reliance on high-risk or harmful credit. Delegates will examine how these developments interact across the credit lifecycle - from product design and affordability assessment to enforcement and consumer support - as well as what practical measures may be needed to translate strategic ambitions for inclusion, innovation, and consumer protection into effective market outcomes.
The agenda will also consider wider developments in consumer protection and redress, including implications of the FCA’s motor finance consumer redress scheme for governance, operational resilience and approaches to complaints handling and consumer communications. Discussion will look at the balance between effective consumer redress, market confidence and regulatory certainty, and wider implications of mass redress schemes for the future direction of consumer credit regulation and market oversight. Concerns from some around operational complexity and claims management activity will be considered.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
