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The State Duma adopted in the third and final reading a draft law of the Russian government aimed at tightening the requirements for banks issuing consumer loans and protecting the rights of borrowers. As stated in the explanatory note, the law is intended to protect Russians from unscrupulous creditors.
First, the document provides for a ban on making the conclusion and execution of a consumer loan agreement conditional on the need to purchase additional services provided by the lender or third parties for a separate fee. Secondly, the law contains provisions that prevent the practice of including in the consumer loan agreement a condition that obliges the borrower to provide for the presence of the account from which the debt is repaid under such an agreement,the minimum balance of funds or the availability of an amount sufficient to repay the payment provided for in the contract (payment schedule) on a day that is not the day of the next payment.
In addition, the procedure for calculating the full cost of a consumer loan, calculating the maximum amount of a penalty (fine or penalty) for non-performance or improper performance by the borrower of obligations to repay a consumer loan or pay interest on its amount is specified.