New credit laws and book up: What you need to know

Book up is a common practice in many remote and regional communities of Australia. When you offer book up, or run up a tab, you allow your customers to buy goods or services and pay later. If you do this, you are providing a type of consumer credit.

From 1 July 2010, consumer credit will be regulated by ASIC under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (National Credit Act). This page gives you advice to help work out whether the new laws affect you and, if so, what you need to do.

Download a full-colour, printer-friendly version of this information sheet

A new national credit law: Does it apply to you?
Getting registered and licensed
Written records and responsible lending
What if the National Credit Act does not apply to the book up you offer?
‘Consumer friendly’ book up

A new national credit law: Does it apply to you?

Store owners and other traders offering book up are likely to be affected by the new National Credit Act if they charge consumers for the book up (credit). Charges might include interest or credit fees.

For example, the National Credit Act will generally apply if you allow customers to book up the cost of goods or services and:

the provision of credit exceeds 62 days and a charge is made for providing the credit, or
the provision of credit does not exceed 62 days but you charge a fee that exceeds 5% of the amount booked up, or charge interest at an annual percentage rate in excess of 24%.

Getting registered and licensed

From 1 July 2010, if you offer book up (credit) that is regulated under the National Credit Act, you must be:

registered with ASIC to undertake such activity, or
licensed to undertake such activity, or
authorised as a representative of another registered person or licensee.

There are penalties under the National Credit Act for businesses that provide regulated credit without the appropriate registration, licence or authorisation.

You can apply online for a credit licence. Registered persons must apply for a licence by 31 December 2010 or their registration will be cancelled.

If you are not registered or licensed by ASIC, or a representative of another registered person or licensee, you should contact ASIC on 1300 300 630 to discuss your options.

Written records and responsible lending

If you offer book up (credit) that is regulated under the National Credit Act, you must give customers certain written records at specific times to ensure they are aware of the terms on which the book up is provided.

This includes written disclosure before the book up (credit) is provided as well as ongoing account statements.

The National Credit Act also has responsible lending provisions, which prohibit businesses from providing credit if the consumer would only be able to repay with substantial hardship.

Case study: Book up for travel
A regional airline provides a book up service for customers who use air travel. It charges a 10% fee on the total book up amount and deducts payments every fortnight on the day the customer is paid, with the repayment period exceeding 62 days.

The National Credit Act applies to this book up service. If the airline intends to continue providing book up on the same terms, it must be registered with ASIC or apply for a credit licence, unless it is authorised as a representative of another registered person or licensee.

The airline must also provide customers with appropriate written records and comply with the responsible lending provisions.

What if the National Credit Act does not apply to the book up you offer?

If the National Credit Act does not apply to your book up arrangements (for example, because you don’t charge consumers for the service), you still need to be aware of other laws that apply.

One of these laws is the ASIC Act, which covers misleading conduct, unconscionable conduct and, from 1 July 2010, unfair contract terms.

Book up is not in itself an unfair practice. This type of short-term credit can help people who have run out of money.

However, unfair conduct can occur where agreements are not set out clearly for consumers to understand or where consumers are exploited.

‘Consumer friendly’ book up

Whether or not the new credit laws apply to your business, a ‘consumer friendly’ book up service:

gives customers a written agreement that includes terms and conditions and any interest or charges that apply
doesn’t ask for or keep customers’ PIN numbers (many banking agreements prohibit traders from asking for PINs or requiring them to be disclosed as part of a book up arrangement)
displays a copy of book up terms and conditions in the shop so customers are fully aware of them
gives customers receipts and an itemised statement (with dates and prices) of goods or services they have bought, including any fees and charges for the book up
charges the same price for things regardless of whether they are paid for with cash or book up
doesn’t require any customer to book up more than they will be able to pay back
allows book up customers to look at their records at any time
keeps records of purchases and money owing in a safe, confidential and secure place.

Know what laws apply

The National Credit Act may apply to you if you offer book up, run a tab or allow your customers to buy goods or services and pay later.
The National Credit Act may not apply to all book up arrangements, for example, if you offer book up to customers but do not charge any fees or interest.
Either way, you still have to comply with other laws such as those relating to misleading conduct, unconscionable conduct and unfair contract terms. This includes ensuring that book up arrangements are set out clearly for consumers to understand.
Contact ASIC for information or get legal advice to work out what laws apply to you.

For more information about book up and the National Credit Act, visit www.asic.gov.au/credit.
Visit www.moneysmart.gov.au for information about credit, loans and borrowing.
Our factsheets and booklets, including Dealing with book-up: a guide and Credit, loans and debt: stay out of trouble when you borrow money, can be downloaded from MoneySmart.
Or call ASIC’s Infoline on 1300 300 630 and we’ll send you copies of these publications.
ASIC's Infoline can also help you if you want to discuss licensing under the National Credit Act.

ASIC Website: Printed 06/20/2013

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