Finance Editor, Kael Tripton Ltd - LBS MBA - Verified against FCA Handbook: 14 June 2026
Quick answer
FCA CONC rules protect credit card customers: persistent debt intervention after 18 months (CONC 6.7), no unsolicited credit limit increases, Section 75 joint liability for PS100-PS30,000 purchases, and fair treatment in financial difficulty under CONC 7. Consumer Duty adds further obligations as of July 2023.
What FCA CONC Rules Apply to Your Credit Card?
Direct answer
What are my credit card rights under FCA rules?
Under CONC (handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/CONC/6/), your credit card lender must: intervene if you are in persistent debt after 18 months, not increase your credit limit without consent, treat you fairly in financial difficulty, and is jointly liable with suppliers under Section 75 CCA 1974 for purchases of PS100-PS30,000.
FCA Handbook - CONC 6.7.2 - Verbatim Rule Text Source: handbook.fca.org.uk
A firm must monitor customer accounts and where a customer is in persistent debt the firm must contact the customer and seek to assist them in reducing the balance more quickly.
Check if you are in persistent debt
If you have been making minimum payments on a credit card for 18 months and the balance is not reducing, you may be in persistent debt under CONC 6.7.
Request a repayment plan
Contact the lender and request a structured repayment plan that clears the balance. Under CONC 6.7 they must consider this.
Use Section 75 for supplier failures
If a supplier goes bust or breaches a contract on a purchase of PS100-PS30,000 made on a credit card, write to the card lender citing Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Opt out of credit limit increases
Check your credit card account settings or write to the lender to opt out of automatic credit limit increases.
Contact free debt advice if needed
National Debtline (nationaldebtline.org) and StepChange (stepchange.org) provide free, confidential debt advice.
| Protection | Rule | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Persistent debt intervention | CONC 6.7 | Lender must help after 18 months of paying more interest than principal |
| No unsolicited limit increases | CONC 6.7.27 | Lender cannot increase limit without your consent |
| Section 75 joint liability | CCA 1974 S.75 | PS100-PS30,000 purchases -- claim against card lender if supplier fails |
| Fair treatment in difficulty | CONC 7 | Repayment plans, no aggressive debt collection, free debt advice referral |
| Consumer Duty | PRIN 12 | Positive obligation to deliver good outcomes in difficulty |
Frequently Asked Questions
What FCA rules apply to credit cards?
Credit cards are regulated under CONC (Consumer Credit sourcebook) of the FCA Handbook and the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Under CONC 6.7, lenders must intervene if a customer is in persistent debt -- paying more in interest and charges than they are repaying of the principal over 18 months. FCA rules also require minimum payment warnings, annual interest summaries and proactive contact with customers showing signs of financial difficulty.
What is persistent debt in credit cards under FCA rules?
Persistent debt (CONC 6.7, FCA PS18/4) is defined as a situation where a customer has paid more in interest, fees and charges than they have repaid of the principal balance over 18 months. If a credit card lender identifies a customer in persistent debt, it must contact them and offer options including a repayment plan that would clear the balance within a reasonable period. After 36 months of persistent debt, the lender must suspend the credit card if the customer cannot afford to clear it faster.
Can my credit card lender increase my credit limit without asking?
Under CONC 6.7.27, credit card lenders cannot proactively increase a customer's credit limit without the customer's consent. This rule was introduced in 2019. Lenders must give customers the right to opt out of credit limit increases and must not increase limits where the customer is showing signs of financial difficulty.
What is the Section 75 protection on credit cards?
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes the credit card lender jointly liable with the supplier for a purchase costing between PS100 and PS30,000 where the supplier breaches a contract or makes a misrepresentation. This is a powerful consumer protection -- if the supplier goes bust, you can claim against the credit card lender instead. Section 75 applies to credit cards but not debit cards or charge cards.
What are my rights if I am in credit card debt and cannot pay?
Under CONC 7, lenders must treat customers in financial difficulty fairly. They must: provide information about free debt advice (National Debtline, StepChange), consider reasonable repayment plans, not apply charges that make the situation worse, and not pursue debt in an aggressive or oppressive manner. Consumer Duty (PRIN 12) additionally requires lenders to deliver good outcomes for customers in financial difficulty.
Primary sources
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