Online installment payments will officially change status on Nov. 20, 2026, when popular split-payment options are reclassified as consumer credit under new regulatory standards reported by mcetv.ouest-france.fr.
Between 2022 and 2024, the proportion of over-indebtedness cases involving a split payment or a mini-loan climbed from 1% to 17%, according to figures cited by mcetv.ouest-france.fr. French authorities transposed a 2023 European directive into national law through an ordinance dated Sept. 3, 2025, to curb rising consumer debt. The rules eliminate previous exemptions under the consumer code that ignored loans repaid in less than three months without notable fees or those under 200 euros.
Lenders must thoroughly verify a buyer’s capacity to repay before approving any installment purchase. Borrowers will also give explicit agreement and gain a 14-day withdrawal period identical to traditional consumer loans.
The global ceiling for consumer credit will increase from 75,000 to 100,000 euros. While lenders retain flexibility on very small amounts regarding the national register of repayment incidents, checking creditworthiness remains mandatory in all cases.
Certain payment facilities remain outside the scope of traditional consumer credit regulation. Transactions granted directly by the merchant without an external financing organization escape the new rules if they are settled within 50 days, or 14 days for online purchases with a large company.
Deferred debit cards also remain exempt from the reclassification. Installment offers accepted before Nov. 20, 2026, stay under the previous regulatory regime based on the signature date of the offer rather than the purchase date.
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