‘Buy now, pay later’ loans are not covered by existing consumer protection laws

Buy now, pay later technology offers loans to consumers to pay for purchases in instalments over time. A soft credit check verifies eligibility, and can extend credit to users who might not otherwise have access to credit products. These loans claim to improve the financial inclusion of lower-income young people, but should be approached with caution, writes Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation. This type of loan is not regulated by existing consumer credit laws, and interest rates can be nearly double typical credit card rates.