Invest
Buy now, pay later services sign voluntary code of conduct
The buy now, pay later (BNPL) service providers including Afterpay and Zip have announced safeguards for vulnerable customers who are a credit risk to themselves.

Buy now, pay later services sign voluntary code of conduct
The buy now, pay later (BNPL) service providers including Afterpay and Zip have announced safeguards for vulnerable customers who are a credit risk to themselves.

In a code released, BNPL services will commit to capping late fees, screening the ability of customers to repay and never initiating bankruptcy procedures.
The announcement of a new code of conduct follows months of scrutiny from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and a Senate inquiry.
BNPL providers are not regulated like other short-term lenders because the service is not classified as a credit. The industry argues this is appropriate as they are a “modern lay-by” service.
AFIA and its BNPL members – Afterpay, Brighte, flexigroup, Latitude, OpenPay, Payright and Zip Co, which cover 95 per cent of the market – are responding to the Senate Economics Reference Committee which recommended developing a code of practice.
AFIA CEO Diane Tate commented: “The BNPL Code goes above and beyond the law by ensuring customers have strong safeguards in place that help them better understand the product and their rights. It also sets standards around helping those customers that experience financial difficulties.”
The new code is designed to protect an estimated 5.8 million users, or 30 per cent of Australian adults, who according to the industry are using the service as a way to manage their finances.
A Code Compliance Committee (CCC), independent of AFIA and the BNPL providers, comprising industry and consumer representatives will be charged with monitoring, policing and dealing with potential non-compliance.
“The BNPL Code will be subject to a thorough public consultation process in early 2020, aiming for implementation by 1 July 2020. This is a world-first industry code of practice, so we have a tremendous opportunity, and responsibility, to get this right,” Ms Tate said.
“Importantly, the BNPL Code also means customers of BNPL services, that are members of AFIA, have access to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), the independent external dispute resolution scheme, if they have a compliant they can’t resolve directly with the BNPL provider.”
About the author

About the author


Spending
Where are Aussies looking to spend their money in 2021?
Australians are increasing their spending intentions, with travel and entertainment set to be the big winners, a new report has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Toyota returns $18m in JobKeeper payments
An unexpected surge in sales in 2020 has inspired car manufacturer Toyota to write an $18 million check to the government, returning the amount it received in JobKeeper subsidies and touting the move...Read more

Spending
Aussies spend up big during pre-Christmas sales
Consumers have taken advantage of new freedoms post-lockdown and pre-Christmas discounts as retail sales soared in November, official figures have revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Aussies unlikely to splash the cash following pandemic
Australian consumers are likely to cut back on discretionary items in 2021 with many re-evaluating their spending habits following the COVID-19 pandemic, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
‘It’s back’: SA unveils second Great State Voucher
South Australian residences or those planning to travel to the state could save up to $150 as the government continues its support for the local tourism sector. ...Read more

Spending
Rise in health premiums at 20-year low, but there’s a catch
While the Australian government’s health insurance reforms have resulted in the lowest annual average premium change since 2001, according to experts consumers could still see a “whacking” prem...Read more

Spending
Young Aussies pressured to buy love this Christmas
Younger Australians are likely to spend more this Christmas as they equate expensive gifts with love, a researcher has found. ...Read more

Spending
Buying local this Christmas could raise over $1bn for small business
New research suggests that Australians could deliver an estimated $1.12 billion to the small-business sector this Christmas just by buying one more gift from their favourite local business. ...Read more

Spending
Where are Aussies looking to spend their money in 2021?
Australians are increasing their spending intentions, with travel and entertainment set to be the big winners, a new report has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Toyota returns $18m in JobKeeper payments
An unexpected surge in sales in 2020 has inspired car manufacturer Toyota to write an $18 million check to the government, returning the amount it received in JobKeeper subsidies and touting the move...Read more

Spending
Aussies spend up big during pre-Christmas sales
Consumers have taken advantage of new freedoms post-lockdown and pre-Christmas discounts as retail sales soared in November, official figures have revealed. ...Read more

Spending
Aussies unlikely to splash the cash following pandemic
Australian consumers are likely to cut back on discretionary items in 2021 with many re-evaluating their spending habits following the COVID-19 pandemic, new research has revealed. ...Read more

Spending
‘It’s back’: SA unveils second Great State Voucher
South Australian residences or those planning to travel to the state could save up to $150 as the government continues its support for the local tourism sector. ...Read more

Spending
Rise in health premiums at 20-year low, but there’s a catch
While the Australian government’s health insurance reforms have resulted in the lowest annual average premium change since 2001, according to experts consumers could still see a “whacking” prem...Read more

Spending
Young Aussies pressured to buy love this Christmas
Younger Australians are likely to spend more this Christmas as they equate expensive gifts with love, a researcher has found. ...Read more

Spending
Buying local this Christmas could raise over $1bn for small business
New research suggests that Australians could deliver an estimated $1.12 billion to the small-business sector this Christmas just by buying one more gift from their favourite local business. ...Read more