Explanatory note

The Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal Rules regulate the practice and procedure to be followed when appeals are made to the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal established by section 40A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Appeals to the Tribunal are against decisions of the Office of Fair Trading under section 41 of the 1974 Act or under section 44(2)(c) of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.

Part 1 of the Rules contains provisions about commencement and interpretation.

Part 2 of the Rules sets out the general powers of the Tribunal, for example to make such directions as are necessary for the effective conduct of the proceedings and to strike out a party’s case.

Part 3 of the Rules provides for the procedure to be followed by the parties when an appeal is initiated. It contains rule 15 (notice of appeal) and rule 16 (regulator’s statement of case). Rule 15 sets out what an appellant’s notice of appeal should contain and the documents that should accompany it. Likewise the Regulator’s statement of case in rule 16. Both documents must be sent, with any accompanying material, to the Tribunal and to the other party.

Part 4 of the Rules contains provisions that are necessary to ensure the proper conduct of the appeal hearing. This Part contains rules such as when there does not need to be an oral hearing, when a hearing should be held in private and the procedure to be followed when a party fails to attend a hearing. This Part also contains rules about the publication and notification of the Tribunal’s decision.

Part 5 of the Rules makes provision for bringing an appeal from the Tribunal’s decision to the Court of Appeal in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or the Court of Session in Scotland. It also contains rule 30 which applies these Rules to a case that is remitted back to the Tribunal by the Court of Appeal or the Court of Session.

An initial assessment was completed and did not indicate that the proposals were likely to lead to additional costs or savings for business, charities or the voluntary sector. As such an Impact Assessment was not prepared.