The House Economy Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill allowing for better protection of consumers in the event of late payments. Only the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA) abstained.
A small debt can quickly turn into a large expense, with the addition of fees for reminder letters, bailiffs, collection agencies or even lawyers.
The bill by Labour and Economy Minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) should put an end to these fees. The first reminder will be free of charge and will have to specify any additional charges for late payment. In addition, consumers will need to have at least 14 days after receiving the first reminder before additional fees are charged.
A cap on additional fees for late payment is also introduced. For debts of less than €150, a maximum of €20 may be added. If the debt is more than €150 but less than €500, a cap of €30 plus 10% of the amount owed will apply.
Finally, lawyers and bailiffs responsible for collection will be placed under the supervision of the Department of the Economy, as is already the case for collection agencies.
The bill could be included on the agenda of the plenary session. It is expected to enter into force four months after the text is published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
The bill will come into force on 1 January 2010.
