Category Archives: Banking

Electronic Clearing of Checks in the Philippines, Starting January 2017

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[The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has approved the implementation of the electronic clearing of checks, starting January 2017. This will speed up the clearing of checks from 3 to 5 banking days, down to 1 day. Issuers must consider the faster clearing of checks to avoid bouncing checks. To assist in the dissemination of this information, we are reproducing the media release of the BSP.] Continue reading →

No One can be Imprisoned for Non-Payment of Debt

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Perhaps you’ve heard someone making threats to file criminal cases against debtors who fail to pay. Yet you’ve heard the statement that no one can be imprisoned simply because of a debt. This is a basic principle and we thought we already have a discussion on this topic. We indeed have such discussion but we forgot to post it here. So here goes. Continue reading →

Liability of a Co-Maker: Distinguished from Guarantor

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Maybe you’ve been asked by a friend to sign as a co-maker in a loan. You’re then asked to sign a promissory note or a debt instrument which designates you as a co-maker. There should be no problem with this, as the principal is usually someone we know and trust. I’ve seen, however, co-makers being held liable because the principal debtor was not able to pay. We also have a number of queries related to this issue. So let’s have a brief discussion on the extent of a co-maker’s liability. Continue reading →

Primer on the Credit Information System Act (RA 9510)

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What is the policy behind the “Credit Information System Act”? This law, Republic Act No. 9510, is consistent with the need to establish a comprehensive and centralized credit information system for the collection and dissemination of fair and accurate information relevant to, or arising from, credit and credit-related activities of all entities participating in the financial system. A credit information system will directly address the need for reliable credit information concerning the credit standing and track record of borrowers. An efficient credit information system will also enable financial institutions to reduce their over-all credit risk, contributing to a healthier and more stable financial system. Continue reading →

Credit Cards and Access Devices Regulation: Explained

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What is the “Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998”?

It is Republic Act No. 8484, which is an act regulating the issuance and use of access devices and prohibiting the fraudulent acts committed relative thereto, among others. By enacting this legislation, the State recognizes the recent advances in technology and the widespread use of access devices in commercial transactions. Continue reading →

The Truth in Lending Act explained

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What is the “Truth in Lending Act”?

It is Republic Act No. 3765, which is an act requiring the disclosure of finance charges in connection with the extension of credit.

What is the policy behind the Truth in Lending Act?

The declared policy behind the law is to protect the people from lack of awareness of the true cost of credit by assuring full disclosure of such cost, with a view of preventing the uninformed use of credit to the detriment of the national economy.

Continue reading →

Criminal Cases and Insolvency

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I often come across debtors dropping the hint of filing, or actually filing, a case for insolvency or bankruptcy just to bring home the (alleged) point that they have nothing more to cough out. It is true that once a petition for insolvency is granted, the debtor-insolvent is discharged from all his existing debts. The decision to file for insolvency, however, should not be taken lightly. Here are a few reasons why:

The alleged insolvent debtor may be subject to criminal prosecution. There are a number of criminal cases that an alleged insolvent debtor may face. For instance, the debtor may be charged with fraudulent insolvency, a criminal offense, if it is shown that he transferred his property to another place beyond the reach of the creditors. Article 314 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) reads: Continue reading →

Credit cards and unfair collection practices

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There are a number of good reasons in favor of having and using a credit card. Still, we all know the possible adverse results in the unchecked use of “plastics” or credit cards, such as this one:

THERE’S a credit-card horror story that’s become some sort of an urban legend: A television personality, after losing his job in a top network, resorts to using his plastic money. By the time he finds employment in the rival network, he has wracked up P58,000 in credit card bills. But he figures he’s not yet ready to pay in full, so he pays just the minimum amount due. Yet after five years, he is shocked to realize that his credit card debt had ballooned more than 10 times to P700,000.

Perhaps you’ve heard, or, most probably, experienced certain “innovative” strategies used by credit card companies and their collection agencies in “persuading” you to pay (they are, of course, entitled to payment). With the rising complaints against these strategies, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued a set of rules and regulations governing the credit card operations of banks and affiliate credit card companies. Continue reading →

Task force to target credit card fraudsters

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The PIA reports that the President issued Executive Order No. 573, creating an Anti-Fraud Task Force composed of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strengthen Republic Act 8484, or the “Access Device Regulation Act of 1998”. Continue reading →