Kulong at multa sa lending company na ‘di kumpleto ang detalye sa pagpapautang

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | April 14, 2023

Dear Chief Acosta,

Umutang ako sa isang lending company ng halagang P50,000, na may karagdagang 5% interes kada buwan sa loob ng dalawang taon. Nang ako ay magbayad para sa unang buwan, napag-alaman ko na may finance charges na P2,000 kada taon, subalit hindi ito nakasaad sa aming kontrata. Tama ba ito? –Karen

Dear Karen,

Para sa iyong kaalaman, ayon sa “Truth in Lending Act” (Republic Act No. 3765), kinakailangan na bigyan ng nagpapautang ang sinumang nangungutang ng malinaw na kasulatan kaugnay sa kondisyon ng nasabing utang. Ayon sa Sekyon 4 ng nasabing batas:

“Section 4. Any creditor shall furnish to each person to whom credit is extended, prior to the consummation of the transaction, a clear statement in writing setting forth, to the extent applicable and in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Board, the following information:

(1) the cash price or delivered price of the property or service to be acquired;

(2) the amounts, if any, to be credited as down payment and/or trade-in;

(3) the difference between the amounts set forth under clauses (1) and (2);

(4) the charges, individually itemized, which are paid or to be paid by such person in connection with the transaction but which are not incident to the extension of credit;

(5) the total amount to be financed;

(6) the finance charge expressed in terms of pesos and centavos; and

(7) the percentage that the finance bears to the total amount to be financed expressed as a simple annual rate on the outstanding unpaid balance of the obligation.”

Sa iyong sitwasyon, malinaw na mayroong paglabag sa batas ang lending company sa kadahilanang hindi nailagay nito sa inyong kontrata ang mga karagdagang finance charges sa iyong pagkakautang, na isa sa mga impormasyong itinatakda ng batas na dapat ilahad sa kontrata.

Dahil dito, maaaring pagmultahin ang nasabing lending company. Ayon pa sa Seksyon 6 ng parehong batas:

“Section 6. (a) Any creditor who in connection with any credit transaction fails to disclose to any person any information in violation of this Act or any regulation issued thereunder shall be liable to such person in the amount of P100 or in an amount equal to twice the finance charged required by such creditor in connection with such transaction, whichever is the greater, except that such liability shall not exceed P2,000 on any credit transaction. Action to recover such penalty may be brought by such person within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation, in any court of competent jurisdiction. In any action under this subsection in which any person is entitled to a recovery, the creditor shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees and court costs as determined by the court.

(c) Any person who willfully violates any provision of this Act or any regulation issued thereunder shall be fined by not less than P1,000 or more than P5,000 or imprisonment for not less than 6 months, nor more than one year or both.”

Samakatuwid, maaari mong papanagutin ang nasabing lending company dahil sa hindi pagsasaad ng mga karagdagang finance charges sa inyong kontrata. Maaari mo ring bawiin ang anumang halaga na iyong naibayad na hindi nakasaad sa inyong kontrata.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang iyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa mga impormasyon na iyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng iyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.