On August 25, 2015, the Paraguayan Executive Branch officially enacted Law No. 5476/15 “Establishing Rules for Transparency and User Defense in the Use of Credit and Debit Cards” (the “Law”), thus regulating several consumer defense and transparency issues in relation to credit cards. Its scope of application extends to cardholders, issuers, processors, financial institutions and intermediary entities.

Among other things, the Law regulates the following:

• Obligations of financial institutions to provide accurate, understandable and visible information.
• Notice periods for implementing changes in the scope of services provided.
• Mandatory clauses in credit card contracts, as well as prohibited clauses.
• No waiver of consumer rights.
• Regulation of the limits established for commission payments and interest rates.
• Credit card cancellation procedures for consumers.
• Additional services provided to card users and their acceptance.
• Contracting of insurance costs and protection against fraud in relation to the consumer.
• Penalties for non-compliance with the Law.

The Act will become effective on September 25, 2015, 30 days after its publication as provided therein.