ABSTRACT OF “TRUTH IN LENDING ACT” (Republic Act No. 3765)
(Appendix to Sec. 306)
Sec. 1. This Act shall be known as the “Truth in Lending Act.”
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to protect its citizens from a lack of awareness of the true cost of credit to the user by assuring a full disclosure of such cost with a view of preventing the uninformed use of credit to the detriment of the national economy.
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Sec. 3. As used in this Act, the term
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(3) “Finance charge” includes interest, fees, service charges, discounts, and such other charges incident to the extension of credit as the Board may by regulation prescribe.
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Sec. 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 stating 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 charge bears to the total amount to be financed expressed as a simple annual rate on the outstanding unpaid balance of the obligation.
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Sec. 5.
(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 charge required by such creditor in connection with such transaction, whichever is greater, except that such liability shall not exceed P2,000 on any credit transaction.
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(b) Any person who willfully violates any provision of this Act or any regulation issued thereunder shall be fined by not less than P1,000 nor more than P5,000 or imprisonment for not less than 6 months, nor more than one year or both.
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(c) Any final judgment hereafter rendered in any criminal proceeding under this Act to the effect that a defendant has wilfully violated this Act shall be prima facie evidence against such defendant in an action or proceeding brought by any other party against such defendant under this Act as to all matters respecting which said judgment would be an estoppel as between the parties thereto.
Sec. 6. This Act shall become effective upon approval.
Approved, 22 June 1963.