The legally extended deadline for corona-related credit deferrals expired on Sunday. Social Minister Anschober promises help.
Since April 2020, private households and small businesses have been able to repay their loans and defer. On Sunday, the legal regulation that made deferrals of loan repayments mandatory for borrowers expired, “Today” reported.
The scheme was intended to help borrowers who could no longer pay ongoing installments due to loss of income as a result of the pandemic. The banks had “broadly signaled that they wanted to be very accommodating with the loan repayments,” said the Ministry of Social Affairs. Consumer Protection Minister Rudolf Anschober (Greens) promised help.
“It is very much to be welcomed that the banks have also committed themselves to help in these economic times, which are still difficult for many people. This procedure is the same as that in Germany. I will watch very closely whether the regulation is in practice works. If not, we will consider other, legal measures. Should there still be problems in individual cases, consumers are welcome to contact the consumer protection ministry ”, announced Anschober in a broadcast.
Loan customers who are now resuming their loan payments after the statutory deferral has expired and for whom a higher rate is prescribed by their bank because interest was charged for the period from April 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021, is recommended “the higher rate for the time being to be paid under reserve “.
According to the information, the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) is currently conducting several representative action proceedings against domestic banks on behalf of the Ministry of Consumer Protection in order to clarify the controversial question of whether they can charge their customers additional interest for the statutory deferral.
