Retailers to Check Your Ability to Pay in Installments from 2027
New consumer credit law introduces creditworthiness assessments for installment sales offered directly by retailers, and a free debt counseling service launches in January.
New consumer credit law introduces creditworthiness assessments for installment sales offered directly by retailers, and a free debt counseling service launches in January.
Buying a mobile phone, TV, furniture, or a vacation on installment payments will no longer be possible without a creditworthiness check starting next year. The new Consumer Credit Act changes the rules for all retailers who, without the intermediation of a bank or credit cards, offer citizens the option of installment payments, HRT reported on August 12, 2026.
The law takes effect on November 20, 2026, and the obligation to assess creditworthiness will apply from June 1, 2027. The assessment criteria will be set by the Croatian National Bank (CNB).
Ana Zorić, authorized to perform the duties of the Director of the Directorate for Economy and Financial System at the Ministry of Finance, explained how the change will work in practice.
"These are situations where you buy a mobile phone on installments, for example, and you have a contract for services with a telecom operator. If that operator also offers you the phone on installments, they become a creditor under the new law. That operator will have to check whether you can actually afford to pay those installments, and they will do this by looking at your income, introducing this element of creditworthiness assessment," said Zorić.
All Croatian network operators-HT, A1, and Telemach-state that they will comply with the law and strive to make the process as easy as possible for customers. Telemach expressed understanding for the goal of protecting users in a statement but also warned of the need for proportionate application.
"We understand that user protection is the primary goal, but at the same time, we believe that installment sales of devices, given the smaller amounts involved, are not entirely comparable to traditional credit products. It is important to ensure a proportionate application of the new requirements without placing an excessive burden on users," the Telemach statement reads.
The Ministry of Finance emphasizes that the checks will not be as rigorous as those for buying an apartment, but retailers offering goods on installments will need to obtain a license from the CNB as lenders.
The law aims to protect citizens from over-indebtedness. HRT data shows that one in five people with blocked accounts in Croatia is blocked due to unpaid bills to telecommunications companies.
To further protect citizens, the law also introduces free debt counseling, which will begin operations on January 1, 2027. The financial agency Fina will play a key role.
"The goal of the counseling service is to lend a hand and help our citizens who are in financial difficulty or expected to fall into it. In our branches, they will be able to receive independent and free professional debt counseling, which includes not only financial analyses and help with structuring repayment plans but also concrete technical, legal, and even psychological assistance," said Vinka Ilak, a member of Fina's Management Board.
Ilak said that Fina will also act as an intermediary between debtors and creditors to agree on a realistic solution for repaying debt. This will apply not only to consumer loans but also to all financial obligations of individuals, with the aim of reducing excessive borrowing and improving the standard of living.
