High Court Decision – Definition Of A Consumer

Introduction

On 15th December 2015, the Irish High Court (the "Court") handed down an important decision in the case of KBC Bank Ireland Plc v Osborne [2015] IEHC 795 in relation to the definition of a consumer in the context of the provision of a loan facility. This judgment provides useful clarity on the law in this area.

Background

The case related to an application by the KBC for summary judgment against the borrower for non-payment of loans that were granted by the bank in 2002 and 2004 to refinance existing debt and to allow for the development of a business park in Co. Wexford. In seeking to resist the application, the borrower argued that he was a consumer for the purposes of the Consumer Credit Act, 1995 (as amended) (the "Act") and that KBC had not complied with the relevant terms of the Act.

Decision of the Court

The judge dismissed the borrower's arguments and granted summary judgment in favour of KBC. The Court was of the view that the commercial nature of the lending between the parties and the fact that the loan documents clearly indicated that the facilities had been provided for commercial purposes meant that the Act did not apply. In addition, the borrower had also provided confirmation under a facility letter that he was "availing of the facility in connection with his business or profession ..... and accordingly, he is not borrowing as a consumer for the purposes of the Consumer Credit Act 1995".

In coming to his conclusion, Barrett J distinguished the recent decision in ACC Loan Management Ltd v Browne and Anor [2015] IEHC 722 (delivered on 10 November 2015) where Ms. Justice Baker found that from her reading of the Act:

"..a person is a consumer unless it can be shown that the person is acting inside the person's business.....the legislation is drafted such that in a sense the default position is that all natural persons are consumers unless it can be shown they [are not]".

Barrett J stated...