Sodna praksa

  • Podatki o zadevi
    • Nacionalna ID: High Court, Judgement I Cp 1037/2019
    • Država članica: Slovenija
    • Splošno ime:N/A
    • Vrsta odločbe: Sodna odločba v pritožbenem postopku
    • Datum odločbe: 13/05/2020
    • Sodišče: Višje sodišče v Ljubljani
    • Zadeva:
    • Tožnik:
    • Toženec:
    • Ključne besede: Unfair terms, good faith, average consumer, Consumer credit, Consumer protection
  • Členi direktive
    Unfair Contract Terms Directive, Article 4, 2.
  • Uvodna opomba

    ECLI:SI:VSLJ:2020:I.CP.1037.2019

    A statement on the assumption of currency risk in the credit agreement is not sufficient, but it is essential in order to assess whether this risk has been fully explained to borrowers in accordance with the requirement of professional diligence. In this case, the statement was not abstract as it is clear from it that a change in the exchange rate in the CHF / EUR ratio may adversely affect the appellant’s ability to repay the loan and that the claimant assumes this risk. Therefore, the statement had to be based on the bank’s prior explanation to the borrower (appellant) of the significance of the risk taken. The obligation to inform was fulfilled correctly, as it is not to say that there is only one way to fulfill this obligation (such as simulations of the exchange rate fluctuations). Keeping this in mind, the appellant as a consumer that is averagely diligent, was given a warning and considering basic logic and fundamental mathematical operations that she is expected to know, she would have easily been able to calculate the consequences on her finances of a minor or big change in the exchange rate.

    Relevance: The case demonstrates that it is not enough to merely include a statement on the assumption of currency risk. The risk has to be fully explained to the borrowers.

  • Dejstva
    The appellant concluded a consumer mortgage credit agreement in 2008, which was in a foreign currency (CHF). In the following years there was a significant increase in the value of CHF against the value of the EUR which resulted in an increase of the consumers credit encumbrance, because now, to pay the monthly annuity in CHF, she had to spend more EUR than before. The appellant’s obligations under this contract were secured by a mortgage on her real estate. The appellant claimed that the bank did not fulfill its obligation to inform as it did not present a simulation of the consequences of exchange rate changes.
  • Pravna zadeva
    Is the main subject matter unfair due to unclear contractual terms (regarding paragraph 2 of article 4 of the 93/13 Directive), caused by the bank not fulfilling its obligation to inform?
  • Odločba

    Based on the evidence (credit agreement and witnesses), the Court of First Instance asserted that the bank correctly fulfilled its obligation to inform and that the contractual terms were not unfair. Even though the bank did not specifically present a simulation of the consequences of the fluctuation of the exchange rate, there are more ways than one to fulfill the obligation to inform. The credit agreement stipulates that by signing the agreement, the appellant (borrower) explicitly confirms that she is aware of the risk arising from any possible change in the exchange rate of CHF to EUR, that this may affect her ability to repay that credit and that she bears that risk in full. Moreover, the witness which participated on behalf of the bank in concluding the agreement stated that he pointed out that there was an exchange rate risk, which meant that the monthly annuity and the loan principal would be higher if the CHF strengthened against the EUR. This means that the consumer was aware of the risk, that the bank correctly fulfilled its obligation to inform, and the contractual terms were clear and understandable.

    Celotno besedilo: Celotno besedilo

  • Povezane zadeve

    Zadetki niso na voljo

  • Pravna literatura

    Zadetki niso na voljo

  • Zadetek
    The Appellate Court upheld the decision of the First Instance Court and thereby dismissed the appeal. There are only extraordinary legal remedies left.