A new decree, published on February 20, 2026, will significantly tighten regulations on consumer credit in France starting November 20, 2026, in response to a nearly 10% surge in over-indebtedness cases last year, reaching 148,013 dossiers. This directive, transposing a European Union mandate, aims to increase transparency and borrower protection, particularly for mini-credits and installment payments, which have been identified as contributing factors to rising debt. Lenders will face more stringent obligations regarding information disclosure and solvency analysis, including consulting the national credit repayment incident file (FICP). While existing indefinite-term credits will see some automatic rule adjustments, new credit agreements signed after the effective date must fully comply with the enhanced framework.