先買後付(BNPL)監理與法制之研究

Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Buy Now Pay Later

在全球新冠疫情爆發下，一般大眾日常消費模式發生改變，為降低傳染風險，除追求無接觸之消費方式，消費者亦更加審慎控制或調整手頭資金流出之規模及時間而傾向延後付款之支付方式，先買後付在此背景下蓬勃發展，消費者無須在購物時立即支付全額價金，其可選擇推遲價金給付或分期付款。先買後付通常具有短期零利率、使用上便利、無須嚴格信用審核之特色，然而其通常不受法規特別監理，因此所伴隨之隱憂受到各界所關注，例如交易資訊揭露、廣告與促銷、信用審核制度、消費爭議與申訴機制，以及消費者債務積累等。又在我國現行法下，先買後付並非特許業務而不受特別法規監理，諸多產業皆得承作，正因其不受特別監理，先買後付僅得適用一般性法規或以私法契約解釋及處理當事人法律關係，且業者與主管機關對於先買後付在法律上定位呈現意見分歧之局面。
本文分析先買後付在我國現行法上面臨之問題，先買後付在法制監理上面臨相關法規適用上之分散與不足、公司資金貸與限制過苛之現象。又先買後付無疑是一種支付方式，然其內涵則不僅於此，釐清先買後付之內涵有其重要性，始得在法制監理中制定合宜之計。因此，本文研析先買後付之本質，認為先買後付屬於消費者信用產品，在此脈絡下借鏡外國立法例及政策，包含英國、美國、澳洲及新加坡，並檢視我國先買後付法制與監理上可資運用之手段。本文以為我國應制定一般性消費者信用法規，劃定消費者信用產品之監理範圍，並依產品之風險水平定其監理密度，是以，本文最後嘗試在此框架下對先買後付之法制建構及各項監理議題方向提出建議以為結論。本文自2023 年6 月完成至今，BNPL 監理與法制環境變化迅速，國內外相關立法與監理政策不斷更新，為不影響原論文之章節架構，本文乃於文末增加附錄章節以為補充。

The outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the general public’s daily consumption patterns. To reduce the risk of contagion, consumers have embraced contactless payment and have become more cautious in controlling their financial outflows, thereby favoring deferred payment methods. Accordingly, Buy Now Pay Later (hereinafter BNPL) has emerged. Consumers are not required to make immediate full payments at the time of purchase but can choose to delay payment or opt for installment payments while paying with BNPL. However, many potential risks associated with BNPL have caught the attention from different sectors.
Under the current legal framework in Taiwan, BNPL does not fall under any specialized business regulations and is open to various industries to engage in BNPL business. As a result, its legal treatment is subject to general laws or private contracts, leading to ambiguity and divergence of opinions among consumers, businesses, and regulatory authorities. BNPL is undoubtedly a payment instrument, but much more than just payment. It is important to understand BNPL, and appropriate regulatory and supervisory framework can be established.
This thesis examines the challenges faced by BNPL in our country’s current legal framework, focusing on the unsatisfying application of relevant regulations and laws. This thesis also analyzes the essence of BNPL, identifying it as a form of consumer credit product. Drawing insights from foreign legislative examples and policies, including those from the UK, US, Australia, and Singapore, this thesis explores potential approaches for the legal framework and supervision of BNPL in Taiwan. The paper argues that we should establish comprehensive consumer credit regulations and proposes recommendations for the legal construction of BNPL and various regulatory issues within this framework.