| 英文摘要 |
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer behavior has shifted from physical to online environments, leading to a surge in e-commerce and new payment methods. This shift has not only altered consumption habits but also placed financial strain on many consumers, increasing the demand for deferred and installment payments to manage limited funds effectively. While credit cards have traditionally been the primary tool for deferred payments, stringent credit assessments have often excluded those with insufficient income or assets. The emergence of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services has offered financially disadvantaged consumers greater access to credit, but also presents potential risks. As BNPL services develop and come under regulatory scrutiny worldwide, Taiwan should establish a regulatory framework for general consumer credit grounded in the principles of financial consumer protection supervision, and then authorize the competent authority to issue orders that set differentiated regulatory requirements based on risk levels. |
