
Buy Now Pay Later came under FCA regulation on 15 July 2026. A month on, the picture is clearer than it was, and in three places it is different from what the pre-launch coverage suggested. Section 75 protection is confirmed rather than hedged. Ombudsman access depends on when you took the agreement out, not when…

The UK is bringing buy now pay later into regulated credit on 15 July 2026 with FOS rights, affordability checks and Section 75-equivalent protections. The US went the other way, with the CFPB withdrawing its BNPL Interpretive Rule in May 2025 and state-level patching now filling the federal vacuum. We map the divergence.

From 15 July 2026, BNPL providers in the UK have to follow FCA consumer credit rules, including affordability checks, clear pre-contract information, FOS access for complaints, and fair treatment in financial difficulty. What changes for Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal Pay in 3, and other BNPL users.
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