Dec. 31, 2019, midnight

Financing is a credit means that enables the customer to borrow a certain amount of money in order to achieve his financial goals, and then he is obliged to pay the amount of the financing amount plus the costs related to it on the number of periodic installments for a specified period of time, according to the agreed financing contract. The customer may falter in paying the installments as a result of a sudden change in his financial position or mismanagement of the utilization of the financing and the failure to allocate a portion of the income to pay the installments.

When does a person get stuck?
A person becomes falter if he loses his ability to abide by his financial affairs due to the licensed financing bodies who in turn update the credit report of their clients to the licensed credit information companies in the Kingdom, such as the Saudi Credit Information Company “SIMAH”. This report contains information and data related to credit products obtained by the customer, including credit products that have been defaulted for 5 years.

Penalty for defaulting on loans
The default penalty for loan repayment varies according to the client’s conditions as well as according to the terms and conditions mentioned in the terms of the financing contract, among which:

Difficulty obtaining other financing in the near future.
Freezing bank accounts and reserving customer balances in accordance with the decisions of the concerned authorities in this regard.
The property may be seized if the financing is subject to a guarantee in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.
Legal accountability and prosecution by creditors.

4 steps to help you avoid defaulting 
*Limiting borrowing to necessary and important matters and not borrowing more than needed.
*Organizing financial matters and ensuring that the monthly income is sufficient to cover the monthly expenses in addition to loan installments.
*Ensure that there is sufficient balance in the account before the installments are due.
*Immediately notify the bank in the event of changing financial conditions, such as changing salary, employment, or any developments that affect the fulfillment of the financial obligations owed.

[6 things that help you pay off debts]
The role of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
The Corporation stressed the need for the funding agencies to take into account the troubled client’s conditions when any judicial decision is issued in their favor in the event that the customer provides the necessary guarantees. These entities are obligated to provide the option to reschedule the debt with the possibility to change the cost of the term without any additional fees.

The Corporation also obligated banks and finance companies not to deduct any amount from the customer’s account without a judicial ruling to that effect, but the financing authorities have the right to take regular measures against defaulting clients, including resorting to the competent judicial authorities, according to the decisions issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency , Provided that the clients are notified before taking any action against the customer in case he fails to pay for more than three consecutive months or five separate months during the financing period, provided that the last attempt to contact the customer through the national address.

Source: SAMA website