The Chamber of Deputies approves the suspension of negative registration. The measure will be valid for a period of 90 days. The measure will still be evaluated by the Senate.
On Thursday (9), the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that guarantees a 90-day suspension of the inclusion of new registrants in credit protection services such as Serasa and SPC. The so-called negative registry. The measure will now be analyzed by the Federal Senate.
The text is yet another measure to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and will be valid retroactively, starting March 20 of this year. The PL authorizes the National Consumer Secretariat (Senacon) of the Ministry of Justice to extend the suspension of new registrations in debtor registries while the public health emergency situation lasts.
According to Julian Lemos, the bill's rapporteur, the measure aims to guarantee access to credit for people who were harmed by the rules established during the pandemic. According to the bill, in cases where fines are charged for non-compliance with the rules, the money must be used to combat COVID-19.
Against the project
Deputy Marcel Van Hattem, who spoke out against the proposal, stated that interest rates would increase, not only for all citizens but also for companies, which would be penalized for defaulters.
“Many want this bill to be approved under the false illusion that it will make it easier to access credit, but the reality is completely different. If it is indeed easier to access credit with the approval of this law, this credit will also be much more expensive. Interest rates will skyrocket. And we will therefore have much more difficulty in seeing the poorest citizens, who need this credit the most, recover after this period of crisis and pandemic,” he explained.
The rapporteur of the proposal responded to the criticism and stated that sensitivity is needed in this period of calamity. According to Lemos, the Brazilian economy “is paralyzed, suffering countless losses due to the restriction of movement of people through isolation and quarantines”.
“Some people have talked about raising interest rates. That has nothing to do with it. The issue is to ensure that good payers do not become bad payers. And that those who are in a difficult situation have access to credit to meet their commitments, including with payroll and suppliers,” he pointed out.