CMA: Store Card Order Revocation 2026 Ends Key Consumer Protections

• The Competition and Markets Authority revoked the Store Card Market Investigation Order on November 4, 2026.
• This order previously mandated specific transparency requirements for store card providers, including an APR warning for rates over 25%.
• It also enforced a ban on tying payment protection insurance to store card credit.
• The original order was established under the market investigations provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002.
• The revocation means these specific regulatory obligations are no longer legally in force.

The CMA Store Card Order revocation 2026 carries substantial implications for entities involved in offering store cards.

On November 4, 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally concluded its review of the Store Card Market Investigation Order, announcing its complete revocation. This significant decision means the order, along with its 2011 variation, is no longer legally binding. The CMA's action effectively removes these specific regulatory requirements from the landscape governing store card providers.

This revocation signifies that the previously mandated obligations, which had been in effect for years, have ceased to apply. The order has been officially struck from the register of remedies that are currently in force, marking a definitive end to its regulatory oversight in the store card sector. The CMA Store Card Order revocation 2026 represents a notable shift in the regulatory environment for financial products tied to retail.

The original Store Card Market Investigation Order was a direct outcome of an extensive inquiry into store card credit services conducted by the Competition Commission (CC). This foundational regulation was established under the market investigations provisions outlined in the Enterprise Act 2002 store cards, granting it substantial legal authority to shape industry practices. Its primary goal was to enhance transparency and consumer protection within the store card market.

Among its key stipulations, the order compelled store card providers to furnish customers with clear and specific information on their statements. A particularly impactful provision was the store card APR warning order, which mandated that any annual percentage rate (APR) of 25% or higher had to be prominently displayed on customer statements. Furthermore, the order included a crucial measure that enacted a store card PPI ban revoked, prohibiting the practice of bundling payment protection insurance with store card credit, thereby preventing consumers from being tied into potentially unwanted products.

Before its ultimate revocation, the Store Card Market Investigation Order underwent a significant amendment. On February 10, 2018, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) introduced a variation to the 2011 version of the order. This adjustment followed a comprehensive formal review process of the existing remedy, indicating an ongoing assessment of its effectiveness and relevance within the evolving financial services market.

The 2018 variation demonstrated the regulatory body's commitment to periodically re-evaluating the measures in place to ensure they remained appropriate and proportionate. This iterative process of review and amendment ultimately culminated in the CMA's final decision to revoke the entire order in 2026, signaling a complete overhaul of the regulatory framework that had governed store card operations for over a decade.

The CMA Store Card Order revocation 2026 carries substantial implications for entities involved in offering store cards. With the order no longer in effect, the specific requirements it imposed, such as the mandatory display of an APR warning on statements for rates exceeding 25%, are no longer legally enforceable under this particular regulation. Similarly, the prohibition against tying payment protection insurance to store card credit, a measure previously known as the store card PPI ban revoked, has also been lifted as a direct consequence of the order's termination.

This change means that while other consumer protection laws may still apply, the distinct obligations stemming from the Store Card Market Investigation Order are now defunct. Financial institutions and retailers that issue store cards will need to reassess their compliance frameworks, as the specific mandates regarding transparency and product bundling, which were once central to the order, are no longer directly imposed by this regulatory instrument. The removal of these requirements could lead to adjustments in how store card products are marketed and managed.

Lawyers advising financial institutions or retailers offering store cards should note that the specific regulatory obligations imposed by the Store Card Market Investigation Order, such as APR warnings and the PPI tying ban, are no longer legally mandated following its revocation by the CMA. This may necessitate a review of existing compliance frameworks.

Source: Original reporting via GOV.UK guidance