The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) is a consumer protection law enacted in 1968 in response to exceedlingy predatory loan practices. Prior to the TILA, lenders would use a variety of terminology and forms of lending that manipulated uninformed borrowers. The TILA changed this by requiring a uniform system of disclosures and terminology to be used for lending like credit cards or mortgages. Creditors were required to disclose details like the annual percentage rate and repayments details in a clear way to borrowers or else the borrower may be able to rescind the debt. TILA also limits the amount of late fees creditors can charge. Overall, the TILA since its signing has been updated to respond to changing lending practices to ensure borrowers clearly understand the terms and conditions they agree to.
[Last updated in August of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]