Christchurch lender sentenced for unregistered consumer lending

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15 October 2026

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Media Release
MR No. 2026 – 46

Christchurch lender 4J Enterprise Limited that mainly served members of the city’s Filipino community has been fined $15,000 for providing consumer credit without being registered on the Financial Service Providers Register. The prosecution was concluded by the Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko (FMA).

In the Christchurch District Court, Judge Elkin also sentenced 4J Enterprise Limited (4J) director Mrs Hope Suan to 140 hours of community work, and senior manager Mr Juvy Suan was sentenced to 150 hours of community work.

The lender offered loans of $500 to $15,000, with terms ranging from six months to two years. While 4J said it charged an annual interest rate of 33%, its records show some borrowers were charged up to 55.61%.

4J pleaded guilty on 5 June 2026 to a representative charge under section 11 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008. Mr and Mrs Suan pleaded guilty as parties to the company’s offending. FMA Executive Director Response and Enforcement, Louise Unger, said that lenders providing consumer credit must meet the applicable registration and licensing requirements.

“These requirements are there to help ensure lenders meet minimum standards and can be held accountable for complying with New Zealand’s consumer credit laws.

“If you need a licence and registration, have them in place before you lend. Despite 4J being told in May 2024 that it couldn’t lend without being registered, or being certified by the Commerce Commission, which was the requirement at the time, it carried on for another 18 months.”

During that period, it issued 46 new loans totalling $81,110 to 27 borrowers and collected about $65,000 in interest on 50 new and existing loans. It stopped collecting interest from November 2025.

The Commerce Commission investigated 4J and initially filed the charges. Under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Act 2026, the FMA assumed responsibility for the prosecution from 1 July 2026, when consumer credit regulation transferred to the FMA.

ENDS

About the FMA

The Financial Markets Authority – Te Mana Tātai Hokohoko (FMA) is the New Zealand government agency responsible for financial markets regulation. Our purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of fair, efficient and transparent financial markets. For more information visit fma.govt.nz.

Consumer credit providers must be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register for the service they provide and, where required, hold a consumer credit provider licence from the FMA. From 1 July 2026, an entity acting as a creditor under a consumer credit contract generally needs a consumer credit provider licence, noting prior to this lenders were required to be certified by the Commerce Commission.

Before borrowing, consumers should check that the lender is registered for the service “Creditor under a credit contract – Consumer credit contract” and is licensed by the FMA. More information is available at Before you borrow money.

Information for lenders, including licensing and compliance guidance, is available on the FMA’s Credit providers pages.

The maximum penalty for a breach of section 11 of the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 is 12 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $100,000, or both, for an individual, and a fine of up to $300,000 for a company.

Media enquiries: media@fma.govt.nz?subject=Media%20enquiry

Other enquiries: questions@fma.govt.nz?subject=Enquiry