Financial services are highly regulated. This means that Klarna and our merchants who advertise with us need to follow the laws and regulations that govern advertising financial products.
The following advertising guidelines provide a general overview of the requirements you need to follow. Remember that it is also your responsibility to learn and understand the laws governing the advertising of financial products. If you ever have any questions or are unsure, please reach out to your Klarna marketing contact or us.comarketing.support@klarna.com.
When advertising financial products, it is important that you make the right disclosures so that consumers can easily understand what is being advertised. You MUST include the disclosure. It MUST be easy for consumers to see. If you cannot put the disclosure directly next to the messaging, it must be on the same page using a reference text or reference symbol, or One click away using a hyperlink. Disclosures inform customers of actually available terms, they must be clear and conspicuous, they must be legible—no one should have to squint to read them: 8 pt. font size minimum is usually sufficient and contrast text with background color for full visibility.
If disclosures are separate from the messaging they modify, you need to connect the messaging and the disclosure together with one of the following:
Product Referenced | Example Advertising Messaging (list not exhaustive) | Required Disclosure |
---|---|---|
Pay in 4 | 4 interest-free payments of $X |
|
If you use social media influencers, bloggers, or other third parties to advertise Klarna and your business, there is more you need to know!
When social media influencers, bloggers, or other individuals receive any type of payment to endorse or otherwise mention a product (called an “endorsement”), they are required to disclose the existence of the relationship on the post where the endorsement was made. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a guide you can share with bloggers that explain in plain language when and where they need to make disclosures here. There is also more information available to social media influencers and bloggers here.
When social media influencers and bloggers endorse Klarna’s products, they are endorsing a financial product. Therefore, they need to do two things.
You should always have a Klarna educational page on your site. This page will educate your customers about Klarna’s products and make required disclaimers and disclosures. Your Klarna educational page can be automatically generated using Klarna’s On-Site Messaging tools, [ using these guidelines].
Emails with Klarna messaging must include disclosures as outlined in the disclosures section and on the legal disclosures table.
If you advertise using phone calls or text messages, then you are subject to Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and the requirements of carriers. These laws and rules require prior express written consent to send advertising via (a) calls to traditional home, business, or wireless phones or (b) texts to wireless numbers, among numerous other requirements. For example, you may not contact anyone on the national do not call registry.
The CASL and carrier requirements are complex, and violating them comes with the potential for lawsuits and fines. You should obtain the advice of your own lawyers before sending advertising via telephone or text.
Do not use the following terms:
If coupons/discounts/rewards are offered, they should be redeemable across all tender types, including Klarna. Avoid “no money down” deferral messages when advertising Klarna as a financing option. Depending on eligibility criteria, certain customers may be asked to make a down payment at checkout.
If you are ever in doubt, contact your Klarna marketing contact or us.comarketing.support@klarna.com.
In addition to what we have covered so far, your advertising must also follow all of the laws that apply to financial advertising and advertising generally. This section summarizes key laws and regulations.
Unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices can cause significant financial injury to consumers, erode consumer confidence, and undermine the financial marketplace. UDAAP was established to prevent consumer harm by misleading or deceitful actions. There are both federal and state UDAAP laws and regulations.
What you need to do.
What else you need to know.
Fair lending applies to the entire lifecycle of a loan, including advertisement of the credit product. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is a law that requires credit products, like those offered by Klarna, to be advertised fairly to everyone.
Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL) is the federal law dealing with spam and other electronic threats. It is meant to protect Canadians while ensuring that businesses can continue to compete in the global marketplace.