Credit Bureau (Appeals) Regulations 2025

act as the channel of communication between a party and the Minister, the Appeal Advisory Panel or the Appeal Advisory Committee;

transmit information or documents in accordance with these Regulations;

upon receipt of any information or document sent in accordance with regulation 4(1), transmit the information or document as soon as practicable to the Minister (or the Minister’s legal representative) or the Appeal Advisory Committee, as the case may be; and

assist the Appeal Advisory Committee to fix the date, time and place of any meeting, case management conference or oral hearing of the Committee.

a chairperson; and

2 or more other members,as the Minister may appoint from the members of the Appeal Advisory Panel.

the member’s holding of any office;

the member’s interest in any contract;

the member’s possession or ownership of any property; or

any direct or indirect relationship to the appellant.

notify the Authority and the appellant that the appeal has been referred by the Minister to the Committee; and

forward a copy of the notice of appeal to the Committee.

file with the Appeals Secretary the Authority’s reasons; and

cause a copy of the Authority’s reasons to be served on the appellant.

where the Appeal Advisory Committee has been constituted at the time of the application — the Committee;

in all other cases — the Minister.

must state —

the name and address of the Authority;

the name and email address of each authorised officer of the Authority or each legal representative of the Authority, if any; and

an email address for the service of documents;

subject to paragraph (2), must contain —

a concise statement of the facts;

a summary of the grounds for the decision of the Authority;

the arguments of fact or law upon which the Authority will rely; and

the outcome sought by the Authority;

must be signed and dated by —

any authorised officer of the Authority, on the Authority’s behalf, if the details provided in sub‑paragraph (a)(ii) relate to one or more authorised officers of the Authority; or

any legal representative of the Authority, on the Authority’s behalf, if the details provided in sub‑paragraph (a)(ii) relate to one or more legal representatives of the Authority; and

subject to paragraph (2), must include a copy of all the documents supporting those arguments of fact or law and any other document mentioned in the matters stated in sub‑paragraph (b).

the Authority may, in the Authority’s reasons, omit the document, part of the document, or information for which confidential treatment has been requested; but(b)where the Authority considers it possible to summarise or redact the material in the document, part of the document or information, the Authority must —

in the Authority’s reasons, provide the non‑confidential version of the document, part of the document or information mentioned in regulation 22(3)(a); and

notify the Appeal Advisory Committee and the appellant that material in the document, part of the document or information has been summarised or redacted.

file with the Appeals Secretary a response; and

cause a copy of the response to be served on the Authority.

invite all the parties to the specified appeal proceedings and all of the other proceedings to make their submissions and, if the Committee deems necessary, invite all the parties to appear before and be heard by the Committee in relation to the consolidation; and

ensure that all the submissions of all the parties mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) are provided to the Appeal Advisory Committee of every one of the other proceedings.

the Appeal Advisory Committee for the specified appeal proceedings has conduct of the consolidated appeal proceedings, or the appeal proceedings in which the issues are to be heard, as the case may be (each called in this paragraph the combined proceedings);

the Appeal Advisory Committee for the specified appeal proceedings may give any directions under regulation 18 for the proper administration of the combined proceedings;

subject to any direction mentioned in sub‑paragraph (b), the time limit specified in these Regulations for the doing of anything by a party for the purposes of any of the appeal proceedings that have been consolidated continues to apply to the doing of that thing by that party for the purposes of the combined proceedings;

where any appeal proceedings are consolidated with the specified appeal proceedings, the Appeal Advisory Committee for the appeal proceedings that are consolidated with the specified appeal proceedings dissolves on the date of the order or decision; and

where any issues originally raised in any one or more appeal proceedings are to be heard together by the Appeal Advisory Committee for the specified appeal proceedings —

the Appeal Advisory Committee for the specified appeal proceedings must —

inform the Appeal Advisory Committee of every one of the other proceedings of its recommendations on the issues that are heard together; and

in its report to the Minister under regulation 31 for the specified appeal proceedings, state its recommendations on the issues that are heard together and on any other issues in the specified appeal proceedings; and

the Appeal Advisory Committee for each of the other proceedings —

is bound by the recommendations made by the Appeal Advisory Committee for the specified appeal proceedings on the issues that are heard together and must not consider or make any recommendations on those issues;

may proceed with the other proceedings either concurrently with or after the combined proceedings; and

must, in its report to the Minister under regulation 31 for the other proceedings —

on any time limits to be observed in the conduct of the appeal proceedings for the doing of anything (in addition to those mentioned in regulation 17(c) and (d));

that the parties file a reply, rejoinder or other additional submissions;

for the preparation and exchange of skeletal arguments;

for the filing by the appellant or the Authority of a core bundle or core bundles comprising a copy of every document on which the appellant or the Authority (as the case may be) relies, including the written statements of witnesses of fact and expert witnesses, if any;

requiring any person to attend an oral hearing and give evidence or to produce any document or material;

as to the evidence which may be required or admitted in appeal proceedings before the Committee and the extent to which it must be oral or written;

as to the submission of a list of witnesses, including expert witnesses, whom the parties intend to call;

as to the submission of witness statements or expert reports;

as to the examination or cross‑examination of witnesses;

as to the abridgement or extension of any time limit other than —

a time limit that applies to the Committee; or

a time limit that is specified by the Minister under these Regulations;

for the disclosure between, or the production by, the parties of documents or classes of documents;

for the inspection of any movable property in the possession or control of a party, whether by the Committee or another party;

for the appointment and instruction of experts, whether by the Committee or by the parties, and the manner in which expert evidence is to be given; and

for hearing a person who is not a party where, in any appeal proceedings, it is proposed to give a direction in relation to that person.

put questions to any party, witness or person mentioned in regulation 21, or any other person who appears before the Committee during an oral hearing in relation to an order under regulation 16;

invite the parties and any other person who appears before the Committee during an oral hearing in relation to an order under regulation 16 to make written or oral submissions on certain aspects of the appeal proceedings or to address an issue or question;

ask any party, witness or person mentioned in regulation 21, or any other person who appears before the Committee for an oral hearing in relation to an order under regulation 16, for information or particulars;

ask for any document relating to the appeal to be produced; and

summon the parties or their representatives to case management conferences.

made in writing and sent by the party to the Appeals Secretary as soon as practicable;

copied by that party to the other party, as soon as practicable;

forwarded by the Appeals Secretary to the Appeal Advisory Committee as soon as practicable upon receipt of the request; and

served by the Appeals Secretary, in any manner that the Appeals Secretary may generally or specifically determine, on any other person who may be affected by such directions, as determined by the Appeal Advisory Committee after taking into account the submissions (if any) of the parties.

to ensure the efficient conduct of the appeal proceedings;

to determine the points on which the parties have to present further arguments or which call for further evidence to be produced;

to clarify the terms of the orders sought by the parties, their arguments of fact and law and the points at issue between them; or

to ensure that all agreements reached between the parties about the points at issue and the conduct of the appeal proceedings are recorded.

by meeting at a physical place;

by meeting at a physical place and using virtual meeting technology;

by meeting using virtual meeting technology only; or

in an asynchronous manner by exchange of written correspondence with the parties.

before giving any direction on any matter, give each party an opportunity to address the Committee on the intended direction; and

before giving any direction that affects a party’s rights or interests, give that party an opportunity to address the Committee and respond to any submission made by the other party on the intended direction.

is not bound by the provisions of the Evidence Act 1893 or by any other written law relating to evidence; and

may give directions as to —

the issues on which it requires evidence;

the nature of the evidence which it requires to decide those issues; and

the manner in which the evidence is to be placed before the Committee.

whether oral or documentary;

whether admissible or inadmissible under any written law for the time being in force relating to the admissibility of evidence; and

whether or not the evidence was available when the contested decision of the Authority was made.

a party may request any witness to give oral evidence or to produce any document or material; and

a party (or his, her or its authorised representative, legal representative or authorised officer) may interview any witness or potential witness, prior to calling that person to give evidence or to produce any document or material, at any oral hearing of an appeal.

all or any of the witnesses proposed by any party; and

any other person,to give evidence before the Committee or to produce any document or material.

be made in writing by the Authority and sent to the Appeals Secretary;

where the request relates to part of a document, state the relevant words, figures or passages for which confidentiality is claimed;

contain the reasons for the request for withholding the document or information from the appellant and, where the request relates to part of a document, the reasons specific to each such part; and

where the request relates to a document or information that must be filed or submitted by a certain time under these Regulations, be made before the time limit for filing or submitting that document or information expires.

if the Authority considers it possible to summarise or redact the material in the document, part of the document or information, file with the Appeal Advisory Committee a non‑confidential version of the document, part of the document or information in a form that can be given to the appellant; and

if the Authority does not consider it possible to provide a non‑confidential version of the document, part of the document or information in a form that can be given to the appellant, file with the Appeal Advisory Committee a statement setting out the reasons why it is not possible to summarise or redact the material in the document, part of the document or information.

refuse to grant any confidential treatment of the document, part of the document or information; or

grant the confidential treatment requested on any terms and conditions that the Minister thinks fit (including changes to the summary or redacting of material in any non‑confidential version under paragraph (3)), if (and only if) the Minister is satisfied that the document, part of the document or information contains or is, in the Minister’s opinion —

information the disclosure of which would be contrary to the public interest, including (to avoid doubt) information the disclosure of which would be prejudicial to the national security of Singapore;

commercial information the disclosure of which would or may significantly harm the legitimate business interests of the undertaking to which it relates; or

information relating to the private affairs of an individual the disclosure of which would or may significantly harm the interests of that individual.

refused to grant any confidential treatment of the document, part of the document or information;

granted confidential treatment of the whole of the document, part of the document or information; or

granted confidential treatment of the document, part of the document or information, subject to the Authority providing a non‑confidential version of the document, part of the document or information to the appellant,but the Authority is not required to provide the appellant with a copy of the decision, the Minister’s reasons for the decision, and any details as to what is to be or has been summarised or redacted.

in the case where the document, part of the document or information is a document or information mentioned in regulation 13(1)(b) or (d) and the Minister makes his or her decision at least one business day before the last day of the period within which the Authority must file the Authority’s reasons under these Regulations, include a copy of the document, part of the document or information in the Authority’s reasons; and

in all other cases, serve a copy of the document, part of the document or information on the appellant as soon as practicable after the Authority is notified of the Minister’s decision.

in the case where the document, part of the document or information is a document or information mentioned in regulation 13(1)(b) or (d) and the Minister makes his or her decision at least one business day before the last day of the period within which the Authority must file the Authority’s reasons under these Regulations —

include the non-confidential version in the Authority’s reasons; and

notify the appellant at the time the non‑confidential version is served, that material in the document, part of the document or information has been summarised or redacted; and

in all other cases —

serve the non-confidential version on the appellant as soon as practicable after the Authority is notified of the Minister’s decision (unless the Authority has previously served the non‑confidential version on the appellant); and

notify the appellant at the time the non‑confidential version is served, that material in the document, part of the document or information has been summarised or redacted (unless the Authority has previously so notified the appellant).

make the necessary changes or redactions;

in the case where the document, part of the document or information is a document or information mentioned in regulation 13(1)(b) or (d) and the Minister makes his or her decision at least one business day before the last day of the period within which the Authority must file the Authority’s reasons under these Regulations —

include the revised non‑confidential version in the Authority’s reasons; and

notify the appellant at the time the revised non‑confidential version is served, that material in the document, part of the document or information has been summarised or redacted; and

in all other cases —

serve the revised non‑confidential version on the appellant as soon as practicable after the Authority is notified of the Minister’s decision; and

notify the appellant at the time the revised non‑confidential version is served, that material in the document, part of the document or information has been summarised or redacted.

rely on any document or part thereof or any information for which confidential treatment has been requested under regulation 22, for the purposes of making a recommendation for the purposes of that regulation; and

rely on any document or part thereof or any information in respect of which confidential treatment has been granted under regulation 22, for the purposes of making a recommendation for the purposes of regulation 31.

rely on any document or part thereof or any information for which confidential treatment has been requested under regulation 22, for the purposes of making a decision under regulation 22(8); and

rely on any document or part thereof or any information in respect of which confidential treatment has been granted under regulation 22, for the purposes of deciding the appeal.

the Committee must ensure that the first day of the oral hearing is held within the period of 42 days after the appellant files and serves the appellant’s response under these Regulations;

the Committee must give the Authority and the appellant a reasonable opportunity to appear before, and be heard by, the Committee; and

regulations 26, 27 and 28 apply.

the Committee must give the Authority and the appellant a reasonable opportunity to make submissions on the written or documentary evidence;

the Committee must direct the Authority and the appellant to file and exchange their respective submissions mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) on a date no later than 42 days after the appellant files and serves the appellant’s response under these Regulations; and

regulation 29 applies.

where a party fails, in accordance with any direction of the Committee, to notify the Committee and the other party of a witness that the firstmentioned party proposes to call upon to give evidence before the Committee, the firstmentioned party must not call that witness; and

an expert or witness of fact must not be heard unless the relevant expert report or witness statement has been submitted before the oral hearing of an appeal and in accordance with any direction of the Committee.

within any period that the Minister directs; or

in the absence of such direction, as soon as practicable after —

the Authority and the appellant file the summary of arguments mentioned in regulation 28; or

where the Committee directs the parties to file and exchange any closing or additional submissions on a date which is after the date the Authority and the appellant file the summary of arguments mentioned in regulation 28, the date of filing and exchange of those submissions (or, where there is more than such one direction, the latest of those dates).

within any period that the Minister directs; or

in the absence of such direction, as soon as practicable after the Authority and the appellant have filed and exchanged all submissions mentioned in regulation 25(4)(a) and (5).

state the recommendations of the Appeal Advisory Committee on the issues in the appeal, and the grounds upon which the Committee relied in making any recommendation; and

be accompanied by the summaries, prepared by the Authority and the appellant in compliance with a direction under regulation 28 or 29 (as the case may be) of the respective arguments raised in the appeal.

place any weight on the evidence given or document or material produced by any person as the Committee thinks fit;

disregard such evidence, documents or material or any part thereof;

exclude such evidence, documents or material or any part thereof altogether; or

draw any inference as it thinks fit in respect of such evidence, documents or material, including the failure to give evidence or produce documents or material.

the Minister (or the Minister’s legal representative);

the Appeals Secretary;

a member of the Appeal Advisory Committee;

the Authority (or any of the Authority’s authorised officers or legal representatives); or

the appellant (or any of the appellant’s authorised representatives or legal representatives).

the disclosure of the Minister’s decision in an appeal, or any part thereof; and

the disclosure of any information, document or evidence, or any part thereof —

by the person who tendered or produced such information or document; or

which is in the public domain.

where the appellant is an individual, by leaving it at the address for service stated in the appellant’s notice of appeal;

where the appellant is a partnership or a body corporate, by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the address for service stated in the appellant’s notice of appeal; or

where the appellant has stated an email address for service of documents in the appellant’s notice of appeal, by sending it by email to that email address.

must, if the Committee considers that any person may have been prejudiced by the irregularity, give directions to cure or waive the irregularity before submitting its report to the Minister under regulation 31; and

may, in any other case, give directions to cure or waive the irregularity before submitting its report to the Minister under regulation 31.

clerical mistakes in any document recording a direction or any appeal proceedings under these Regulations;

errors arising in such a document from an accidental slip or omission.