La cláusula penal abusiva y el requisito de la desproporción de la pena

The central requirement on which depends whether or not a penalty clause is abusive (and the-refore whether or not it should be reduced) is analysed: its disproportion. To this end, it must be determined whether it is proportionate to the value of the compensable damage it replaces. Consequently, notwithstanding the provisions of the law, the creditor cannot disregard the damage if the term is contested by the debtor. Although in theory the creditor is also required to have taken unfair advantage of the debtor’s situation, this requirement is ignored in judicial practice, which highlights the centrality of the compensable damage in this matter.