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Member States' data provided by the Commission should be checked for accuracy and avoid any potential misinformation, as dictated.

Incorrect information at Schufa can lead to significant repercussions. Consumers can now take action themselves due to a recent reform.

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Commission sought to elaborate on steps implemented for verifying Member States' data accuracy and...
Commission sought to elaborate on steps implemented for verifying Member States' data accuracy and avoiding misleading information presentation.

Member States' data provided by the Commission should be checked for accuracy and avoid any potential misinformation, as dictated.

The Schufa, the sole credit agency in Germany, provides a crucial service in determining an individual's creditworthiness. This assessment is based on a Schufa Score, which is categorised into different risk levels.

Satisfactory Credit Chances

If your Schufa Score falls between 95 percent and 90 percent, you are considered to have satisfactory credit chances. This range is further divided into three subcategories:

  • 95 percent to 97.5 percent: This indicates a low to manageable risk, with a very low risk at 97.5 percent and above.

Sufficient Credit Chances

A Schufa Score between 90 percent and 80 percent signifies sufficient credit chances, although it is significantly increased to a high risk.

Insufficient Credit Chances

A score between 80 percent and 50 percent indicates insufficient credit chances, which is considered a very high risk. If your score falls below 50 percent, your credit chances are deemed inadequate, representing a critical risk.

In case of incorrect information stored by the Schufa, individuals are advised to contact both the Schufa and the creditors who reported false information simultaneously. The Schufa promises to correct or delete incorrect information as soon as possible if there are reasonable doubts about its accuracy.

Since September 2023, the position of Schufa Ombudswoman has been held by Dr. Sibylle Kessal-Wulf. Unlike many other mediation bodies, the Schufa Ombudswoman can make binding decisions, and the Schufa is obliged to follow her instructions for data deletion or correction.

If the Schufa fails to respond, affected individuals can contact the Schufa Ombudswoman, a free and independent mediation procedure. It is recommended that consumers use this path before resorting to an expensive court procedure.

From 2014 to 2023, the previous Ombudsman, Hans-Jürgen Papier, processed around 10,000 consumer complaints and ordered corrections in about 300 cases.

Consumers also have the right to a free Schufa data copy according to Article 15 of the GDPR.

Since September 2023, the former Federal Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries has been heading the Ombudsman office.

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