2010 (PDF, 1.1 MB) - Schufa

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18 Institution reports The Consumer Advisory Board In 2008 SCHUFA set up an independent advisory committee to serve as a neutral and public authority to discuss topics that are important for consumers. SCHUFA is the only credit bureau in Germany that is supervised by an independent consumer advisory board. To create a concrete exchange of views on consumer-related issues, SCHUFA held intensive discussions with the independent panel in 2010. As SCHUFA has developed a significant mediating role between the banking industry and the public during its more than 80 years of existence, members of the interdisciplinary committee come from various institutions, associations, companies and social institutions. The board also communicates with the independent SCHUFA ombudsman and submits its activity report once a year. Topics The opinions of the independent, expert advisory board members are of central importance to SCHUFA so that they can continually improve consumer service and dialogue. As part of its advisory work on consumer related issues, in 2010 the Advisory Board dealt with the requirements of financial management in households, the communication on credit scoring and the impact of the revision of the Federal Data Protection Act. Another focal point in 2010 was the result of discussions initiated by the Consumer Advisory Board’s 2009 study about life as a bankrupt consumer. As part of an empirical investigation, 762 people provided their experiences about the consumer bankruptcy process. As an experienced professional partner, the sociologist Dr Götz Lechner headed up the study in cooperation with the Institute of Sociology at the Chemnitz University of Technology. ‘Finally someone who cares about us.’ That was the most frequent message received from the individuals who participated in the unique study on life as a bankrupt consumer which was conducted in Germany. While the discussion is usually about persons ‘affected’ or ‘persons involved in the consumer bankruptcy process’, the investigation differentiates between three types of over-indebted people: about half of them are ‘victims of modern, biographical risks’, who have only ended up in this situation through everyday risks such as unemployment, failed self-em- ‘The public demands transparency, factual consumer information as well as a quick and professional response to customer requests. The more important the company and its products for the public’s everyday consumption, the stronger the demand for this requirement of openness. Without a positive SCHUFA credit report, it is no longer possible to complete a property lease in many cities, shipping companies will not provide goods and borrowing is difficult - or at the very least expensive. As an independent body, the SCHUFA Consumer Advisory Board observes and supervises SCHUFA’s work and ensures that the interests of consumers are always taken into account.’ Prof Dr Lucia A. Reisch (Copenhagen Business School, consumer behaviour and consumer policy, a member of the German Council for Sustainable Development)
ployment or the breakup of a relationship/marriage, prompt- ing the start of insolvency proceedings. They have the best chances of successfully creating a new start merely by starting the proceedings. ‘Insolvent persons with orientation problems’ (42 per cent), however, need a little more time and help to save them from recent financial disasters and pave the way back into mainstream society. The third group (eight per cent) are ‘insolvent persons with ongoing need for advice’. According to the study, consumer bankruptcy leads to fundamental changes in behaviour in the vast majority of respondents: dealing with money becomes more planned and future-oriented, and more than a quarter of people in consumer bankruptcy follow a household budget plan. The research also shows that the affected persons’ dependency on transfer payments declines during the good conduct period. The active effort to find work, which is required by the insolvency regulations, seems to be effective with around half of those affected. The results of the study were presented in April 2010 at the request of the Ministry of Justice and the Parliamentary State Secretary, Dr Max Stadler. With SCHUFA’s support, Advisory Board member Prof Dr Hans-W. Micklitz also organised a conference at the European University Institute entitled ‘Private insolvencies in Europe: Different opportunities for creditors and debtors’. The results of the study were presented to representatives from politics, academia, business and credit agencies from various European countries and discussed with them. The key areas of the Consumer Advisory Board according to statute • Financial and consumer expertise • Consumer and provider behaviour regarding credit • Removal of asymmetric information between lenders and borrowers • Transparency in credit rating and granting processes • Involvement of consumers in a self-determined, safe and responsible use of their data The Board also discussed the principles, methods and results of studies as part of the SCHUFA Credit Compass, recommended Institution reports 19 academic and/or other project contracts and gave suggestions, especially with regard to the overall social relationships concerning SCHUFA topics. The members of the Consumer Advisory Board • Tarik Ahmia, Editor of the Economy and Environment section of the daily newspaper ‘taz’ • Birgit Bürkin, rw budgetberatung • Prof Dr Helmut Jungermann, Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Psychology and Ergonomics • Stephan Mayer, Member of the German Bundestag/CDU/CSU party, CSU spokesman for domestic and legal affairs and data protection • Dr Rainer Metz, Director of the Consumer Protection Bureau of the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection • Prof Dr Hans-W. Micklitz, European University Institute, European economic law • Dr Ulrich Ott, ING-DiBa AG, Director of Corporate Communications • Prof Dr Michael-B. Piorkowsky, University of Bonn, household and consumer economics • Prof Dr Lucia A. Reisch, Copenhagen Business School, consumer behaviour and consumer policy, Member of the German Council for Sustainable Development • Uli Röhm, Economics Editor and Journalist for the German television station ZDF • Marius Stark, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Schuldnerberatung der Verbände (Working Group of the German Debt Counselling Associations) • Dirk Stein, Bundesverband deutscher Banken (Association of German Banks), Director of the business division Retail Banking and Bank Technology • Christoph Wenk-Fischer, Executive Managing Director of the Bundesverband des Deutschen Versandhandels (German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association) • Frank Wollschläger, Department Director of the Deutsche Sparkassen- und Giroverband (German Savings Banks Association) • Manfred Zöllmer, Member of the German Bundestag/SPD party and Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection
Page 1: Annual Report 2010 We build confide
Page 4 and 5: 2 Forward from the Executive Board
Page 6 and 7: 4 Advantages we offer Advantages we
Page 8 and 9: 6 Advantages we offer Vital financi
Page 10 and 11: 8 Advantages we offer Without the S
Page 12 and 13: 10 Advantages we offer Case study:
Page 14 and 15: 12 Advantages we offer New service
Page 16 and 17: 14 Institution reports
Page 18 and 19: 16 Institution reports Prof Dr Winf
Page 22 and 23: 20 Institution reports Topics and n
Page 24 and 25: 22 Facts and figures Facts and figu
Page 26 and 27: 24 Facts and figures Partners, subs
Page 28 and 29: 26 Facts and figures The year 2010
Page 30 and 31: 28 We build confidence
Page 32: 30 We build confidence Imprint SCHU

2010 (PDF, 1.1 MB) - Schufa

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