5 point from 2007 economic crisis requires

Belgium: less than 340,000 incidents

Cited as an example, the Central of the Belgian credits lists since June 1 2003 credits, in addition to the incidents of payments, which he recorded the track since 1987. Lenders (including distributors) must consult it before granting a credit. In addition to the amount of the credit, is the name and address of the borrower, but not revenues: prohibited by law. Not more than tax or social debts, or even those with suppliers of gas or electricity - to remove any temptation to cut service to the latter.

Nevertheless, the Government could decide to extend it to the debts of mobile telephony, the non-payment is often the harbinger of a debt. More than 4.8 million people are registered to the file (on 10 million). Managed by the National Bank of Belgium (BNB), it is most questioned: while the number of defaults increased before its creation, it partly, according to the NBB, explains their decline, between 2003 and 2007, less than 340,000 (against more than 350 000 previously), while the credits continued to increase.

Great Britain: an average debt of 57,000 pounds

Three databases of historic Bank, established by private actors (Experian, Call Credit and Equifax), are available across. Banks use them primarily to protect themselves from hackers and bad payers. Is by impact that they prevent over-indebtedness, "because they encourage private persons to have a good credit rating", says Jo Parsley, a head of Credit Action, one of the charitable associations to consumers in a situation difficult.

Britain developed in place of public program to prevent the debt overhang and the debt is one of the highest in Europe, with average 57,000 pounds per household. This situation is even identified as one of the main brakes to the economic recovery after the crisis. Feeling predominates revel that predatory banking practices are widespread. While the regulation of the protection of consumers is fragmented - the Office for a conduct of fair business (OFT), the authority of financial services (FSA) and the Financial Ombudsman play each role-, the new Government is seeking to bring order. A consumer protection authority should be established in the Bank of England.

Germany: more than 100,000 personal bankruptcies

The positive data market is dominated by a large independent actor, "schufa", before his rival of the CreditReform. Other institutions, from Allianz, Bertelsmann and Deutsche Telekom, offer data on incidents of credit. Established in 1927 by the provider of energy Berlin, Bewag, which had the idea to sell household items for credit, preventing the risk of NSF with a "positive list" of its best payers, "schufa" lists 66 million people (about 80 million people), each having supported an average of 7 credits. In addition to its shareholders that are banks and distributors, the Institute supplies information 5,000 partners on the profile of borrowers.

In 2009, 8.5 of the individual files contained one or more negative information, representing a degradation of 0.5 point from 2007, economic crisis requires. If the Germans have a reputation for being efficient, 2.8 million were in debt late 2009, or 7 of the population. The number of personal bankruptcies is broader than in the past. According to Destatis, more than 100,000 applications were filed in 2009, against 40,000 in 2003.

Rise of overindebtedness in Germany

The positive data market is dominated by a large independent actor, "Schufa". Other institutions, from Allianz and Deutsche Telekom, offer data on incidents of credit. Established in 1927 by the Bewag energy supplier who had the idea to sell household items for credit, preventing the risk of NSF with a "positive list" of its best payers, the Schufa lists 66 million people (about 80 million), each with 7 credits. In addition to its shareholders, banks and distributors, the Institute provides 5,000 partners. In 2009, 8.5 of the files did not contain that "positive" information, in degradation of 0.5 points from 2007, economic crisis requires. If the Germans have a reputation for being efficient, 2.8 million were in debt late 2009, or 7 of the population. The number of personal bankruptcies is broader than in the past. According to Destatis, more than 100,000 applications were filed in 2009 against 40,000 in 2003.

Rise of overindebtedness in Germany

The positive data market is dominated by a large independent actor, "Schufa". Other institutions, from Allianz and Deutsche Telekom, offer data on incidents of credit. Established in 1927 by the Bewag energy supplier who had the idea to sell household items for credit, preventing the risk of NSF with a "positive list" of its best payers, the Schufa lists 66 million people (about 80 million), each with 7 credits. In addition to its shareholders, banks and distributors, the Institute provides 5,000 partners. In 2009, 8.5 of the files did not contain that "positive" information, in degradation of 0.5 points from 2007, economic crisis requires. If the Germans have a reputation for being efficient, 2.8 million were in debt late 2009, or 7 of the population. The number of personal bankruptcies is broader than in the past. According to Destatis, more than 100,000 applications were filed in 2009 against 40,000 in 2003.

Belgium: less than 340,000 incidents

Cited as an example, the Central Belgian credits lists since June 1, 2003, credits, in addition to the incidents of payments which he recorded the track since 1987. Lenders (including distributors) must consult it before granting a credit. In addition to the amount of the credit, is the name and address of the borrower, but not revenues: prohibited by law. Not more than tax or social debts, or still those from suppliers of gas or electricity to remove any temptation to cut service to them. The Government could still decide to extend it to the debts of mobile telephony, including non-payment is often a harbinger of a debt. More than 4.8 million people are registered to the file (on 10 million). Managed by the National Bank of Belgium (BNB), it is most questioned: while the number of defaults increased before its creation, it partly, according to the NBB, explains their decline between 2003 and 2007 less than 340,000 (against more than 350 000 previously), while the credits continued to increase.

Germany: more than 100,000 personal bankruptcies

The positive data market is dominated by a large independent actor, "schufa", before his rival of the CreditReform. Other institutions, from Allianz, Bertelsmann and Deutsche Telekom, offer data on incidents of credit. Established in 1927 by the provider of energy Berlin, Bewag, which had the idea to sell household items for credit, preventing the risk of NSF with a "positive list" of its best payers, "schufa" lists 66 million people (about 80 million people), each having supported an average of 7 credits. In addition to its shareholders, banks and distributors, the Institute supplies information 5,000 partners on the profile of borrowers. In 2009, 8.5 of the individual files contained one or more negative information, representing a degradation of 0.5 point from 2007, economic crisis requires. If the Germans have a reputation for being efficient, 2.8 million were in debt late 2009, or 7 of the population. The number of personal bankruptcies is broader than in the past. According to Destatis, more than 100,000 applications were filed in 2009 against 40,000 in 2003.

Britain: a debt of 57,000 pounds

Three databases of historic Bank, established by private actors, Call Credit Experian and Equifax, are available in addition to handle. Banks use them primarily to protect themselves from hackers and bad payers. Is by impact that they prevent over-indebtedness, "because they encourage private persons to have a good credit rating", says Jo Parsley, a head of Credit Action, one of the charitable associations to consumers in a situation difficult.

Britain developed in place of public program to prevent the debt overhang and the debt is one of the highest in Europe, with average 57,000 pounds per household. This situation is even identified as one of the main brakes to the economic recovery after the crisis. Feeling predominates in addition to handle predatory banking practices are widespread. While the regulation of the protection of consumers is fragmented - the Office for a conduct of fair business (OFT), the authority of financial services (FSA) and the Financial Ombudsman play each role-, the new Government is seeking to bring order. A Consumer Protection Authority should be established in the Bank of England

A.C., J.P.L., N.M.

CORRESPONDENTS A BRUSSELS, FRANKFURT, LONDON.