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OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

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Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#31

Post by TomK32 »

expertentipp wrote: post #19

SCHUFA is demanding a passport copy from EU citizens to obtain the annual unpaid data overview report. A citizen of an EU country residing in Germany is under no obligation to hold a passport. I don't understand how until now no one torn the SCHUFA credit bureau into pieces over it. https://i.imgur.com/nEZRJDv.png

You have to identify youself somehow. I mean this is Germany, not the UK where you collect utility bills to justify your existence /s.

In Germany as German you are obliged to have a valid identification document and as EU citizen just the same in case you are being asked for it. Wikipedia hast the links to the relevant laws https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ausweispflicht#Deutschland

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#32

Post by expertentipp »

ccozan wrote: post #30
lispm wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A citizen of an EU country residing in Germany is under no obligation to hold a passport. Any EU citizen needs a passport or equivalent in Germany. One needs it already when entering Germany. Though you don't need to carry it all time with you. But you need to have one.

No, by law you are required to have a proper ID issued by an EU country. No passport required, but it might be useful, since many online services require a passport, for example activating a SIM card.

> many online services require a passport

This is notorious and infuriating violation by many service providers in Germany.

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#33

Post by dna_polymerase »

philfrasty wrote: post #20
orless wrote: post #2

When applying for a loan, mobile phone contract, or even trying to rent an apartment in Germany, the Schufa score - Germany's credit rating - is decisive. If you have a few "points" too little, your application is refused. (Computer says "No" to your new smartphone or apartment.) However, the calculation of these credit scores - done by the private Schufa company - is fully intransparent. The formula is a trade secre…

„...even trying to rent an apartment in Germany...“ While this MAY be true in a lot of cases it certainly is not all the time. From my experience 50/50.

50/50 may hold true if you are renting directly from the owner. If a real estate agent is involved (or something like degewo) it is somewhere around 100% of all cases.

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#34

Post by larrydag »

I work in the credit finance space. The first thing that jumps out to me is the security and privacy of people's credit data details. There is a lot of personal information that could be used for stealing one's identity. What assurances are there that this data is protected and anonymous?

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#35

Post by philfrasty »

danielbln wrote: post #27
philfrasty wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

„...even trying to rent an apartment in Germany...“ While this MAY be true in a lot of cases it certainly is not all the time. From my experience 50/50.

Not all the time probably, though in my experience, especially if it's not a flat share but a proper apartment, it's definitely closer to 100% (Berlin).

I guess the likelihood increases if you go through one of the newer screen-tenants-first-online-platforms or the building has hired a property management company. Going through newspaper-classifieds or owner-let apartments yielded 100% no Schufa for me in Munich + Berlin.

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#36

Post by expertentipp »

TomK32 wrote: post #31
expertentipp wrote: post #19

SCHUFA is demanding a passport copy from EU citizens to obtain the annual unpaid data overview report. A citizen of an EU country residing in Germany is under no obligation to hold a passport. I don't understand how until now no one torn the SCHUFA credit bureau into pieces over it. https://i.imgur.com/nEZRJDv.png

You have to identify youself somehow. I mean this is Germany, not the UK where you collect utility bills to justify your existence /s. In Germany as German you are obliged to have a valid identification document and as EU citizen just the same in case you are being asked for it. Wikipedia hast the links to the relevant laws https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ausweispflicht#Deutschland

Why you're immediately teasing UK? They are exception in this regard. I'm talking about national IDs which most other EU (all but UK?) countries are issuing. Yet SCHUFA clearly demands passport in their instructions. In 6 different languages, 4 of which are official languages of the EU.

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#37

Post by philfrasty »

dna_polymerase wrote: post #33
philfrasty wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

„...even trying to rent an apartment in Germany...“ While this MAY be true in a lot of cases it certainly is not all the time. From my experience 50/50.

50/50 may hold true if you are renting directly from the owner. If a real estate agent is involved (or something like degewo) it is somewhere around 100% of all cases.

+1 for owner. Luckily you can choose (still).

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#38

Post by TomK32 »

ccozan wrote: post #30
lispm wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A citizen of an EU country residing in Germany is under no obligation to hold a passport. Any EU citizen needs a passport or equivalent in Germany. One needs it already when entering Germany. Though you don't need to carry it all time with you. But you need to have one.

No, by law you are required to have a proper ID issued by an EU country. No passport required, but it might be useful, since many online services require a passport, for example activating a SIM card.

Well, the only document internationally recognized are passports. Not every country has identity cards like the german Personalausweis, let alone there being an international standard for them like there are for the passports.

The passport is simply the international baseline.

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#39

Post by expertentipp »

TomK32 wrote: post #38
ccozan wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, by law you are required to have a proper ID issued by an EU country. No passport required, but it might be useful, since many online services require a passport, for example activating a SIM card.

Well, the only document internationally recognized are passports. Not every country has identity cards like the german Personalausweis, let alone there being an international standard for them like there are for the passports. The passport is simply the international baseline.

no

Re: OpenSCHUFA – Reverse-engineering the algorithm of the German credit score agency

#40

Post by TomK32 »

expertentipp wrote: post #36
TomK32 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have to identify youself somehow. I mean this is Germany, not the UK where you collect utility bills to justify your existence /s. In Germany as German you are obliged to have a valid identification document and as EU citizen just the same in case you are being asked for it. Wikipedia hast the links to the relevant laws https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ausweispflicht#Deutschland

Why you're immediately teasing UK? They are exception in this regard. I'm talking about national IDs which most other EU (all but UK?) countries are issuing. Yet SCHUFA clearly demands passport in their instructions. In 6 different languages, 4 of which are official languages of the EU.

Because passports are the international standard, issued under international guidelines while identity cards aren't.
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