Young people in Schleswig-Holstein: payment in installments as a debt trap!

Young people in Schleswig-Holstein: payment in installments as a debt trap!

In today's digital world, in which more and more payments are made online, the risk of debt is high, especially for young people. In Schleswig-Holstein there is an alarming trend in the room: the use of installment payment services such as Klarna and PayPal increasingly leads to financial difficulties. According to ndr are unsurpassed purchases and payments for the fact that many a negative Accept Schufa score. This affects the age group of 20- to 35-year-olds, about a third of whom are clients in debt advice.

The trend towards paying in installments is very popular, but many are not aware that these offers are ultimately loans that often have secretly kept chaos. A third of the affected young people have debts through online shopping, whereby “buy now, pay later” offers are particularly problematic. The consumer advice center warns of the high costs and interest rates that can arise in the event of late payments. These payments not only have financial consequences, but also damage the Schufa score that decides on creditworthiness.

prevention by education

To counteract this, debt consultants rely on prevention. Anouschka Haalck, a committed debt consultant, brings schoolchildren of the 9B at the Schleusen Community School in Brunsbüttel to deal with her financial decisions. In a business game, the young people learn that they have to get by with a fictional income of 1,350 euros. Haalck emphasizes how important it is to speak openly about money and debts to avoid early financial problems.

Schufa and her effects

But what exactly does Schufa have to do with all of this? The Schufa is a private business information egg that stores data on the creditworthiness of consumers. It captures information about existing contracts, debts and even ongoing private bankruptcies. A negative entry in Schufa can have devastating consequences for the financial future of a person. The latest data show that punctual payments can improve the Schufa score, while the settlement of debts also contributes to the improvement in the shell.

The consumer advice centers also have special advice centers that respond to the needs of debtors. In Schleswig-Holstein there are a total of 47 free advice centers that offer support and indicate the right handling of financial matters. While many young people are falling into debt trap, education and support in debt prevention are the key to a healthier financial future.