SCHUFA is the credit rating system used in Germany. If bills are left unpaid for a long time, or a loan payment is missed, an entry is added to the SCHUFA record of the person in debt.
If you apply for credit, or if you give permission for someone to do a check against you - like Deutsche Telekom when opening a new phone account - then they search SCHUFA for you and a record of the search is retained as well.
SCHUFA also hold European records. You can obtain a copy of your own record for €7,60 or you can inspect it at a SCHUFA office free of charge.
SCHUFA Holding AG
Geschäftsstelle München
Elsenheimerstrasse 61
80687 Munich
Postfach 21 04 68
80674 München
Tel: 089 / 57 00 61 11
Open: Mon - Fri 9am - noon, Tue + Fri 2pm - 4pm
Directions: U-Bahn U4 or U5 to Westendstrasse
External links: