Janis Ehling, the federal executive director of the Left party, sharply criticized attempts to reform the Schufa credit‑score system and called for its complete abolition. Speaking to the news portal “Watson” he stated, “The Schufa is not reformable; it should be abolished”.
Ehling argued that it is unacceptable for a private company to gather and store the most intimate data of millions of citizens indefinitely. He highlighted the lack of clarity about how these data are actually used and raised concerns that the new score could discriminate against specific groups. The precise weighting of each factor in the calculation remains opaque.
He urged the federal government to dissolve Schufa’s corporate structure and replace it with a neutral, transparent public authority. This new body should operate similarly to a debt‑consultation service, assisting people in finding pathways out of debt traps.
Citing the high number of over‑indebted individuals in Germany, Ehling noted that nearly six million people are burdened by debt, partly because living costs have become unaffordable. Rising rents, food, and energy prices force many to take loans even for simple purchases.