Massive debts of Poles, a record has been broken. “Old problems are getting worse”

In September, consumer non-credit and credit liabilities increased by PLN 2.9 billion year on year, or 3.5%. They thus reached a record level of PLN 86.5 billion – according to the BIG InfoMonitor report.

“Nearly 2.6 million people have problems with making payments, which is almost as many as the total number of inhabitants of Warsaw and Wrocław,” the study wrote.

The publication noted that the rate of increase in Poles' debt “slowed down”, as a year earlier the increase was recorded by PLN 6.6 billion (8.4%). “Currently, although the total debt reached a record value at the end of September (…), there are 116,790 fewer unreliable debtors” – it was reported. It was added that the number of people with credit and non-credit arrears at the same time decreased by approximately 55,000. people to a total of over 484 thousand people.

“As a result, the average overdue obligation of one person due to unpaid rent, alimony, loan installments, loans, court fees, fines for driving without a ticket and current bills, including telephone or internet, increased by PLN 2,525 to nearly PLN 33, PLN 5,000,” it was indicated.

According to the report's authors, this means that “Poles' old financial problems are getting worse.” According to a study commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor, 60 percent indebted people declare that the increase in the cost of living generates debt and makes it difficult to repay it. More than one third (38%) admitted that they had financial problems, although – as noted – this is the lowest result in three years.

“49% of Poles did not experience a lack of money for current liabilities and basic expenses, which is the most favorable result since 2019.” – added. According to the study, people who are short of money most often cope by limiting their expenses to a minimum (58%). However, Poles most often consider low earnings as the main cause of financial problems (26%).

“The increase in Poles' overdue arrears is still worrying,” BIG InfoMonitor said.

It was explained that this meant payments delayed by at least 30 days for an amount of min. PLN 200. “These include various types of bills, e.g. for utilities, rent, telephone and internet, as well as alimony, fines for driving without a ticket, unpaid court costs, liabilities to insurers and debt collection companies, and, of course, loans and credits,” it added.

Outstanding non-credit liabilities increased by almost PLN 499 million (+1.1%) to PLN 46.8 billion and belong to nearly 2 million people.

In turn, loan arrears – as reported – increased by over PLN 2.4 billion (+6.5%) to over PLN 39.7 billion and are currently owed by nearly 1.1 million Poles. The average arrears per person in the case of non-credit debts at the end of September amounted to almost PLN 23,500. PLN, and loans nearly PLN 37,000. zloty. “Compared to the period last year, Poles' credit arrears are growing faster this time than their non-credit arrears,” it was stated.

The authors of the report also looked at the division of debt by age and gender. They indicated that the average arrears decreased only among the youngest people (18-34 years old) by 1.4%. to over 7.7 thousand PLN and it has been falling for another year. “The remaining groups are characterized by significant increases, especially representatives of generation

However, a decline in the number of debtors in each age group has been observed, and the largest group is still 35-44 years old. Over 657,000 people in this group have financial problems. people. “In turn, Generation X bears the highest amount of overdue liabilities, which is almost PLN 27.5 billion,” it added. Moreover, more than half (62%) of debtors are men, whose arrears are usually higher than women's. “This dimension of society's financial problems has persisted for years,” it was emphasized.

In the case of regions, the inhabitants of Mazovia have the highest unpaid debts (almost PLN 17 billion). Then there are Upper and Lower Silesia (PLN 9.9 billion and PLN 7.8 billion, respectively). The inhabitants of the Opole, Świętokrzyskie and Podlaskie voivodeships have the smallest arrears – amounting to PLN 1.7 billion, respectively.

“The amount of arrears of Polish residents increased the most in the Masovian, West Pomeranian and Lower Silesian voivodeships – by 6.4%, 5.5% and 5.4% respectively.” – informed the authors of the report. They also pointed out that in Silesia, despite having one of the highest debt values, there was a decline of 1.2%. The number of debtors decreased in every voivodeship, although especially in the Silesian Voivodeship (-6.7%), Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (-5.5%) and Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (-4.9%).

BIG InfoMonitor also took a look at the record holders whose debt increased by over PLN 18.4 million during the year, reaching a total of over PLN 535 million.

According to BIG InfoMonitor data, little has changed in the top ten most indebted Poles, one woman has joined the group, there are currently four of them. The record holder is still a 68-year-old resident of the Lublin region with an amount exceeding PLN 90 million. The oldest debtor on record is 74 years old.

BIG InfoMonitor is an economic information office operating since 2004, which collects and provides information on the payment credibility of market participants.