SCHUFA
• 125 words • 1 min • updated
SCHUFA is a German credit score system.
Comparable to: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian in the U.S.
Prospective landlords often ask for a copy of your SCHUFA (“SCHUFA-Auskunft”).
You can get a copy of your SCHUFA via meineschufa.de. It’s not free: it costs ~30€, but you can obtain it quickly and digitally.
That said, the GDPR (“DS-GVO”) allows you to get a free copy of your SCHUFA data, thanks to its 15th article. It arrives by mail (“post”) within 5 to 7 days. Input:
- full name
- birth date (DD.MM.YYYY) – Geburtsdatum
- current home address — aktuelle Anschrift
- email address
Alternatively, sign up for bonify.de, a free online service which allows you to monitor your SCHUFA online. It is updated every quarter, and it’s comparable to CreditKarma.