Do you have questions about your self-disclosure?

When calculating probability values (so-called scoring), predictions about future behavior are made based on past payment experiences. Scoring always revolves around the question: “How likely is it that a certain event will occur?” To make accurate predictions, countless data points are collected and statistically analyzed—similar to weather forecasting. Based on this, predictive models are created. This allows meteorologists to determine the risk of a storm or make statements about climate change.

CRIF GmbH offers its contractual partners support with so-called credit scoring. This involves assessing the likelihood that someone will meet their future payment obligations. It is an essential part of the German economic system and plays a significant role for both the credit-granting economy and consumers. Scoring protects companies from payment defaults and consumers from over-indebtedness, while also enabling credit to be granted to individuals who might otherwise be denied based on primarily subjective judgments. By incorporating probability values into creditworthiness assessments, rapid credit checks are possible. In an increasingly digital world, consumers can access services involving credit risk much more quickly. At the same time, companies experience fewer defaults, which helps maintain stable consumer prices.

Credit scores are free from subjective—and therefore potentially discriminatory—factors such as origin, religion, or disability.

CRIF GmbH calculates so-called credit scores, which sometimes include industry-specific forecasts. The probability that a mortgage loan will be repaid without issues may differ from the probability that a purchase on account will also be paid. Some of our contractual partners incorporate the calculated probability values into their own decision-making models. For example, a bank may include information provided by the customer in the loan application as well as information the bank already has from a long-standing customer relationship.

For telecommunications companies, CRIF GmbH calculates a score to assess inquiries from private individuals regarding mobile phone contracts. This score is used by telecommunications companies to support them in fraud prevention.

To calculate scores, CRIF GmbH uses personal data provided by its contractual partners about their consumers during the ordering process. This includes, among other things, master data such as name and address, as well as possibly the date of birth and gender. Based on this data, the consumer is identified in CRIF GmbH's database. This allows any outstanding, undisputed claims assigned to an individual to be used in calculating the probability value. Based on identification, consumers are also assigned to groups for which statistical payment probabilities exist. The probability values for payment default are determined from the combination of identification, any negative information, and affiliation with statistical person groups. CRIF GmbH does not use address data exclusively in its scores. If the data situation is insufficient—especially if only address data is available—no score is calculated.

CRIF GmbH uses so-called logistic regression to calculate probability values. Our score models are reviewed by an external expert to ensure they meet the requirements of a scientifically recognized mathematical-statistical method and that the use of the data employed is meaningful for determining default probabilities.

The company that forwards the order request to CRIF GmbH for risk assessment receives the score value in return.

The probability value calculated for an affected person can change over time, for example, because the underlying data used to calculate the score changes. The mere passage of time can lead to information being assessed differently. If a person has been known to CRIF GmbH for a longer period and no negative information is available about them, this can lead to an improvement in the score. It is also possible that deletion periods are reached over time and scores change because data is no longer included in the calculation.

CRIF GmbH calculates a general credit bureau score and an industry-specific score for telecommunications companies. In the self-disclosure for affected individuals, all score values disclosed to contractual partners for an affected person within the last 36 months are listed.

The probability value transmitted by CRIF GmbH to the requesting contractual partners for an affected person merely serves as a decision-making aid for that partner and is not solely decisive for whether and under what conditions the company enters into a contract with the affected person. More and more companies are using their own scoring systems. These systems may incorporate information from CRIF GmbH or other external data sources, as well as information the affected person provides directly to the business partner.
Furthermore, each company has its own risk policies that determine under what conditions a contract may be concluded.

CRIF GmbH has its score models developed by experienced mathematicians and statisticians. These are always mathematically and statistically recognized and proven methods for score development. Before a score model is put into operation, it is reviewed by independent experts from universities and specialized institutes and submitted to the responsible supervisory authority.

You can request a free copy of your personal data (according to Art. 15 GDPR) from CRIF GmbH. With this copy of personal data (according to Art. 15 GDPR), you will receive information about the data stored about you at CRIF GmbH. This information also includes the data source and the recipients of information about you. If CRIF GmbH has calculated a probability value for you and transmitted it to a contractual partner, this value will also be included in the data copy. Due to the potentially large dataset of personal data (according to Art. 15 GDPR), it is recommended that you treat your data copy confidentially with respect to third parties.

For CRIF GmbH, correct and up-to-date data is very important. Therefore, regular quality monitoring is carried out. Missing information is not always equivalent to errors. Not all credit-granting companies are CRIF contractual partners and therefore cannot report information about you. If you provide more details to CRIF GmbH, your information can – after verification – be included in the credit bureau's data inventory.

The personal data provided as part of the request for a data copy is transferred to our database for updating purposes, in order to keep it current and thus fulfill our legal obligations.

You can contact us as follows:

By mail to:

CRIF GmbH
Team Selbstauskunft
Friesenweg 22
22763 Hamburg

In many cases, clarification of your request for correction or deletion requires a follow-up with one or more contractual partners. CRIF GmbH strives to obtain feedback as quickly as possible. If the response from the contractual partner is delayed, we ask for your understanding. Your dispute of the facts can be noted with an appropriate remark. In cases of doubt, the data stored about you will not be transmitted to requesting contractual partners until the matter has been clarified.