Biznes Fakty
Debts of Poles in KRD. Over 370 people have „million” liabilities
In Poland, over 370 individuals have surpassed the one million zloty mark in unpaid debts, with their collective arrears amounting to 790 million zlotys, as reported by the National Debt Register. Debts reaching the million mark frequently stem from unsuccessful business ventures or attempts to evade repayment.
The count of „millionaire” debtors has seen a slight decline in the past two years. Back in November 2022, the figure was 373.
– Recovering millions owed by consumers is significantly more intricate compared to handling smaller amounts. These debtors are often quite knowledgeable about financial and legal frameworks, and their assets, if they still possess any, are frequently dispersed or hard to track down. We often encounter individuals who have intentionally evaded enforcement for years, exploiting legal loopholes or transferring their assets to family members – remarked Jakub Kostecki, CEO of the debt collection firm Kaczmarski Inkasso.
He further pointed out that for seniors, such debts often arise from poor business choices made in the past or co-signing loans for others. The situation for older debtors can be particularly challenging, as they typically have limited income and realize that the likelihood of becoming debt-free is quite remote. Meanwhile, younger individuals burdened with millions in debt are frequently former entrepreneurs whose businesses failed, yet they have not relinquished their previous lifestyle.
Record Debtors in Poland
The highest concentration of debtors – 85 with liabilities exceeding one million PLN, are from the Mazowieckie province. They owe a total of 150 million PLN. Following them is the Pomeranian province, with 43 individuals owing 147 million PLN. The Silesian province ranks third, where 36 debtors have nearly 70.5 million PLN to repay.
The majority of debtors reside in major cities with district rights: Warsaw – 50, Łódź – 19, Kraków – 12, Wrocław – 11, Poznań – 11, Gdynia – 10.
When examining counties based on the debt amount per debtor, Wejherowo County in the Pomeranian Voivodeship takes the lead, where 3 consumers are responsible for nearly PLN 78 million in repayments, with one individual alone owing PLN 76 million.
The highest number of overdue payments – 470 – can be found in the Silesian province. There, the largest group – 98 creditors are awaiting settlement from the „million” debtors. The Mazovian province recorded 387 unpaid financial obligations, while the Pomeranian province noted 243.
Consequences of Past Decisions
The largest segment of debtors – 118 with liabilities exceeding one million zlotys belong to the 46-55 age group. They are accountable for PLN 305 million in debt across 622 liabilities. Among those aged 65 and older, there are 100 individuals with a total debt of PLN 189.3 million. In the 56-65 age bracket, there are 95 debtors holding debts totaling PLN 186.4 million. The youngest category, aged 26-35, includes 13 debtors with 47 liabilities amounting to PLN 29 million.
– Seniors typically bear the ramifications of financial choices made long ago – their debts have already been managed by securitization funds. Conversely, banks, courts, and insurance companies are the primary creditors for younger debtors. Young individuals carry the second highest debt burden per capita, which could lead to serious socio-economic repercussions in the future – stated Adam Łącki, president of the National Debt Register of the Economic Information Bureau.
Men account for 68% of the „million” debtors. They possess 1,351 obligations amounting to PLN 594 million in debt. Among the debtors, there are also 120 women, who have accumulated a total debt of PLN 195 million.
The largest portion of the total liabilities – PLN 389.6 million is owed to securitization funds and companies that manage receivables. Courts are also significant creditors, awaiting repayment of PLN 231.3 million, while banks, credit unions, loan, and insurance firms are waiting for repayments totaling PLN 109.7 million.
