WARSAW: The level of debt among Poles is on the rise. It’s important to remember that if debts are not repaid, they accrue interest, and when collected by bailiffs, their fees must also be taken into account.
The exact scale of Poles’ indebtedness is unknown. However, valuable insights can be drawn from data in the National Debt Register. Millionaire debtors owe the largest sums to securitization funds, courts, and banks. The problem is particularly growing among individuals aged 46 to 65. The biggest debtors collectively owe PLN 790,000,000. The largest portion of debt—PLN 389,600,000—is owed by consumers to securitization funds and debt management companies.
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Are all debts being repaid?
„Repaying many debts is simply unrealistic—comparable to being sentenced to 900 years in prison in the American justice system,” explains Juliusz Bolek, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Business. „Many debtors, even though they are making payments, see their obligations continue to grow because they can’t even cover the interest. Often, the only rescue and relief is personal bankruptcy. This may mean living in poverty, but at least the debt stops increasing—and that’s a big step.” – says Juliusz Bolek, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Business.
Is debt collection easy or difficult?
„It’s easiest to collect debts that were not planned. If debtors have official income, it can simply be seized. The hardest debts to recover are those taken on deliberately,” believes Juliusz Bolek, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Business. „So-called 'professional’ debtors are often very knowledgeable about financial and legal systems and know many legal loopholes. They don’t have a registered address, and their assets officially don’t belong to them. The Internet is full of guides on how to avoid debt collection. I can’t say whether those guides are good, but I know debtors who are very skilled at defending themselves against creditors,” he reveals.
Are seniors among the debtors?
Unfortunately, seniors make up a sad segment of debtors. Their debt often stems from poor financial decisions made in the past or from falling victim to scammers. These fraudsters use manipulative techniques to pressure elderly individuals—who may have limited cognitive capabilities and judgment—into accepting unfavorable financial arrangements.
Are young people also in debt?
Debtors can be found in all age groups. Among the youngest, however, there are no millionaire debtors yet. As of now, the National Debt Register has not recorded any individuals aged 18–25 with debts exceeding one million zloty. But this could change, as the value of money is rapidly declining, and young people often live beyond their financial means.
Is it easy to recover debt?
„If a debtor has no malicious intent and owns assets, it’s a straightforward case for a bailiff. If they don’t own assets but have regular income, recovering the debt is just a matter of time. However, if a debtor has neither assets nor income—at least officially—then the bailiff is powerless. In such cases, private investigators can verify whether the debtor’s declarations are truthful,” explains Bartłomiej Kucharski, head of a detective agency that has received a Quality Certificate from the Institute of Business.
„When a bailiff fails to recover the debt, a payment order becomes a worthless piece of paper. The detective agency I represent can uncover the true financial standing of the debtor. In most cases, it turns out the debt is recoverable. We can turn wastepaper into money,” says Bartłomiej Kucharski with satisfaction. His agency is a member of the Polish Association of Licensed Detectives.
Thank you for reading this article to the end.
Polish News Economy /DEC / Source: Agencja Informacyjna / 29.05.2025