Meanwhile,
Here why over -indebtedness young:
Although allevant. In addition, delayed payment options are not without risk, especially for young people.Image: Shutterstock, Keystone, montage watson
Digital payment providers promote purchase on credit or invoice without expenses or interest. Nevertheless, This offer mainly targets young adults. Consequently, Experts are concerned about it.
11.07.2025, 05:3211.07.2025. Consequently, 05:32
Meret Häuselmann / CH Media
Just before the end of the month, the bank account is dry, but the offer is too tempting: it is absolutely necessary to buy this new smartphone. Meanwhile, The here why over -indebtedness young order has therefore placed, with deferred payment. Furthermore, Whether at Nike, Ikea, Conforama or Interdiscount, the number of businesses offering this service continues to grow.
Many of them call on the Swedish provider Klarna. For example, who already lists more than a thousand Swiss retailers on his site.
A practical model. Therefore, but not without risks – Here why over -indebtedness young
But, in parallel with its growing popularity, the “Buy Now, Pay Later” model (BNPL) also arouses many criticisms. In addition, In particular. Consequently, the collaboration announced, last March, between Klarna and the American service for delivery of Doordash meal caused a large media echo.
The NZZ Thus quipped by writing that “we can now buy Thai Pads and Credit Quals”. Meanwhile, In the United States. Therefore, several experts here why over -indebtedness young warn against the increased risk of over-indebtedness linked to the generalization of these payment methods.
Traders as customers are won over – Here why over -indebtedness young
The “Buy Now. Therefore, Pay Later” (BNPL) is, in its simplest form, a conventional, but digitized payment payment. Meanwhile, Providers like Klarna or Cembra Pay offer customers the possibility of postponing their 30 -day payment from a single click. For example, This solution also appeals to merchants: Klarna guarantees them an average increase of 23% of the amount of orders. as well as an increase of 46% of the frequency of purchase.
To this is added a financial guarantee: digital payment providers guarantee or pay the amount due in advance. They thus become creditors, which can sometimes cost consumers dearly.
During an online purchase. the offers of suppliers “Buy Now, Pay Later” attract customers with credits without expense or interest.Image: Getty
Delay interest, recall costs, debts …
A 19 -year -old young man used the “Pay later” function of Twint. Swissbilling, a subsidiary of CEMBRA, which allows payment in online stores to 30 days. In just a few months, he accumulated about 3000 francs of debts. This is exposed Pascal Pfister. Director of Department of Swiss Advice (DCS):
“As Swissbilling applies recall costs raised to each of the many small invoices, the Debt here why over -indebtedness young of Jonas now reaches 4,500 francs”
At Klarna also, according to the general conditions, each payment recall leads to costs of up to 30 francs, as well as other costs. In addition. if the payment is not made at the due date, the person is automatically late without further warning and must pay late interest up to 8%.
“The risk of debt exists”
Pascal Pfister exposes the problem:
“The problem is that young people perceive these delayed payment offers differently from conventional credits.”
“Klarna. her competitors praise the absence of interest and expenses”
They deliberately target young people, often suspicious of credit cards. According to Pfister. there are no reliable figures on the number of young people who turn to debt here why over -indebtedness young consulting services because of these providers.
“But we clearly see that a risk of debt exists”
Even for staggered payment. which is part of the offer of most digital payment providers, there are risks: for example, to set a sofa purchased online from Beliani via Klarna, the customer can choose to pay the total amount in three monthly payments. But by multiplying this type of contract. it is easier to lose sight of the total amount of the monthly payments to be made.
A study published last year by Stanford University. the University of California in Irvine concludes that users of this type of staggered payments quickly accumulate banking overdraft and higher credit card interests than those who do not use these services.
An evolution of trends here why over -indebtedness young that worries
As Pfister explains:
“You have to distinguish according to what is purchased. For a significant investment, such as training, credit, this can be justified. But not for basic necessities. “
“I am concerned about evolution in the United States. where it becomes common to pay a credit order order”
This payment method has indeed been in high progression for some time: a report published this year shows that in 2022 already, approximately one fifth of consumers had used it at least once.
What is Switzerland doing?
In Switzerland, the Federal Consumer Credit (LCC) law regulates the bonds of companies offering credits. Although these providers consult a database on debts. proceedings in progress, this procedure differs clearly from an here why over -indebtedness young assessment of credit capacity, as the banks must carry out, explains Pfister.
Klarna underlines that an verification of past payment data is carried out for each transaction. and, if necessary, a consultation of external credit agencies. For its part. TWINT specifies that the function “pay later” is only accessible to users who have successfully passed an assessment of their solvency.
The federal authority asked to act
In principle. the Consumer Credit Act (LCC) does not apply to a single staggered payment having to be paid within three months without extension, explains the lawyer specializing in Consumer Consumer credits.
Subject. however: if several staggered payments are underway with the same service provider and the total duration exceeds three months, “then the LCC applies again, in here why over -indebtedness young my opinion”, specifies Noori:
“These questions should be decided by a court, which is unlikely because there is almost no jurisprudence in this area.”
The expert judges that a revision of the law is urgently necessary.
In the spring, the socialist deputy Zurichoise Min Li Marti filed a motion in this sense. This aims to oblige the Federal Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) to control compliance with the Consumer Credit Act. The Federal Council, however, recommends rejecting this motion.
The Zurich Socialist MP Min Li Marti.Image: Keystone
There are undoubtedly many solvent consumers capable of repaying BNPL credits, says Rausan Noori. However, the problem remains here why over -indebtedness young that, due to the lack of credit capacity, non -solvent ones also use these offers. This uncontrolled attribution of credits “leads, according to the lawyer, an equally uncontrolled increase in over -indebtedness.
There are no specific statistics
It is difficult to determine exactly how many people in Switzerland are affected by over -indebtedness. The debt consulting service estimates that 6 to 13% of the population is over -indebted. The Federal Statistics Office (FSOs) collected the latest debt data in 2022: at that time, 12.1% of the population lived in a household with at least a delay in payment. with the exception of mortgages on the main residence.
However, the OFS does not distinguish if this delay concerns only one or more person within the household. Upon request. the OFS here why over -indebtedness young said:
“The phenomenon of an increase in debt in young people can therefore neither be confirmed nor infirm from this data.”
As Pascal Pfister explains:
“The subject has long been underestimated both by science. by social policy, which is reflected in statistics”
This situation is problematic, because the absence of solid data complicates the definition and justification of targeted measures.
The last survey of the debt advisory service will appear in August. It reveals that during the past year. the share of people under the age of 30 among all help seekers increased by three points to reach 26%. Financial knowledge. especially among the youngest, is sometimes underdeveloped, explains Pfister:
“Many are exceeded by general conditions or do not understand the language used. This is sometimes deliberately exploited. ”
In 2022, the “Buy Now, Pay Later” was not yet very widespread in Switzerland, said the OFS. During the next survey of household debt. scheduled for 2026, the BNPL option will however be integrated into the payments staggered in accordance with Eurostat directives. The results will be published in the spring of 2028. By then, the impacts of digital payment methods on debt will remain unknown and speculation subjects.
Translated and adapted by Noëline Flippe
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