[ma2rten]

Yes! Germany and I presume other European countries have a much better system.

The main difference is that there is no magic number that any one can use to borrow money in your name. Lenders have to verify a person's identity using ID.

Further more, to get loan you don't have build up a score first. You could get a margage if you have never borrowed money in your life but have a stable income.

[biafra]

For remote identification we have for example post ident:

Article is in english: https://www.deutschepost.de/en/p/postident/identifizierungsv...

[barsonme]

> You could get a margage if you have never borrowed money in your life but have a stable income.

Same in the US, although it's a bit of a pain in the ass. It's my understanding, though, (correct me if I'm wrong!) that Germany is a bit less thrilled about credit than most other countries—even in Europe.

[cramforce]

Credit management is big in Germany through SCHUFA and other companies and queried much more liberally. E.g. every time you purchase something online the store will likely check your credit and determine available payment instruments (this is pre-purchase) based on the response.

[ma2rten]

I don't think so? Germans have less credit cards, but they are still borrow money in the form of overdraft loans on their bank accounts.

[revelation]

No, they don't, just as most Americans will always pay their credit cards in full. Overdraft loans have terrible APR, as does credit from credit cards.