Central office for credit information
Via the Central Office for Credit Information - Association for the Management of a Central Office for Credit Information (ZEK) - Swiss financial service providers exchange credit and credit information about private individuals and (to a limited extent) about legal entities in order to protect themselves against loan defaults. In 2007 around 3 million credit checks were carried out. As of December 31, 2010, 1,449,303 people were registered in the database (2007: 1,420,185 people).
The ZEK is comparable to the Schufa in Germany .
history
The forerunner was a 'reporting center' that had existed since 1945. In 1968 the "Association for the Management of a Central Office for Credit Information (ZEK)" was founded. The information system has been managed electronically since 1974.
organization
The ZEK data collection is owned by the “Association for the Management of a Central Office for Credit Information (ZEK)”. The association members finance the association through contributions and inquiry fees. The association has a board of directors, an office and a committee for technology and finance.
The association has the ZEK information system operated by IBM Switzerland, Zurich.
The ZEK is closely linked to the Consumer Credit Information Center (IKO) in terms of organization and personnel. However, the two bodies are legally independent of each other.
Members
Companies from the financial services sector can become members. As of January 1, 2012, the association had 89 members (2010: 85 members; 2008: 88 members), including many universal banks (UBS, Credit Suisse, Raiffeisen, Bank CLER, Migros Bank) as well as various cantonal banks, leasing companies and card issuers.
ZEK database
The database is registered in the WebDatareg of the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) and is managed electronically. It can be integrated into a customer information control system and allows e.g. B. the query via web-based applications.
content
The database includes the following data in particular:
- Personal data : name, first name, date of birth, address, occupation, marital status (optional), contractual partner problems , contractual partner information.
- Business data : loans, rental agreements, credit and customer cards, payment defaults , card credits , official information.
Database entry (message)
The entry into the database takes place through standardized reports from the members. Members are required to report for certain transactions (e.g. loan applications). Otherwise reports are voluntary. A fee is credited for data reports.
Database query (request)
Members, commissioned third parties
Only authorized members and third party companies authorized by ZEK have access to the database . A reason for the inquiry must be given for each inquiry. A special proof of interest is not required. The database is queried upon specific request or, if the essential assessment criteria for registered persons change, automatically to the members concerned. Data requests are chargeable.
Members have an obligation to inquire before examining loan applications. Otherwise, the query is voluntary. A typical voluntary query is intended to check any contract offers, your own current contracts or the company owner of a legal entity.
Authorities
The office provides information to authorities in response to legitimate inquiries. The data stored at ZEK may be passed on to cantonal authorities within Switzerland.
Self-disclosure
Every person has the right to information about their stored data in accordance with Art. 8 of the Data Protection Act . The right to information can in principle be asserted without proof of interest. The information is usually free of charge and must be provided within 30 days. The right to information cannot be waived.
Retention period
The retention period depends on the registered process. An open loan application is z. B. stored for 3 months; the reference to paternalism, on the other hand, for a maximum of 30 years. Counterparty problems are kept for 5 years. In detail, the retention period can be found in a regulation.
Scoring
The ZEK database contains information on creditworthiness in code form. These credit ratings are sold to service providers within and outside Switzerland.
Correction of errors, complaints
The members are, like every owner of a data collection, obliged according to Art. 5 of the Data Protection Act to ensure the completeness and correctness of the data they have saved. Since the ZEK is the owner of its data collection within the meaning of Art. 3 lit. i of the Data Protection Act, complaints about the content of ZEK information can be addressed directly to the association without first contacting the member concerned. In justified cases, the ZEK must correct incorrect entries.
Transfer of ZEK data
The members are obliged not to pass on data obtained from the database to third parties. Requests for courtesy (e.g. to good customers or for the private use of employees) are not permitted.
Banking secrecy, data protection
The banks among the members are subject to banking secrecy . For the other members, at least the data protection law applies. As a safeguard, the members have their customers authorized to transfer data to the ZEK. To serve z. B. Terms and Conditions or application forms for mortgages, leasing or credit cards.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Management Committee
- ↑ About us
- ^ Members
- ↑ Entry in WebDatareg ( Memento from December 17th, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
- ↑ Page no longer available , search in web archives: IBM - Web-based application auto finance (Web 2.0)
- ↑ Judgment of the Federal Court 4A_688 / 2011 of April 17, 2012 E. 5.4, intended for publication ( Memento of December 10, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )