Comparison portals are a great thing in themselves.

It is useful for customers to see where they can save money: on electricity, from an Internet provider or from insurance.

But when it comes to one topic, the comparison portals lose their senses and become a column of pushers, in front of which even organized gangs of beggars act like serious representatives of their profession: credit comparisons.

Anyone who wants to get non-binding information here as a customer without taking out a loan directly triggers a whole advertising cascade.

Franz Nestler

Editor in business.

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It already starts with the inquiry: There they advertise with favorable conditions such as interest rates below 1 percent. The only problem is that hardly anyone gets it: It is not exactly known which conditions must be met. Market leader Check24 speaks of a positive budget bill. Whether this is due to credit offers that have already been taken, the Schufa credit or just the ascendant of the zodiac sign - unclear. Market leader Check24 says that thousands of customers have taken out the loan at negative interest rates - of how many inquiries they do not say.

The real terror - the portals speak of information offers - starts as soon as you want to check whether you are really suitable for one or the other loan. At the beginning, a digital assistant greets you with a pretty photo, who checks the application. At the same time there are already the first emails and SMS, but now from a consultant without a pretty photo. At the same time the phone rings, the advisor wants to speak. If you don't react directly, text messages come in - urgent questions, recommendations for other loans. As a customer, you tend to be left confused.

It really gets going by email: there are “new loan offers” on the same day, a “best loan offer” a little later, queries as to whether you have “already found the right loan?” And advertising that you are the “top -Complete a loan offer “- within three days. The contract that you just wanted to compare is already in the mailbox. This is followed by the questions by e-mail, "When can the bank expect your documents?", "Loan decision already made?", "Financing request still up to date?" And "Loan request already fulfilled?". Only after three weeks does the "advisor", who only sends advertising emails, give up.

At the comparison portals, has anyone ever realized how dubious it looks if you chase people more aggressively than some pickpockets on busy shopping streets?

One of the providers said that many customers would appreciate that.

As a customer, you can object to this aggressive advertising: In emails, by phone, by post and also on the phone when someone calls you.

If none of this helps, you can also complain to the consumer advice centers.

And maybe next time you should think twice about whether you really want to compare harmless loans.