Schuldenexit

Schuldenexit GmbH, based in Cologne, operates the digital platform Schuldenexit, which supports people in debt situations with orientation. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gruner Richter + Partner GmbH, Cologne, and is managed by Rebecca Kehrl and Dieter Gruner.

At the heart of the offering is an AI-supported advisor that answers questions relating to debts, reminders, debt collection, enforcement and personal insolvency. Users can upload reminders, debt collection letters as well as post from courts, lawyers and authorities as PDFs; the platform reads and analyses these documents, explains their significance and, among other things, creates a creditor list as an overview of outstanding claims. Further functions relate to initial steps towards stabilising one’s financial situation, building a household budget, protecting the subsistence minimum in cases of wage and account garnishment, for instance via a P-Konto (protected bank account), information on state benefits as well as preparation for communication with creditors. The advisor can be used in ten languages.

The offering is aimed at over-indebted consumers as well as at companies dealing with debt relief or the preparation of insolvency proceedings. Schuldenexit sees itself as an orientation and pre-structuring service: according to its own description, it replaces neither debt counselling nor legal advice nor an assessment of the individual case, but is intended to prepare documents and questions in such a way that subsequent professional advice is set up for success.

In terms of content, the platform is exclusively oriented towards German insolvency and debt law. It was developed with the involvement of professional debt counsellors and under legal guidance. Professional quality assurance is provided by an advisory board with experience in debt counselling, the legal profession and insolvency law; it is chaired by Martin Buchheister, specialist lawyer for insolvency law. In addition, there are cooperations with organisations from insolvency and debt counselling practice. Managing Director Rebecca Kehrl, a lawyer, publishes articles as a guest author at FOCUS online on over-indebtedness, consumer protection and financial crisis situations. The company describes data protection as a firm part of its self-conception.