Anastasia Marcianti Behind the "buy now, pay later" system that allows payments in installments lies a much more serious problem. In France , an increasing number of people are unable to pay their debts. Consumer credit accounts for 44% of the debt of struggling families. According to data published by the Bank of France on October 13, over 121.000 requests for over-indebtedness relief were submitted in the first nine months of the year.
This is an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year.
Buying in installments is easier than ever.
This model, originally from the United States, allows you to purchase a product immediately and pay for it in installments. This option may seem convenient, especially when you don't have enough money available, but it can become inconvenient if too many payments pile up.
Consumer loans, in fact, are used to purchase goods and services for everyday life. The problem is that by paying little by little, you risk not realizing how much you're actually spending.
The testimonies collected by Le Monde
The French newspaper Le Monde highlighted the testimony of Yves, 77, who lives in Paris and turned to Crésus Île-de-France, a non-profit network that fights against over-indebtedness and banking exclusion.
He says he's always paid his rent regularly and has never had any debts in the past. Over the years, however, he's taken out four consumer loans with Cofidis and Sofinco. He now finds himself paying a total of €377 a month in installments, a significant sum considering his pension is €1.042 a month. His case was taken up by the Banque de France, which scheduled an appointment with him to lower the interest and reduce his monthly payments to around €100.
Even more serious is the case of a woman who, over time, obtained 60 consumer loans without anyone stopping her: she had to repay €10.875 per month. According to Today, a consultant at the Crésus center told Le Monde : "They tell us that the operators check customers' bank statements before granting consumer loans or installment payments. This isn't true."
Another serious problem concerns unpaid rent. This is the case of Étienne, a former IT manager and graduate of the École des Mines, who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. After running out of unemployment benefits, he now lives on a subsidy of €604 a month, while his rent is €920. He stopped paying rent in January 2025, and when he contacted the Crésus association, he had accumulated €11.538 in arrears.
The problem of payments piling up
According to Hélène Tanguy, director of consumer services at the Banque de France, the risk lies not so much in excessive credit but in the accumulation of small debts, without the individual being aware of it. Since 2010, France has introduced regulations to curb this phenomenon, for example by banning the riskiest forms of credit.
A phenomenon that also concerns Italy
The "buy now, pay later" system is also growing rapidly in Italy . According to the CRIF Market Outlook, in the second half of 2025, financing through this method increased by 23% compared to the same period in 2024 and by 220% compared to the first half of 2022. Traditional loans under €1.500 decreased by 10%. The report also shows that 55% of requests come from women. Regarding age, 34% of customers are Generation X and 29,5% are Millennials.