Consumer bankruptcy was introduced in Poland on March 31, 2009. Initially, because the introduced regulations were very strict, there were not many interested in using it. This changed on December 31, 2014, when the regulations were liberalized due to an amendment to the law. At that time, the number of individuals using consumer bankruptcy began to rise. A further boom occurred after the simplification of regulations on March 24, 2020. Despite increasing interest from people who decided to use consumer bankruptcy, their number has never been as large as it is now.
In March 2026, the increase in the number of people using consumer bankruptcy was record-breaking. The increase was over 27% compared to the previous year. In total, in the previous month, 2,305 consumers declared bankruptcy. That is 35% more than in February 2026.
The March result caused not only a historical record in the monthly scale but also in the quarterly scale. In the first quarter of 2026, the number of consumer bankruptcies in our country reached 5,903. That is the same as in one year ten years ago.
Who is consumer bankruptcy intended for?
The bankruptcy procedure is a legal process aimed at organizing and regulating the debtor’s financial situation, who has become insolvent. When can it be used? In a situation where the debtor cannot meet their obligations to creditors in a timely manner. Declaring consumer bankruptcy is meant to protect the interests of both the debtor and the creditor, by developing a repayment plan that aims to satisfy creditor claims as fully as possible. The creators of this solution wanted that, thanks to this regulation, the debtor could, by settling their situation with the creditor, effectively start a new life.
The process begins when the debtor or creditor submits a bankruptcy application. The bankruptcy court conducts an analysis of the debtor’s assets and, based on that, decides on bankruptcy.
Why is the number of consumer bankruptcies increasing?
There are more debtors because the cost of living in Poland is rising. When a consumer tries to live at a high level, often taking on additional loans, and suddenly loses their job, they fall into financial problems that can grow over time, leading to a situation where they become insolvent to their creditors. In that case, the only protective exit for both parties may be consumer bankruptcy, which can gradually help them get out of financial troubles.
Changes in consumer bankruptcy
In 2026, further changes to consumer bankruptcy are planned. According to Bankier.pl, this time they are primarily technical in nature, eliminating some obstacles that prolong proceedings and burden courts.
The change will affect, among other things, the rules for submitting reports on the implementation of the repayment plan. According to the portal, if the debtor does not submit a report, the repayment plan will no longer be automatically cancelled. Additionally, after changes to the debt covered by the repayment plan, after 3 months the automatic forgiveness of the plan will occur. The draft also shortens the visibility time in the National Debtor Register to 3 years from the day the debt is legally forgiven by the consumer who filed for bankruptcy.
See also: 81.3 billion PLN is the amount of Polish debt. The record holder has almost 100 million PLN to repay
