Uncollectible loans not only in the balance sheets of banks but also in those of multiutilities: a real problem not only for those who provide credit but also for those who provide services. To this it was dedicated the Statistical Observatory published periodically by the AZ Holding Group, a study that since 2011 has been profiling Italian debtors in consumer credit, bank credit and now in the multi-utility sector.
The trend clearly highlighted by the Observatory, from 2011 to today, reflects the negative trend of the Italian economy with an increase in some specific classes of debtors: unemployed and women. In particular, the study, focused on electricity and gas bill debtors for this year, outlines a very heterogeneous profile of debtors. 77,7% of the debtors are of Italian nationality and are distributed throughout the country as follows.
Women represent 42,8% of the sample analyzed and the status of employment underlines a majority of unemployed who amount to 49,6% as shown in the graph below. The analysis of the trends from 2011 to today highlights a growing percentage of foreign defaulters.
Il credit tickets analyzed related to bills is mostly composed of amounts mid-bass and is linked in many cases to bills (electricity and gas) in which there has been a takeover or transfer of utilities. For 54% of cases, the average income available to debtors, employees or pensioners, is less than 1000 euros per month. The geographical distribution of employees is very varied, as can be seen from the graph below.
Analyzing the trend, the study confirms the progressive homogeneity of territoriality of the defaulting subjects on the national territory. The percentage of debtors present in Northern Italy increases significantly; during the first half of 2015. This increase was offset by a clear decrease in debtors in Southern Italy. The trend could be explained by the greater mobility of subjects present in Northern Italy, which offers a greater number of transfer of gas and electricity contracts in relation to which old users often leave unpaid installments.
The general observation on the data reveals a heterogeneous distribution of debtors with reference to geographical area, type of contract and remuneration. The possible explanation is certainly linked to the typical nature of the multi-utility sector where the debtor has less burdensome charges than consumer credit.
In light of the data reported Carmen Evangelista, underlines that: "The profile of the debtors that emerged from the study confirms a change in the profile of the non-solvent, in step with the economic changes in the country".
