Consumer protection

Increase the minimum wage

How will the minimum wage be adjusted?

Cycling Commissioner

Find out here whether your municipality has appointed a volunteer cycling officer or a volunteer cycling officer.

Report lost property and make a request

If you have found or lost something, for example an ID card, keys, rucksack or valuables, you can report this to the relevant lost and found office.

Complaints about unsolicited private e-mails

Spam e-mails are unsolicited and/or unsolicited electronic advertising messages sent to you in which services and/or products are advertised.

Complaints about unsolicited commercial e-mails

Spam mails are unsolicited and/or unsolicited electronic advertising messages sent to you in which services and/or products are advertised.

Information on violations in the context of money laundering supervision (whistleblower system) Receipt

Do you have evidence or information that could be related to money laundering?

Inform the responsible supervisory authority - even anonymously.

Report of suspected money laundering in a game of chance Acceptance

Do you have evidence or information that (could) be related to money laundering in a game of chance?

Report suspected adverse reactions and damage to health caused by medicinal products, vaccines or tissue preparations

By reporting suspected cases of side effects or vaccination complications to the authorities, you help to make medicines and vaccines safer.

View the location register for genetically modified organisms (public part)

You can consult the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without submitting an application.

Request information from the location register for genetically modified organisms (non-public part)

You can apply for information from the non-public part of the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

Reporting violations of the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when traveling by air

If you are denied a flight booking or transportation on a booked flight due to a disability or reduced mobility, or if insufficient assistance is provided by the airport or airline in relation to your flight, you can file a complaint.

Lodging a complaint against financial service providers

If you are having problems with a bank, insurance company or other financial service provider, you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht).

Submit complaints about basic accounts, account switching assistance and fee transparency

Does your bank reject your basic account application, does it not provide you with sufficient support when switching accounts or does it charge an unreasonable fee? Then you can complain to the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

Buying goods, digital content or services (including financial services) from another Member State, online or in person

Learn more about your consumer rights when you buy goods and services in the EU.

Holding a bank account in another Member State

Information about rights and limitations when opening and using a bank account in another EU country.

Consumer rights and guarantees related to buying goods and services, including procedures for consumer dispute resolution and compensation

Legal guarantee of conformity for goods A. Concept of a legal guarantee Consumers have a right to purchase goods that are free from defects. If purchased goods are found to...

Payments, transfers and cheques

Payments in Euros across the EU may not be charged more than equivalent national transactions. Here you can find more information about cross-border payments and transfers in the EU.

Connection to household utilities

This section provides information on the topics of default supply and household waste disposal.

Safety and security of consumer products

Consumer rights and guarantees In the case of defective products, the rights of consumers may arise either from a statutory warranty or from a guarantee issued by the seller. ...

Data protection and online privacy

Learn more about the topic  Data protection and online privacy.

Renting a motor vehicle

Hiring a car There are no specific EU rules on hiring cars , but you still benefit from your basic consumer rights when you rent a car in another EU country. This...

Point of Single Contact

The pan-European network of  Points of Single Contact can provide you with details of any legal requirements and help you to complete relevant procedures.

Information on the local comparative rent in your area can be found in the rent index, if one is available for your city or municipality.

Apply for administrative proceedings in the event of rejection of a basic account

You do not have a current account and your application to open a basic account has been rejected, for example by a bank or savings bank? Then you can apply for administrative proceedings against the institution that rejected your application.

Submitting complaints to enforce passenger rights in rail, bus and boat transport

Do you have cause for complaint after a train, bus or boat trip? Then you can contact the Federal Railway Authority (EBA).

Apply for approval of a new plant variety

You can only market a new plant variety that you have bred for food or feed for commercial purposes after the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) has completed its multi-year growing trial and you have obtained official variety approval.

Application for renewal of an approved variety

The approval of a variety marketed by you or other registered breeders expires? Then you can apply to the Bundessortenamt (BSA) for an extension of the approval.

Report number misuse

If a telephone number is used illegally, the Federal Network Agency can intervene and take appropriate measures. A telephone number may be misused if you are put on hold on a...

Report unauthorised telephone advertising

The term telephone advertising, also known as cold calling, refers to calls that are made with the purpose of selling you goods or offering you services without your prior consen...

Report radio interference

If you suspect a radio interference problem, you can report it to the Federal Network Agency's Testing and Measurement Service.

Request phone numbers for service departments

If you wish to offer a telephone service in Germany, you must apply to the Federal Network Agency for the assignment of a phone number.

Request arbitration in the event of a dispute with a telecommunications provider

If you have a dispute with your telecommunications provider, you can contact the Federal Network Agency's Telecommunications Arbitration Board under certain conditions. It can help to settle the dispute without having to go to court.

Request arbitration in the event of a dispute with a postal service provider

If you are unable to reach an agreement with a postal service provider in the event of a dispute, the Federal Network Agency can mediate under certain conditions.

Complain to the Federal Network Agency about postal and parcel service providers

In case of basic problems with mail or parcel delivery, you can complain to Bundesnetzagentur.

Applying for exemptions in accordance with the German Food and Feed Code

If you wish to produce, treat or market foodstuffs in Germany that deviate from national legislation, you can apply for a derogation from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

Submitting complaints and inquiries in the area of telecommunications

As a customer of an Internet, mobile or fixed network provider, you can find out about your rights and submit inquiries and complaints to the Federal Network Agency.

Report undesirable effects and damage to health with cosmetics

If you use cosmetics and adverse effects occur, you can report this. As a manufacturing or trading company, you must report effects with serious health consequences to the authorities.

Submitting a complaint against companies in the financial services sector

Do you believe that a company has violated the German Investment Code? Then you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). You can use the general complaints procedure to do so.

File a complaint for violation of the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation

If you want to complain about a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can file a complaint with the Federal Network Agency.