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Consumer protection
As a consumer, you want to take part in business transactions without
endangering your health or your economic interests. Consumer protection shields you
from dangers that you would not be able to detect yourself, such as food safety and
product safety issues.
Is the approval for a variety marketed by you or other registered breeders about to expire? If so, you can apply to the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) for an extension of the approval.
You may not market a new plant variety that you have bred for human consumption or animal feed until the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) has completed its multi-year cultivation trial and the variety has been officially approved for commercial use.
If you wish to produce, process, or market food products in Germany that deviate from national regulations, you can apply for an exemption from the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
If you suspect that someone who is subject to the Money Laundering Act is in breach of their obligations under the Money Laundering Act or related provisions, you can report this anonymously to the competent supervisory authority.
Legal guarantee of conformity for goods
A. Institute of the statutory warranty
Consumers have a right to expect that the goods they have purchased are free of defects.
If ...
If you wish to file a complaint against a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can submit a complaint to the Federal Network Agency.
If you are unable to reach an agreement with a postal service provider in the event of a dispute, the Federal Network Agency may mediate under certain conditions.
If you are of the opinion that a bank or insurance company in the financial services sector has not behaved correctly towards you, you can lodge a complaint with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
Payments in euros throughout the EU may not be charged more than equivalent domestic transactions. Here you can find more information about cross-border payments and transfers in the EU.
Renting a Car
There are
no specific EU rules for renting a car
s
, but you can still rely on your basic consumer rights when renting a car in another EU country. These...
If you use cosmetics and experience adverse effects, you can report them. As a manufacturer or distributor, you are required to report effects with serious health consequences to the authorities.
Do you have an electrical appliance in your home that interferes with other devices or could pose a safety risk? If so, you should report it to the Federal Network Agency.
If a phone number is used unlawfully, the Federal Network Agency may intervene and take appropriate measures.
Misuse of a phone number may occur if
you are placed on hold when...
The term “telemarketing,” also known as “cold calling,” refers to calls made for the purpose of selling you goods or offering you services without your prior consent to receive...
Were you affected by a flight cancellation, delay, involuntary denied boarding or transportation in a lower or higher booking class than the one booked? Then you can file a complaint under certain conditions.
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.
You can request information from the non-public section of the Registry of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) from the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety.
If you are in a dispute with your telecommunications provider, you can, under certain conditions, contact the Federal Network Agency’s Telecommunications Dispute Resolution Board. It can help resolve the dispute without having to go to court.
Do you not have a checking account, and has your application to open a basic account been denied—for example, by a bank or savings bank? If so, you can file an administrative appeal against the institution that denied your application.
Consumer rights and guarantees
Consumer rights in the event of defective products may arise from the statutory warranty or from a given guarantee.
A. Institute of the...
If you have lost an item, you can search for it at the relevant lost and found office. In some municipalities, an online service allows you to search for reported lost property.
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).
As a customer of an Internet, mobile, or landline service provider, you can contact the Federal Network Agency to learn about your rights and to submit inquiries and complaints.
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.
