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.
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.
A new plant variety that you have bred for food or feed can only be marketed for commercial purposes after completion of several years of cultivation testing by the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) and official variety approval.
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).
You can apply to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety for information from the non-public part of the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Is the approval of a variety marketed by you or other registered breeders expiring? Then you can apply to the Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) for an extension of the approval.
Information on opening and using a bank account in another EU country - rights and restrictions.
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.
In the event of fundamental problems with postal or parcel delivery, you can complain to the Federal Network Agency.
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 ...
Find out more about
Data protection and privacy in the online environment.
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 national transactions. Here you can find more information about cross-border payments and transfers in the EU.
Rent a car
There are
no special EU regulations for renting a car.
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but you can still rely on your basic consumer rights when you rent a car in another EU country. Thes...
Do you have a radio system in your household that interferes with other devices or could pose a safety risk? Then you should report this to the Federal Network Agency.
Do you have an electrical appliance in your household that interferes with other appliances or could pose a safety risk? Then you should report this to the Federal Network Agency.
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 ...
If you suspect radio interference, you can report it to the testing and measuring service of the Federal Network Agency.
By reporting suspected cases of side effects or vaccination complications to the authorities, you help to make medicines and vaccines safer.
The term telephone advertising, also known as cold calls, refers to calls that are intended to sell you goods or offer you services without your prior consent to the call....
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.
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.
If you are unable to reach an agreement in a dispute with a postal service provider, the Federal Network Agency can mediate under certain conditions.
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.
Would you like to obtain access to official information from a federal authority? Then you can submit an application under the Freedom of Information Act.
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.
If you have any questions for the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) or comments on its tasks, you are welcome to contact the LBA directly.
Find out more about your consumer rights when you buy goods and services in the EU.
The Europe-wide Single Point of Contact network provides you with information on legal requirements and helps with the handling of procedures.
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).
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.
If you wish to complain about a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can submit a complaint to the Federal Network Agency.
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.
Do you have cause for complaint after a train, bus or boat trip? Then you can contact the Federal Railway Authority (EBA).
Here you will find information on basic services and household waste disposal.
You can view the site register for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without submitting an application.
