Consumer Advocates Report Surge in Complaints About Unwanted Contracts

Consumer advocates in Germany are raising alarms over a significant increase in complaints regarding unsolicited contracts, particularly those sold over the phone. In the past year, the number of grievances reported to consumer centers across the country exceeded 295,000, marking an uptick of 17,000 compared to the previous year. This figure was released by the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations in Berlin.

Notably, 12.5% of these complaints (approximately 37,000) pertained to contracts that consumers might not have willingly entered into had they fully understood the implications. Alarmingly, 26% of these issues were related to contracts that were allegedly imposed through telephone calls, leaving many consumers unaware that they had entered into a binding agreement, often under the guise of trial subscriptions.

Michaela Schröder, the managing director of a prominent consumer organization, emphasized the persistent nature of this issue, stating that unsolicited contracts have become a consistent concern for consumer advocates. She called for immediate legislative reforms, advocating that contracts initiated over the phone should only take effect upon receiving written confirmation from the consumer. This has been a long-standing demand from consumer protection groups, who argue that clear regulations are necessary to safeguard consumer rights.

Furthermore, the latest coalition agreement between the Union and SPD parties indicates a commitment to addressing this issue within the new government. The agreement outlines plans to implement a comprehensive confirmation solution for contracts arising from telephone communications, which advocates believe will help reduce unnecessary disputes for consumers.

In addition to complaints about unsolicited contracts, consumer advocates have reported a sharp rise in issues related to fraudulent online shops, commonly referred to as fakeshops. Over 10,000 complaints were recorded in the last year, representing a staggering 47% increase from 2023. These deceptive platforms often take consumers' money without delivering the purchased goods, leading to further financial distress.

Data from all 16 consumer centers across approximately 200 advisory offices in Germany contributed to these statistics. This comprehensive data collection aims to provide a clearer picture of the challenges consumers face today in the marketplace.