The Federal Network Agency will take up your complaint, register it and follow up on any usable information. If it discovers an infringement of the law, it can impose a fine of up to EUR 300,000 on the calling company as the state supervisory and regulatory authority for the telecommunications sector.
Anyone who violates the ban on number suppression can be fined up to EUR 100,000.
The Federal Network Agency cannot always inform you as the complainant about the progress and outcome of the proceedings.
The Consumer Advice Centre and the Competition Centre can take civil action against the company making the complaint, for example by issuing a warning or taking legal action for an injunction.
Consumers who are not members of the Wettbewerbszentrale are not informed about the status of the proceedings. The Wettbewerbszentrale would like to point out that it must disclose your name and address or e-mail address as part of an out-of-court dispute settlement.
If you would like to report a company to the consumer advice centre and do not wish to receive a response or advice, you can do so by e-mail at info@vz-bw.de.
If you would like individual advice, the consumer advice centre offers you the choice between
Please note: The ban on unauthorised telephone advertising does not affect the validity of contracts that may be concluded between you and the calling company in the event of an unsolicited call.
If you agree to order goods or make use of services during such a telephone call, a binding contract may be concluded under certain circumstances.
Contracts agreed by telephone are valid. Therefore, do not enter into any discussion with the caller and hang up.
If a company nevertheless claims that a contract has been concluded as a result of the telephone call, you generally have the right to cancel the contract within 14 days without giving reasons.
If the company has informed you of your right of cancellation in accordance with the statutory provisions, this period begins on receipt of the goods in the case of a purchase contract and on conclusion of the contract in the case of a contract for services.
If you are informed of your right of cancellation at a later date, the start of the period is postponed accordingly.
If you have not been properly informed about your right of cancellation, or have not been informed at all, the right of cancellation generally only expires one year later than usual - after twelve months and 14 days from receipt of the goods or conclusion of the contract.
An exception applies to prize draw services:
Contracts in which a company offers to register you to take part in prize draws organised by a third party can only be effectively concluded by letter, fax or email (text form).
Even if you have consented to a call, no obligations can arise for you from a telephone agreement with prize draw services.