🛒 Wegweiser Consumers

Withdrawal, defects, subscriptions, cold calls, Schufa, energy, bank accounts and loans: explained in plain language, with legal bases and deadlines.

Legal position as of September 2026. Already in force: withdrawal button (§ 356a BGB, since 19 June 2026) and right to repair (purchase contracts from 31 July 2026). Still pending: new consumer credit rules (applicable from 20 November 2026) and the EU reform of air passenger rights (expected to enter into force only in 2027). Information, not legal advice. Sources and limits

Roadmaps: Answer questions, see steps with deadlines – Faulty goods · Getting out of a contract or subscription · Invoice, reminder, debt collection · Flight or trip gone wrong.

Frequently searched

↩️ Right of withdrawal and the withdrawal button 🔧 Statutory warranty and defects 🪤 Subscription traps, cancellation button and contract terms 📞 Cold calling and unwanted calls 📬 Reminders, debt collection and Schufa 🛑 Online shopping and fraud

All topic areas

🧭OverviewBasics: what rights consumers have when buying and signing contracts, and where to enforce them.1 topic 📦Buying & complaintsWithdrawal, defects, guarantees and safety when shopping online.4 topics 📄Contracts & subscriptionsSubscription traps, cancelling with a click, cold calling, energy and bank accounts.4 topics 💶Money & debtReminders, debt collection, Schufa, loans and consumer insolvency.2 topics ✈️Travel & dataAir passenger rights and data protection against advertising.2 topics ⚖️Enforcing your rightsArbitration, class actions and representative actions.1 topic 🤝AdviceVerbraucherzentralen (consumer advice centres) and other documented nationwide services.1 topic

🧭 Overview

Basics: what rights consumers have when buying and signing contracts, and where to enforce them.

🧭Overview of consumer rightsWhat protects consumers by law: withdrawal, rights in case of defects, cancellation button, protection against advertising. And where to get help.

📦 Buying & complaints

Withdrawal, defects, guarantees and safety when shopping online.

↩️Right of withdrawal and the withdrawal buttonYou can usually withdraw from goods bought online or by phone within 14 days. Since 19 June 2026 there must be a withdrawal button for this. 🔧Statutory warranty and defectsIf goods are broken or wrong, sellers are liable. You are entitled to repair or replacement. For new goods, 2 years apply. 🧾Guarantee and complaintsA guarantee is voluntary and comes from the manufacturer or retailer. The statutory warranty is mandatory. They are not the same thing. 🛑Online shopping and fraudSpot fake shops and pay with a safe payment method. In case of fraud, claim your money back quickly.

📄 Contracts & subscriptions

Subscription traps, cancelling with a click, cold calling, energy and bank accounts.

🪤Subscription traps, cancellation button and contract termsSubscriptions must be cancellable online with two clicks. Long terms and silent renewal are limited in general terms and conditions. 📞Cold calling and unwanted callsAdvertising calls to consumers require their prior express consent. The Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) can fine violations. 💡Energy suppliers, tariff changes and price increasesIf your energy supplier raises prices, you can cancel without notice. Switching supplier takes three weeks at most. 🏦Bank account, basic account and bank feesAnyone legally resident in the EU is entitled to a basic account (Basiskonto). The bank must make an offer within ten business days.

💶 Money & debt

Reminders, debt collection, Schufa, loans and consumer insolvency.

📬Reminders, debt collection and SchufaDo not pay blindly. Check the claim, reminder and debt collection. For Schufa entries you have a right of access. 💳Loans, instalment purchases and consumer insolvencyFrom 20 November 2026 new credit rules apply, including to buy now, pay later. In case of over-indebtedness, insolvency with a three-year assignment period helps.

✈️ Travel & data

Air passenger rights and data protection against advertising.

✈️Travel and air passenger rightsIn case of delay, cancellation or overbooking, air passengers can receive 250, 400 or 600 euros. Reform comes in 2027 at the earliest. 🔒Data protection and advertising for consumersYou can demand access to your data and object to advertising. Credit agencies such as the Schufa must provide information free of charge once a year.

⚖️ Enforcing your rights

Arbitration, class actions and representative actions.

⚖️Consumer arbitration and court optionsArbitration first, then a lawsuit. For many affected people there are representative actions (redress action, model declaratory action).

🤝 Advice

Verbraucherzentralen (consumer advice centres) and other documented nationwide services.

🤝Advice and contact pointsVerbraucherzentralen in all 16 Länder offer advice. Partly free, partly for a fee. In addition: Bundesnetzagentur and arbitration.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.