"Doubtful Bill": Invoice received from Dubai – Business insists on payment for cancellation of GEZ fee
In a recent incident, a 72-year-old German resident named Günter Ostermaier found himself in a predicament when he received a bill from a debt collection agency for cancelling his mother's radio and television fees through an unofficial website. The website, , demanded a fee of 39.99 euros for the cancellation, which was not immediately apparent to Mr. Ostermaier.
This incident serves as a reminder to be cautious when dealing with unofficial websites, especially those related to financial transactions. To distinguish official GEZ cancellation websites from fraudulent ones, consumers should keep the following points in mind:
- Use only the official website and contact details of the Beitragsservice: The legitimate broadcaster fee service is called ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice. Their official postal address is 50656 Cologne, Germany. Phone contact is available at 01806 999 555 10, and fax at 01806 999 555 01. Cancellation forms and processes are available on their official site and are typically in German.
- Be wary of third-party websites demanding upfront fees: Some fraudulent websites pretending to be the Beitragsservice may charge fees for cancellation services. The official broadcaster fee service does not require any money to cancel or deregister. If you encounter a website asking for payments to cancel the GEZ fee, it is likely fraudulent.
- Check the web domain carefully: Official Beitragsservice communications use domains associated with ARD, ZDF, or Deutschlandradio, or official government domains. Avoid unfamiliar or commercial-looking domains that do not end in .de or relate directly to public broadcasters.
- Use proof of deregistration: The official process to cancel your broadcaster fee requires submitting your deregistration certificate (Abmeldebescheinigung) from the local Bürgeramt, proving you left Germany.
- Send notifications by tracked mail or official channels: For security, send cancellation notices by tracked mail or fax directly to the official Beitragsservice address and keep records.
- Do not pay via wire transfer or suspicious payment methods: Official Kommunal Rundfunkbeitrag payments and cancellations never ask for upfront wire transfers or payments to unknown platforms.
Consumer centres offer a debt collection check. Those who want to be completely safe can send a letter with the name, address, and fee number to the GEZ or print out the corresponding form and send it by post. The Verbraucherzentrale Bayern offers a site where you can check the respective debt collection company at .
In the case of Mr. Ostermaier, the company operating the unofficial website is based in Dubai and is named "Digitaler Post Service FZCO". The official site for the ARD, ZDF, and Deutschlandradio fee collection centre (GEZ) has not been specified in the provided text.
The incident involving Mr. Ostermaier highlights the need for consumers to be vigilant when cancelling their radio and television fees to avoid potential scams. Cancelling a connection with the GEZ is free of charge, and the debt collection agency's claim has nothing to do with the GEZ, according to Sibylle Miller-Trach from the Bayern consumer centre. Mr. Ostermaier has confirmed his innocence by removing the page and the collective lawsuit filed by consumer centers against the dubious company.
In conclusion, always confirm contacts via official Rundfunkbeitrag/Beitragsservice sources, never pay cancellation fees, use documented proof for deregistration, and send notifications through official postal or fax channels to avoid fraud. If in doubt, contacting ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice directly by their official phone or postal address helps verify authenticity.
This incident underscores the importance of being cautious when dealing with unofficial websites, especially those related to the finance industry, such as payment transactions and subscription cancellations. To avoid falling victim to fraudulent activities, consumers should adhere to the official guidelines for cancelling their radio and television fees, as demonstrated by the Beitragsservice for broadcaster fees in Germany. Additionally, it's essential to be wary of third-party websites demanding upfront fees and check the web domain carefully, ensuring it's associated with official industry entities.
