Overview

• German consumer protection centers reported over 295,000 complaints in 2024, a 6% increase from the previous year.
• One in eight complaints involved misleading contracts, an 18% rise compared to 2023, with 26% of these tied to phone-initiated agreements.
• More than 10,000 complaints were linked to fake online shops, marking a 47% spike in fraud cases year-over-year.
• Consumer advocates, led by Michaela Schröder, are pushing for written confirmation requirements for phone-based contracts to safeguard consumers.
• The Union-SPD coalition agreement commits to implementing stricter consumer protections, including mandatory written confirmation for phone contracts.