January 2023

There will be some changes in the energy sector in 2023. The energy advice service of the consumer advice center provides information on these. Among other things, consumers should be aware of the energy efficiency regulations for new buildings, the cap on energy prices and the promotion of energy-saving investments. From 2023, for example, stricter requirements will apply to new buildings with regard to energy...

BHW-Bausparkasse may not charge an annual fee during the savings phase of home loan and savings contracts. This was recently decided by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH, AZ: XI ZR 551/21). In this case, the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) had filed a lawsuit against the building society in question. The building society had demanded an annual fee of 12 euros from its customers with a building society account. Wrongly, as the BGH...