Annoying calls: More complaints about unauthorized telephone advertising

Whether it’s a competition or an oh-so-cheap electricity tariff: unauthorized telephone advertising has led to significantly more complaints in 2024. Last year, 37,561 critical comments were received in this regard, eight percent more than in 2023, the Federal Network Agency said upon request. However, the number of complaints had previously been significantly higher; in 2022 the number was 64,704.

“Unfortunately, after the recent decline in the number of complaints, we are seeing an increase again compared to the previous year,” explained Federal Network Agency President Klaus Müller. “We will therefore continue to take strong action in the new year against companies that harass consumers on the telephone.”

The number of complaints about annoying competition advertising increased, with such annoyances being described in every fifth critical comment. A year earlier, only one in six complaints was about this. Building products relating to photovoltaics were also often discussed.

Fines of around 1.4 million euros were imposed

Advertising calls may only be made if those called have given their prior consent. The advertising consent can be revoked later – if the phone still rings afterwards, that is also a legal violation. A complaint can be made at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/telefonwerbung-beschwerde. The Bonn supervisory authority took action against the half-silent advertisers and imposed fines totaling 1.37 million euros; in 2023 it was 1.44 million euros.

Last year, proceedings by the Federal Network Agency were directed against a company that began advertising discussions with the pretense of a request for a health survey. The callers pretended to be representatives of a pharmacy association, which was not true at all. During the course of the conversation, those called – often older people – were pressured into buying expensive nutritional supplements.