Consumer rights
Current locking judgment: Fees for installment payments inadmissible
Energy suppliers have to offer households in front of a power lock an interest -free monthly installment payment. A court has now decided in a judgment. Consumer advocates had sued.
The consumer advice center has won better protection in the event of impending power blocks. According to a judgment of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, energy suppliers may not charge any fees for installment payments, as reported by the NRW consumer center in Düsseldorf. In addition, the companies would have to offer installment payments for a period of up to 24 months at high residues.
Energy suppliers are obliged to offer an interest -free monthly installment payment before a power ban. However, the energy company New Niederrhein Energy and Water has charged fees for this. On the other hand, it was successfully sued (judgment of 13.02.2025, AZ I-20 UKI 7/24), the consumer advocates said.
A installment payment agreement gives those affected the opportunity to avert the power block and compensate for the deficit in payment, said Kolja Ofenhammer, lawyer at the Consumer Center North Rhine -Westphalia. “To raise additional fees for customers who already have difficulty paying the electricity costs are counterproductive.”
In the case of residues, installment payment is possible
According to the consumer advice center, energy suppliers can already switch off the electricity from a payment deficit of two monthly discounts and at least 100 euros. In order to protect households from a sudden power lock, there is the right to an installment payment agreement. “In order for this to be affordable, energy suppliers must offer installments of up to 24 months with high residues.” However, according to the consumer center, the new had limited the duration to 12 months. “This was also prohibited by the OLG Düsseldorf.”
The court allowed a revision of the judgment. New wants to check the reason now. “If the reason and the interpretation of the laws contained therein are understandable, we will of course implement the judgment,” said a spokeswoman. Otherwise they want to appeal to have the judgment checked by the Federal Court of Justice.
“The judgment confirms the rights of consumers: inside to their energy supplier and protects them from slipping into a sudden power block,” said Ofenhammer. People with payment difficulties need concrete help to compensate for their debts and no additional hurdles that made their situation worse. In this context, the consumer advice center referred to its advisory services in the event of insolvency.
dpa
Source: Stern
