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Anyone who cannot open a giro account must be allowed to pay in cash: the Federal Administrative Court has ruled on the broadcasting fee
Photo: Christoph Hardt / imago images/Future Image
Anyone who cannot open a current account with a private or public bank may, according to a court decision, pay the broadcasting fee in cash.
This emerges from a judgment of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig.
In most cases, however, public service broadcasters can insist on cashless payment of the license fee.
The judges specifically addressed the regulation at Hessischer Rundfunk (HR), which excludes cash payments without exception.
This violates Union law, according to the court, which has now defined the specific cases of hardship.
The case has already gone through several court instances, including the European Court of Justice.
The Federal Administrative Court decided in two proceedings.
According to a court spokeswoman, the verdict cannot be appealed and the decision is final.
The plaintiffs are homeowners and are subject to broadcasting fees.
They wanted to pay arrears in cash, which HR refused.
The plaintiffs themselves were unsuccessful in doing so in court.
The judges rejected the appeal with the judgment made.
According to the court, both have a checking account.
HR must formulate new regulations
The managing director of the contribution service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio, Michael Krüßel, said: "We will provide information on adjustments to the procedure for the payment of broadcasting contributions in due course on rundfunkbeitrag.de." The contribution service also emphasized that, according to the judgement, broadcasters are fundamentally entitled , to restrict the possibility of paying the license fee in cash in their statutes.
HR legal advisor Nina Hütt said: "The broadcasters and the contribution service will carefully examine the details of the decision as soon as it is available."
The judges decided that the HR may still apply its old regulation for a transitional period - but only on the condition that the hardship regulation be included immediately.
The ARD broadcaster must formulate a new regulation in the future.
The broadcasting fee is EUR 18.36 per month.
It is the main source of income for ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio.
tfb/dpa/AFP
