Broadcast fee penalty: An important change could be expensive for payers
Created: 05/31/2022, 05:02
By: Laura May
Almost everyone in Germany transfers the broadcasting fee every quarter - a change could now be expensive for payers if they miss the four-week deadline.
Munich – ARD, ZDF, Deutschlandfunk.
In Germany, public broadcasters are financed by contributions.
All households have to pay this broadcasting fee (also known as the broadcasting fee), except for people who receive social benefits.
Unlike in other countries, the fee in the Federal Republic does not depend on whether you have a receiving device such as a radio or television.
Broadcasting fee: If you miss the payment deadline, you have to pay the “default surcharge”.
The broadcasting fee is currently EUR 18.36 per month.
As a rule, people pay 55.08 euros per quarter by SEPA direct debit or transfer to the contribution service.
If the previously so-called GEZ fee is automatically debited, nothing will change in the future.
But if you forget to make the transfer, you will face penalties in the future.
The contribution service has reduced the number of payment requests sent since the beginning of the year, explains the external communication of the contribution service to
Merkur.de
.
In future, contributors who regularly pay the broadcasting license fee on a quarterly basis and have not yet given the contribution service a SEPA mandate will only receive a one-off payment request on which the four payment dates of the year are noted.
Forgotten broadcasts can become expensive in the future./Iconic image © Marius Becker
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Broadcasting contribution: That is why there will no longer be a payment request in the future
Until something changes in the amount of the contribution, these contributors will not receive any further payment request from the contribution service.
Anyone who misses the four-week payment deadline must pay a "default surcharge" of one percent of the amount or at least eight euros.
If a reminder follows, the bank's return debit fees will also be due.
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The reason for the decision of the contribution service should primarily be cost-cutting measures.
If not so many letters with payment requests have to be sent, the postage costs are lower and the administration has less work.
"The contribution service continuously examines all possibilities to make its operation even more efficient and cost-effective," explains the contribution service to
Merkur.de
.
Broadcasting contribution: only seven percent of those liable to pay the contribution miss the deadline
Media users, on the other hand, need to be careful and don't miss the payment deadline if they don't want to pay extra fees.
Only 7% of the fee payers were in arrears with the payment of the broadcasting fee as of December 31, 2020 - fewer than ever since the broadcasting fee was introduced in 2013, according to the contribution service.
