GEZ: Post service checks payers of broadcasting fees - millions of consumers are now receiving mail

Created: 01/13/2023 04:55

By: Anna Lorenz

Broadcasting fees are generally payable for every apartment in Germany, but some citizens probably evade the obligation to pay the fee.

The contribution service therefore carries out a data comparison.

Munich – “One apartment – ​​one contribution”.

In 2012, for example, the contribution service of the public broadcasters, which is still commonly known as GEZ, declared the obligation to pay broadcasting fees in Germany.

This "also means that you have to pay the license fee for every apartment, regardless of whether you have a radio or television at all," explains the consumer advice center.

Not least because of scandals about the use of the collected funds - such as in the case of Schlesinger 2022 - there is a certain resentment about the obligation to pay.

Consumers, who are now increasingly using streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, are often annoyed by the costs, which are often dubbed compulsory fees.

GEZ: The contribution service of the public service checks fee payers

In this respect, it does not come as a surprise that the contribution service of the public broadcasters regularly carries out a comparison of registration data.

The aim is to determine to what extent citizens are assigned to one of the 46.1 million paying households in Germany.

Or the other way around: Who hasn't kept a contribution account so far?

The review is based on selected data from the residents' registration offices throughout Germany and began in September 2022. All residents aged 18 and over are affected.

For those who can be assigned to a contribution account, the comparison of registration data has no noticeable consequences.

Post from the GEZ: This happens if you do not respond to the clarification letter

The GEZ is currently looking for non-payers.

© C. Hardt/Future Image/Imago

However, persons who do not belong to any of the households known to be liable for contributions must expect financial consequences.

A so-called clarification letter will be sent to these residents in the period from January 10th, 2023 until probably June of this year.

This includes the option of providing information about the situation under broadcasting law either by means of QR codes via the Internet or by post using an answer sheet.

It is strongly recommended to make use of one of these options.

Anyone who does not respond will receive a reminder;

anyone who remains silent is automatically classified as liable to pay.

The obligation to pay is not only imposed in the future, but also retrospectively - until January 1st, 2020.

Anyone who has moved into the affected apartment for a long time must pay back.

Based on the current broadcasting amount of EUR 18.36 per month, the additional payment would be a maximum of EUR 440.64.

It is not yet known to what extent additional costs, such as the fines due to unpaid broadcasting fees, will arise.