Due to a BGH ruling, savings banks and banks have terminated the account of tens of thousands of customers.
We will show you how you can react to this measure.
Munich – In the last few months, thousands of customers have had their accounts terminated.
The background is that savings banks and banks changed their terms and conditions, which increased or introduced account management fees.
However, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that information to customers was not sufficient to enforce this increase.
Silence on the part of customers should not be taken as consent.
With a new letter, the banks had to obtain the consent of the customers.
If consumers didn't respond, their account was terminated.
We show you how you can act as a data subject.
Savings banks and banks terminate thousands of accounts: reaction to the BGH ruling
The savings banks and banks are serious.
The Berliner Sparkasse terminated around 17,000 private current accounts, the Sparkasse Köln-Bonn around 38,000 and the Landessparkasse zu Oldenburg 22,000 accounts, as
reported by
Spiegel .
In October 2022, too, mass terminations at Sparkasse Nürnberg caused a stir.
The reason for the layoffs is almost two years old.
The Federal Association of Consumers (VZBV) sued the Postbank, which increased the account management fees without the consent of the customers.
On April 21, 2021, the BGH decided that the procedure was untenable.
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A Sparkasse branch.
© Michael Gstettenbauer/IMAGO
If the terms and conditions change and banks increase their fees as a result, they must obtain the consent of the customer.
Accordingly, many customers received a letter from their respective bank asking for approval.
In many cases, customers who did not respond to the letter had their bank account terminated.
In addition, the judgment of the Federal Court of Justice allowed customers to reclaim their money, which was confiscated by the banks due to the inadmissibly increased fees.
Sparkasse cancels account: This is how consumers can react
There are basically three options for action that the consumer center advises affected customers.
The easiest way is to agree to the increase.
Even after the termination, this is often still possible.
A termination by the customer is associated with more disadvantages than advantages for savings banks and banks.
If your account has therefore been terminated, you can still agree to the terms and conditions in most cases.
Practice shows that the customers are often more important to the banks than punctual compliance with the notice.
Another possibility is to change the account model.
Online accounts are often cheaper than traditional checking accounts.
For consumers who do their banking online anyway, this is a more economical alternative.
It is also possible to switch to another bank.
Consumers have a good chance of opening a free or cheaper account with direct banks.
An objection to the new terms and conditions is also conceivable.
Nevertheless, the consumer advice center warns that banks could respond to an objection with a termination.
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List of rubrics: © Michael Gstettenbauer/IMAGO
