As of: March 12, 2024, 2:37 p.m
By: Marcel Guboff
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The additional cost privilege will soon fall.
Then cable television becomes a tenant’s responsibility.
Anyone who does not act must face consequences.
Hamm - A change is coming for more than 12 million Germans on July 1, 2024.
Then the additional cost privilege will finally expire.
For many affected tenants, the basic TV service ends.
Anyone who has not yet taken action should do so as soon as possible.
In the worst case, there are consequences.
Privilege for additional costs ends: tenants even face the threat of having their cable connection blocked
The abolition of the additional cost privilege means: Cable television will become a tenant's responsibility - and it may become more expensive than before.
Those who have so far had their costs billed through the additional costs must take action and take care of subsequent use.
There are plenty of alternatives in the streaming age.
But what should be done?
If you want to continue using your cable connection, you must conclude your own contract by the July 1st deadline.
Depending on the provider, the fees are around 13 euros per month.
After taking over Unitymedia in North Rhine-Westphalia, among others, Vodafone is currently the largest cable network operator in Germany.
The company is convinced that “many tenants will continue to rely on the tried and tested cable connection and basic TV service,” explains a spokesman when asked by wa.de.
He refers to current market research.
“We therefore reserve the right to block cable connections”
Because the change in the law - i.e. the abolition of the additional costs privilege - is a "topic that requires a lot of explanation", Vodafone is relying on information in the form of a large campaign.
The tenants affected will be informed “very transparently and on multiple levels” and should understand what they are facing when it comes to cable television – and that they have to take action.
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Anyone who last paid for their cable television connection through the additional costs and now does not act simply no longer has a direct contractual relationship.
“Tenants pay their landlord for cable television reception – via utility bill,” says the company spokesman’s simple explanation.
The additional cost privilege ends: Operators such as Vodafone are currently providing detailed information about the changes in the costs of cable television.
© Michael Gstettenbauer/Imago
And if there is no contract between the tenant and Vodafone for the reception of cable television in the residential properties that have already been converted after July 1st, “there is unjustified use,” says the spokesman.
As a consequence, there is a risk of a black screen.
“We reserve the right to block cable connections if there is unjustified use,” explains the spokesman: “And we have already blocked cable connections.” Other providers take a similar approach.
This deactivation takes place directly on site, for example at the house distributors in the basement.
Speaking of cable: listeners to Deutschlandradio have to change: the programs are disappearing from the cable network. This has to do with money – and indirectly with the end of the additional cost privilege.