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Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel - ITMediaLaw

Cell phone customers have right to object to price increase

7. November 2022
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Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Key Facts
  • Customers have the right to object to unilateral price increases by the mobile phone provider, regardless of the amount.
  • In the event of late payment of more than €75, the threat of a block can also be made in text form.
  • The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main ruled on the validity of clauses in the mobile phone provider's general terms and conditions.
  • The text form for the blocking threat was deemed lawful; it meets the legal requirements.
  • The BGH will review the appeal due to the fundamental importance of the decision.
  • A right of objection must also be granted for minor price increases, not just 5% or more.
  • The decision is based on the EU's Universal Service Directive, which strengthens consumer protection.

In the event of unilateral price increases by the mobile communications provider, customers always have a right of objection – even for increases of less than 5%. The threat of a block in the event of a payment default of at least €75 can also be made in text form, ruled the Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court.

The plaintiff in this case was the umbrella organization of consumer associations, and the defendant was a mobile communications provider. The parties disputed the validity of two clauses in the defendant’s general terms and conditions. Digit. Section 7 of the General Terms and Conditions entitles the defendant to block the connection “without prejudice to other statutory provisions” if the customer is in arrears with an amount of at least EUR 75 and it has threatened to block the connection two weeks in advance in text form, including an indication of legal protection options. According to sec. IX.6. the customer may object to a price increase by the defendant if the increase is more than 5% of the price applicable up to the date of the increase. The plaintiff considers both clauses invalid.

The Regional Court partially upheld the action and ordered the defendant to cease and desist insofar as it concerned the form of the threat of blocking (in text form) and the customer’s objection to price increases. The defendant’s appeal against this was partially successful before the OLG.

The OLG ruled that the Regional Court had wrongly objected to the clause according to which a block can be threatened in text form. The simple text form was not objectionable here. By requiring the text form, the defendant rather reflects the legal situation “as it exists anyway when correctly interpreting the requirement in § 45k TKG that the blocking must be threatened “in writing”,” the OLG justifies its decision. “In writing” does not mean “written form” within the meaning of Section 126 of the German Civil Code. This is already evident from the history of the law. Moreover, the necessity of the threat serves solely to inform the customer. This purpose is “fulfilled just as reliably by a paper-based notification as by a permanently available and readable declaration on an electronic data carrier, i.e. in particular by an e-mail,” the OLG states.

However, the defendant was rightly ordered to refrain from granting customers the right of objection in the event of a price increase only if the price increase exceeds 5%. Rather, customers must be granted the right to object to any unilateral change in the terms of the contract – in this case in the form of a price increase. This follows from the so-called Universal Service Directive of the EU (Art. 20 Par. 2 Directive 2002/2 20/EC as amended by Directive 2009/135/EC). The question of whether the price increase is “substantial” is therefore irrelevant. Moreover, a price increase of 5% is not small and can be significant for some customers.

The decision is not final. The Senate has allowed an appeal to the Federal Court of Justice on grounds of fundamental importance.

Marian Härtel
Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.

Tags: AGBBghConsumerConsumer CenterE‑mailFrankfurtFrankfurt am Main Higher Regional CourtInformationLawsLawsuitMailWritten form

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  • Informationen
    • Ideal partner
    • About lawyer Marian Härtel
    • Quick and flexible access
    • Principles as a lawyer
    • Why a lawyer and business consultant?
    • Focus areas of attorney Marian Härtel
      • Focus on start-ups
      • Investment advice
      • Corporate law
      • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Games
      • AI and SaaS
      • Streamers and influencers
      • Games and esports law
      • IT/IP Law
      • Law firm for GMBH,UG, GbR
      • Law firm for IT/IP and media law
    • The everyday life of an IT lawyer
    • How can I help clients?
    • Testimonials
    • Team: Saskia Härtel – WHO AM I?
    • Agile and lean law firm
    • Price overview
    • Various information
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Imprint
  • Services
    • Support and advice of agencies
    • Contract review and preparation
    • Games law consulting
    • Consulting for influencers and streamers
    • Advice in e-commerce
    • DLT and Blockchain consulting
    • Legal advice in corporate law: from incorporation to structuring
    • Legal compliance and expert opinions
    • Outsourcing – for companies or law firms
    • Booking as speaker
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    • Gloss / Opinion
    • Law on the Internet
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    • Law and computer games
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    • Data protection Law
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