Bureaucracy madness: citizens struggle with absurd harassment from the authorities!

Bureaucracy madness: citizens struggle with absurd harassment from the authorities!

Bureaucratic hurdles in Germany represent a major problem for many citizens. Numerous users report experiences with authorities that sometimes seem absurd in forums such as the subreddit r/FragReddit. These stories show how overloaded and inefficient many administrative processes are. Reddit user “Bathing_Chinchilla” had to apply for a health certificate after losing his old document. In order to pay the necessary fee of 15 euros, he was forced to borrow the money from his roommate. Another applicant protested the fee and received the document for free - a fate that also befell "Bathing_Chinchilla" after he politely asked for it. Such anecdotes illustrate the often illogical bureaucratic processes that burden citizens.

Another example can be found in the case of user “Winterzeit20”, who wanted to apply for a school bus ticket for his sister. Although Google Maps indicated a distance of 3.1 kilometers, the authority rejected the application because it only measured 2,960 meters. However, after an official measurement, the rejection was withdrawn. The case of “faeustehoch” also illustrates the difficulties: in order to receive BAföG, a valid study certificate was required. However, he could only receive this after paying the semester fee of 380 euros, which was also supposed to be financed from BAföG funds.

Bureaucratic challenges in the BAföG system

Students are particularly affected by these difficulties, as Mary's example shows. She submitted her BAföG application at the end of April 2024, but did not receive confirmation of receipt until the end of May 2024. This advised not to ask any questions about the processing status. After several attempts to contact her, it turned out that her father had not been contacted, which further delayed processing. This led to her application from the previous year being approved, but only with reservations and with reduced resources. Lena Kuhn, a member of the student council at the University of Erfurt, also reports on numerous similar cases in which students have been waiting for their BAföG notifications for over six months.

The situation is vital for many students: Mary expects a repayment of around 4,670 euros, but has become heavily in debt. The Student Union and the Ministry of Education recognize the challenges in processing BAföG. More than 20,000 notices are issued annually, and the number of applications has increased by over 20 percent since 2021. The normal processing time is up to three months, but errors and additional requests for documents are not uncommon.

International students face additional hurdles

International students in particular face additional challenges, especially when it comes to finding a job. Many students rely on BAföG to bridge their financial bottlenecks. The student council can provide advice, but cannot offer financial help. There are considerations about solidarity loans, but concrete implementation is still pending.

The reports from various sources highlight the extent of the bureaucratic problems faced by citizens. The pointlessness of some administrative procedures and the complexity of the application procedures cast a negative light on the performance of the administration in Germany. This is not just a simple annoyance, but has a lasting impact on many people's daily lives and their economic stability. The experiences of individual users also show that there is an urgent need to simplify the processes and make them more efficient in order to meet the large number of applications.

For more information on these issues and their impact on citizens, also visit the articles on Focus and MDR.