Chamber court decides: Savings bank customers can demand money back

Chamber court decides: Savings bank customers can demand money back

A court ruling brings positive news for bank customers: Berliner Sparkasse has suffered defeat in court, meaning customers may receive a refund. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations had filed a lawsuit against the savings bank because it had increased account fees without the customers' consent. The Berlin Court of Appeal ruled in favor of the consumer advice center and now allows customers to possibly request money back as soon as the judgment is final.

Berliner Sparkasse had increased the fees several times without obtaining the explicit consent of customers. This led to consumer advocates filing a class action lawsuit involving approximately 1,200 customers. Although the court considered the claims to be time-barred, consumer advocates are currently considering filing an appeal to challenge the decision.

The ruling could also impact customers of other banks that have implemented similar cost increases without consent. For example, Postbank, Deutsche Bank, ING Diba, Commerzbank and Sparkasse Ulm have taken similar measures. Customers should check their statements for possible fee increases between January 2018 and (for example) April 2024 to determine whether they are entitled to a refund.

Niels Nauhauser from the Baden-Württemberg consumer advice center emphasized that the fee increases in recent years were ineffective and that customers can claim back the money they paid too much from their bank. It is recommended to use a sample letter from the consumer advice center to request a refund. Customers should check whether the prices in effect when opening the account were applied and, if necessary, take legal action.