Class action lawsuit against Vodafone: Consumer advice center defends itself against illegal price increases.

Class action lawsuit against Vodafone: Consumer advice center defends itself against illegal price increases.

According to a report from www.heise.de, the network operator Vodafone in Germany has been increasing the prices for Internet connections for existing customers since May. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) considers these price increases to be unlawful and plans to take action against them. The association is planning a class action lawsuit to ensure that consumers only have to pay the contractually agreed prices and are reimbursed for overpaid premiums. Those affected are asked to contact vzbv using an online form.

According to the vzbv, the price increase at Vodafone, for example, is from 27.99 euros to 32.99 euros or from 32.99 euros to 37.99 euros per month. This means additional annual costs of 60 euros. Vodafone justifies the price increase, among other things, with increased energy prices for operating the networks and points out that customers can cancel if they do not want to accept the price increase.

Vodafone has around 10.7 million landline customers in Germany. The company has been recording a continuous loss of fixed-line customers for a year and fixed-line sales are also declining slightly.

The vzbv considers Vodafone's price increases to be inadmissible, also with regard to the general terms and conditions. The association is now calling on affected customers to report their case online. If enough affected people come forward and specific cases can be examined, the vzbv plans to take legal action against Vodafone.

These price increases by Vodafone could have an impact on both the market and consumers. The possible lawsuit by the vzbv could force Vodafone to reverse the price increases and refund overpaid contributions. This would mean a financial loss for Vodafone, especially if a large number of affected customers come forward. However, if vzbv's lawsuit is unsuccessful, these customers could tend to terminate their contracts with Vodafone and switch to another provider. This would have a negative impact on Vodafone's market share and could lead to further losses for the company.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. It is possible that Vodafone will withdraw the price increases to avoid legal disputes, or that the vzbv will be successful and allow consumers to receive a refund. Both scenarios could have long-term impacts on the market and consumers.

Source: According to a report from www.heise.de