This is new in December

December 2021 is a real bliss month for consumers. You get better terms for cell phone and internet contracts and you can defend yourself if providers don’t keep their promises. You have to leave a few feathers in your wallet when you handle it.

TKG amendment: December 1, 2021, a happy day for consumers

With the new version of the Telecommunications Act (TKG), consumers will receive from December 1st a fair bit more power towards their contractual partners – and better conditions automatically when the contract is concluded. You benefit from new notice periods, you are protected from entering into contracts on the phone and you will soon only pay for what you can actually use with the landline network.

Fixed line internet: only pay for what you get

From December onwards, your right to a price reduction with regard to the Internet provider will be put on a new footing. With the official Broadband measurement app the Federal Network Agency can Check the performance of your connection. If you receive significantly less internet speed than is specified in your contract, you can reduce the monthly payments accordingly. But you have to be patient: The desktop version of the app should be available from mid-December.

Total failure of the offer are also possible reasons for a reduction – or for termination without notice. If failures last longer than two calendar days, you have Right to compensation from the provider. If you move and your provider is not active in your new place of residence, you can cancel with one month’s notice.

Cancel monthly: That changes with cell phone and internet contracts

With cell phone, internet and telephone contracts, a lot changes to the benefit of the consumer. The tacit extension from one year to the next is history. Term contracts automatically enter into after the agreed term (maximum 24 months) monthly terminable contracts over, unless another regulation has been separately agreed beforehand. o2 takes this into account: tariffs without a duration are offered at no extra charge.

In the case of combined contracts, for example with landline and mobile networks, it will often be sufficient in the future that one component is not fully fulfilled in order to be able to terminate the entire combination. It will also be more complex, and therefore safer, Telecommunication contracts on the phone complete. This is only possible if you have already been informed in writing about the main contents of the contract.

If this is not the case, apply Conclusion of contracts by telephone is not considered effective. Customers have to confirm this in writing afterwards – for example by email – so that it can take effect. In general, contracts must contain a summary of the essential components such as costs and services as well as information on termination and contact details of the provider.

Providers can make changes to existing contracts unilaterally under certain conditions, but must inform customers about this at the latest one month and at most two months in advance. If the changes are to your disadvantage, you can cancel without notice.

Consumers pay extra for train tickets and fiber optics

A change that is intended to support the expansion of fiber optics can hit many consumers seriously: In the future, landlords will be able to pass the costs for an FTTH connection – i.e. fiber optics into the house – to tenants. This also applies retrospectively and can be billed for connections since 2015 via the ancillary costs.

It will also be more expensive for Deutsche Bahn customers: From December 12th, the flex prices and the prices for route season tickets will be on average increased by 2.9 percent. This also applies to the subscription costs for BahnCard 25, 50 and 100 (source: t-online).

Windows 10: Support has ended for this version

Loyal Windows users will also have to be prepared for a change. Microsoft ends support for Windows 10, version 2004 on December 14th. Then the last update is due (source: Microsoft). If you want to stay up to date in the future, you will have to upgrade the version.