During the first half of 2026, consumer advice centers across Germany registered over 170,000 complaints. According to the German Association of Consumer Organizations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband), this represents a four percent increase compared to the same period last year.
A major source of these complaints relates to hidden or overlooked contracts, which accounted for more than 24,000 cases-a seven percent rise from the previous year. The most frequently cited areas of complaint included books, magazines, and newspapers (making up 18 percent of complaints), digital services (14 percent), and gambling, sweepstakes, and lotteries (10 percent).
The German Association of Consumer Organizations specifically highlighted the need for action regarding long-term contracts finalized over the telephone. Ramona Pop, board member of the Association, stated that consumers are often pressured and left with long-term agreements they did not intend to sign. “Hidden contracts are a genuine financial trap,” Pop noted. “This is precisely why we need a mandatory confirmation requirement for phone-based long-term contracts. They must be confirmed in written form after a set period, otherwise, they are invalid.”
