responsibility finder
Schleswig-Holstein

Submitting a complaint due to violation of the provisions of the Geo-blocking Regulation

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Schleswig-Holstein (Linie6Plus)

Service Description

If you wish to complain about a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can submit a complaint to the Federal Network Agency.

Geo-blocking is when European customers are not allowed to purchase goods or services across borders by providers operating within the European Union (EU) internal market. The same applies if the goods or services are not offered under the same conditions as for nationals.

Providers may offer their goods and services to different customer groups or in different countries in different languages and at different prices and conditions, but if a customer from another EU country wants to order via the provider's domestic website, they must be able to do so at the same prices and conditions as nationals.

According to the Geo-blocking Regulation, discrimination against customers on the grounds of

  • place of residence,
  • place of establishment or
  • nationality

are not permitted.
Customers include consumers who

  • are nationals of an EU country or
  • have their place of residence in an EU country and

end-user companies that

  • are established in an EU country and
  • use services exclusively for end use or
  • purchase goods for end use.

The Geo-blocking Regulation does not protect companies that resell, transform, process, lease or subcontract goods or services.

There are also numerous exceptions. These concern both certain types of services and certain unequal treatment, for example due to other legal provisions.

If the provisions of the Geo-blocking Regulation are violated, the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (BNetzA) can issue orders or impose fines on German providers.

As part of the European CPC network, the BNetzA can request the competent national authority of the EU country in question to take measures against providers in other EU countries.

CPC stands for "Consumer Protection Cooperation" and refers to a European network of authorities whose task is to enforce consumer rights.

You can submit a complaint about a breach of the Geo-blocking Regulation online using the "Geo-blocking complaint form" on the BNetzA website.


Process flow

Your complaint is submitted online via the "Geoblocking complaint form" on the website of the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (BNetzA).

  • Call up the "Geoblocking complaint form" on the BNetzA website.
  • Complete the complaint form online.
  • Click on "Send" to send your complaint to the BNetzA.
  • You will receive an e-mail confirming that your complaint has been sent to the BNetzA.
  • After examining your complaint, the BNetzA will decide whether to accept or reject it.
  • The BNetzA will inform you of the outcome of your complaint by e-mail.
Requirements

none

Which documents are required?

none

What are the fees?

none

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

none

Processing duration
  • for acknowledgement of receipt of the appeal: immediately after receipt
  • Decision on the admission or rejection of the appeal: usually 3 months
  • Notification of the outcome of the appeal: generally 6 months
Legal basis
Appeal
  • Contradiction
  • Administrative court action
Applications / forms
  • Forms: yes
  • Online procedure possible: yes
  • Written form required: no
  • Personal appearance: no
Author
Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Teaser

If you wish to complain about a provider for violating the provisions of the Geoblocking Regulation, you can submit a complaint to the Federal Network Agency.

Process flow

Your complaint is submitted online via the "Geoblocking complaint form" on the website of the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (BNetzA).

  • Call up the "Geoblocking complaint form" on the BNetzA website.
  • Complete the complaint form online.
  • Click on "Send" to send your complaint to the BNetzA.
  • You will receive an e-mail confirming that your complaint has been sent to the BNetzA.
  • After examining your complaint, the BNetzA will decide whether to accept or reject it.
  • The BNetzA will inform you of the outcome of your complaint by e-mail.

Requirements

none

Which documents are required?

none

What are the fees?

none

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

none

Processing duration

  • for acknowledgement of receipt of the appeal: immediately after receipt
  • Decision on the admission or rejection of the appeal: usually 3 months
  • Notification of the outcome of the appeal: generally 6 months

Legal basis

Appeal

  • Contradiction
  • Administrative court action

Applications / forms

  • Forms: yes
  • Online procedure possible: yes
  • Written form required: no
  • Personal appearance: no

Author

Forwarding service: Deep link to the original portal

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Further information and offers