DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Whether it's a competition or an oh-so-cheap electricity tariff, unauthorized telephone advertising has led to significantly more complaints in 2024. Last year, 37,561 critical comments were received in this regard, eight percent more than in 2023, the Federal Network Agency said in response to a request. However, the number of complaints had previously been significantly higher, at 64,704 in 2022.

"Unfortunately, after recently declining complaint numbers, we are again seeing an increase compared to the previous year," explained Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency. "We will therefore continue to vigorously pursue companies that harass consumers on the phone in the new year."

The number of complaints about annoying advertising for competitions rose, and such annoyances are already the subject of one in five critical comments. A year earlier, this only accounted for one in six complaints. Construction products related to photovoltaics were also frequently the subject of complaints.

Around 1.4 million euros in fines imposed

Cold calls are only allowed if the called party has given their prior consent. The advertising consent can be revoked later – if the phone rings anyway, that is also a violation of the law. A complaint can be made at www.bundesnetzagentur.de/telefonwerbung-beschwerde. The Bonn-based regulatory authority took action against shady advertisers and imposed fines totaling 1.37 million euros; in 2023, the figure was 1.44 million euros.

Last year, the Federal Network Agency opened proceedings against a company that began advertising calls by asking for permission to conduct a health survey. The callers claimed to be representatives of a pharmacy association, for example, which was not true at all. In the course of the conversation, the call recipients – often older people – were urged to buy expensive dietary supplements./wdw/DP/zb