Skip to content
Emergency

Expensive 0900 number or premium service on the phone bill

Premium services (e.g. 0900 numbers) and third-party services billed via the phone bill often lead to surprisingly high bills. Special protective rules apply to them, such as price-announcement duties and maximum limits. You do not have to pay unjustified or non-transparent items.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Dispute the bill →

Your chances of getting your money back

For premium services, protective rules apply such as price-announcement duties and statutory maximum limits per call/connection. Third-party services billed via the phone bill require a valid contract.
If you dispute contested items, the provider must prove they are justified. You can have a third-party provider block set up free of charge to prevent future unwanted billing.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Break down the bill

    Demand an exact list of the premium-service and third-party items (date, provider, service).

  2. 2

    2. Question the justification

    Was a contract really concluded? For subscriptions foisted on you, the basis is often missing.

  3. 3

    3. Dispute

    Dispute unjustified items in writing and pay only the undisputed part of the bill.

  4. 4

    4. Third-party block

    Have a free third-party provider block set up to prevent future unwanted debits.

How to spot the scam

  • Subscription or premium-service items you never consciously ordered suddenly appear.
  • A comprehensible breakdown of the third-party services is missing.
  • Despite disputing, the full amount is demanded.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to pay expensive premium services on the bill?

Only if they are justified. Protective rules apply to premium services (price announcements, maximum limits). Third-party services billed via the phone bill require a valid contract. Foisted or non-transparent items you do not have to pay.

How do I fight unjustified items?

Demand an exact breakdown, dispute unjustified items in writing and pay only the undisputed part. The provider must be able to prove that the disputed items are justified.

How do I prevent future debits?

Have your mobile or landline provider set up a free third-party provider block. This blocks billing by third-party providers via your phone bill and stops unwanted 'subscription traps'.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Dispute the billCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.