Utility bill came too late? Then an important deadline applies
Suddenly a utility cost additional payment arrives, for a period that is already far in the past? The landlord has only one year to bill. If they miss the deadline, you usually no longer have to pay the additional claim.
Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:
Reject the additional payment →Your chances of getting your money back
What you should do now
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1. Check the period
Which billing period, when did it arrive? Are there more than 12 months in between?
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2. Calculate the deadline
If the period ends e.g. on 31 December, the statement must arrive by 31 December of the following year.
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3. Reject the additional claim
If the deadline has passed, reject the additional payment in writing with reference to § 556 Abs. 3 BGB.
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4. Claim the credit
You can still demand a credit from the statement; request the payout.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay a delayed utility additional payment?
Usually not, if the statement reaches you later than 12 months after the end of the billing period (§ 556 Abs. 3 BGB). Then an additional claim is excluded, unless the landlord is not responsible for the delay. A possible credit is still owed to you, though.
How do I calculate the 12-month deadline?
What matters is the end of the billing period. If it runs e.g. from 1 January to 31 December, the statement must reach you by 31 December of the following year at the latest. Decisive is receipt by you, not the date on the letter.
Take action now
We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.
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.