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Emergency

Switching bonus not paid: demanding the promised electricity or gas bonus

Many energy providers advertise with new-customer or switching bonuses. This promise is part of the contract and therefore binding. If the bonus is not paid out despite fulfilling the conditions (e.g. one year of delivery), you can demand it, it is a contractual entitlement.

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Your chances of getting your money back

A bonus promised in the contract or in the order confirmation is binding. If you have fulfilled the conditions, you have a contractual entitlement to the payout, even if the provider 'forgets' it.
Check the bonus conditions (e.g. minimum delivery period, no early switch). If they are fulfilled, you can demand the bonus with a deadline and, if necessary, enforce it in court.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Secure the promise

    Collect the bonus promise (contract, order confirmation, advertising) and the conditions.

  2. 2

    2. Check the conditions

    Have you fulfilled the requirements (e.g. one year of delivery)? Then the bonus is due.

  3. 3

    3. Demand the payout

    Demand the bonus in writing with a concrete deadline and refer to the promise.

  4. 4

    4. Enforce

    If the provider does not pay, you can enforce the entitlement via the dunning procedure or a lawsuit.

How to spot the scam

  • The bonus is refused with flimsy justifications.
  • An early switch is claimed as a 'breach of conditions', although you kept the deadline.
  • The payout is postponed again and again.

Frequently asked questions

Is a promised switching bonus binding?

Yes. A bonus promised in the contract or in the order confirmation is part of the contract and therefore a binding entitlement. If you have fulfilled the conditions, the provider must pay out the bonus.

Which conditions must I fulfill?

Common are a minimum delivery period (often twelve months) and sometimes that you do not switch early. Check the concrete bonus conditions. If they are fulfilled, the bonus is due and can be demanded.

How do I get the bonus if it does not come?

Demand it in writing with a deadline and a reference to the promise. If the provider does not pay, you can enforce the entitlement via the court dunning procedure or a lawsuit, with a clear, quantified entitlement this is quite doable.

Take action now

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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.