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European Consumer Centre Germany

European Consumer Centres Network

The German Judicial System

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A. Introduction

B. Juriciary in Germany

1. Where to take legal action a. Constitutionalcourtsb. Ordinarycourtsc. Labourcourtsd. Administrativecourtse. SocialandFinancialcourts

2. Who to give you legal advice (legal professions)a. Attorneysatlaw/Barristersb. Notariesc. Registrars(“Rechtspfleger”)d. TaxCounselors

3. Legal remediesa. “Berufung”b. “Revision”

4. Enforcement of judgments

5. Defense/legal insurance

6. Legal aid (“Prozesskostenhilfe”)

C. Special procedures

1. Judicial dunning procedure (“Mahnverfahren”)a. “Mahnbescheid”b. “Vollstreckungsbescheid”

2. European Order for payment

3. Small claims Regulation

4. Insolvency procedure

5. Administrative offence (“Ordnungswidrigkeitenverfahren”)

D. Helpful vocabulary

E. Useful adresses

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December 2010

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A. Introduction

Anyonemightbeforcedtogotocourtonce.Legalproceedingsthoughareoftenexpensiveandtime-consuming.Alegalproceedingisusuallyevenmorecomplicated if it takes place in another country and this often preventsconsumersfromclaimingtheirrights.

ThereforetheEuropeanConsumerCentreGermanyhaspublishedthisbrochureinordertohelpconsumersfromothercountriesintheEuropeanUnionwhoarefacingalegalproceedinginGermanyoraresearchingforlegaladvice.

ThebasicprincipleoftheGermanJudicialSystemistheoneofthe“Rechtsstaat”(ruleoflaw).Thismeansthatanyactiontakenbyanexecutiveauthorityhastobebasedonlaw.Furthermoreanydecisiontakenbyanauthoritycanbechallengedincourt.

TheGermanlegalsystemdiffersfundamentallyfromtheAnglo-Saxoncommonlawsystem,inwhichcourtsrelymainlyonprecedentsfrompriorcases(caselaw).InGermanyjudgesbasetheirjudgmentsonlegalcodes.Thelegalcodesdelineateabstract legalprinciplesand the judgesmustdecide the specificcasesonthebasisofthesestandards.

AlthoughtherearealsosomelandmarkdecisionsthathadastrongimpactontheGermansociety(especiallysomedecisionsoftheFederalConstitutionalCourt),courtdecisionsinGermanyingeneralhaven’tgotthesameimportancethanthecaselawintheAnglo-Saxoncountries.

InordertogetashortoverviewoverthecomplexGermanjudicialsystem,theEuropeanConsumerCentreGermanyhasreleasedthisbrochure.ForfurtheradviceonthisissueyouarealwayswelcometocontactECCGermany.

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ThejudicialsysteminGermanycomprisesbasicallythreedifferenttypesofcourts:Ordinarycourts,dealingwithcriminalandmostcivilcases,specialisedcourts,suchastheadministrative,labour,socialandfiscalcourts,andfinallyconstitutionalcourtswhicharecompetentforjudicialreviewandconstitutionalinterpretation.

TheGermanlegalsystemissubdividedin• constitutionalcourts• ordinarycourts,consistingofcivilandpenalcourts• socialcourts• administrationcourts• financialcourtsand• labourcourts

a. Constitutional courts

TheFederalConstitutionalCourt(“Bundesverfassungsgericht”)isGermany’shighestandmostimportantjudicialbody.ThejurisdictionofthiscourthashadanenormousimpactonthedevelopmentoftheFederalRepublicofGermanyandisknownastheguardianoftheconstitution.

Attention: In Germany everybody has got the right to appeal to the Federal Constitutional Court in order to check whether the action of a public authority (a judgment, a law or an administrative act) is in accord with the German constitution (“Grundgesetz”). The Federal Constitutional Court is the “last level of jurisdiction” and you will have to run through all other possible instances before “going to Karlsruhe” which is the city where the Court is located. Nonetheless, it is no super revision instance as it only deals with constitutional questions.

1. Where to take legal action

B. Judiciary in Germany

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b. Ordinary courts

Ordinarycourtsarecompetentforcriminalmatters,civilmatters,matrimonialandfamilyproceedings.Furthermorefornon-contentiousproceedingssuchasthemaintainingofthecompanyregister.

Ordinarycourtsareorganized in four tiers,eachof increasing importance:thelocalcourts(“Amtsgerichte”),theregionalcourts(“Landgerichte”),thehigherregionalcourts(“Oberlandesgerichte”)andtheFederalCourtofJustice(“Bundesgerichtshof”).

In criminal cases, each of the first three courts may have jurisdiction,dependingonthenatureandseriousnessofthecrime.Incivilproceedings,eitherthelocalortheregionalcourtcanbecourtoffirstresort.Appealsmaymostlybelodgedwithuptotwohighercourts.

c. Labour courts

Labour courts handle disputes under private law arising from employmentcontracts and between management and labour force as well as matterscoveredbytheWorksConstitutionAct.Labourcourtshavegotthreeinstances.Theyareforexamplecompetentforthequestionwhetheranemployeehasbeenfairlydismissedornot.

d. Administrative courts

Thejurisdictionoftheadministrativecourtscoverslegalprotectionagainstalladministrativeactsandotheradministrativeproceedings.Theadministrativecourts handle all trials under public administrative law, except those thatfall under the jurisdiction of the social, finance or constitutional courts.Administrativecourtshavealsogotthreelevels.

e. Social and Financial courts

Thesocialcourtsruleondisputesfromallareasofsocialsecurity.Theyhavealsogot three instances.Financialcourtshaveonlygot two levelsandaredealingwithtaxationandrelatedmatters.

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legal professions

2. Who to give you legal adviceThesocialcourtsruleondisputesfromallareasofsocialsecurity.Theyhavealsogotthreeinstances.Financialcourtshaveonlygottwolevelsandaredealingwithtaxationandrelatedmatters.

a. Attorneys at law/Barristers (“Rechtsanwalt”)

InsomelegalproceedingsinGermanyyouareobligedtoberepresentedbyanattorneyatlaw.Whileincivillawcasesbeforethelocaldistrictcourtsthereisusuallynosuchobligation,youalwayshavetoberepresentedbyanattorneyatlawbeforetheregionalcourts,thehigherregionalcourtsandtheFederalCourtofJustice.Incriminalmattersyouhavetherighttoberepresentedbyacourt-appointedcounselifyouareaccusedofhavingcommittedaseriouscrimeandhaven’tgotthemeanstopayforanattorneyatlawonyourown.Insmallercriminaloffencesyoudonotnecessarilyhavetoberepresentedbyaattorneyatlaw.

AllattorneysatlawhavetobemembersoftheBarCouncilforwheretheirofficeislocated.Thefeesattorneysatlawcanchargeyouareregulatedbylawinthe“Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz”(RVG).Howeverfeescanalsobenegotiatedbetweentheattorneyatlawandhisclientonanindividualbasis.

b. Notaries (“Notar”)

ThelegalstatusofnotariesinGermanyisthatofan“independentholderofapublicoffice”.Theyareappointedinordertocertifylegaltransactionsandperformotherdutiesintheareaofprecautionarylegalcare.

InpartsofGermany,attorneysatlawareappointedasnotariesandpracticeasnotariesinadditiontotheprofessionofattorneyatlaw(attorney-notaries),whileinotherpartsofthecountrypersonsareappointedtoworkexclusivelyasnotaries (main-professionnotariesorexclusivenotaries). In theLandofBaden-Württembergnotariescanalsobecivilservants.

Apart froma fewexceptions,notarieshaveexclusivepowers toundertakecertifications.Certificationisstatutorilyprescribedinparticularinrespectofcontractsrelatingtolandandinrespectofparticulartransactionsintheareasofcompany,familyandinheritancelaw.

Allnotariesaremembersofthechamberofnotariesforwheretheirbusinessofficeislocated.

Attention: Before youmandate an attorney at law you should sufficientlyinformyourselfaboutthecostsheisgoingtocharge.Youshouldnegotiatewithyourlawyerwhetherhewillbillhishoursorcalculatefeesaccordingtotheamountindispute.

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c. Registrars (“Rechtspfleger”)

Registrars are independent providers of legal services. Their function andpositionislaiddownintheGermanRegistrarsAct(“Rechtspflegergesetz”).

Ifyouhaven’tgotthemeanstopayanattorneyatlawtheregistrarcangiveyoufirstlegaladviceandassistance(“Beratungshilfe”). Ifyouneedfurtheradvicefromaprofessionalattorneyatlawtheregistrarcangiveyouavoucherforlegalassistance(“Beratungshilfeschein”).Withthisvoucheryoucangetlegaladvicefromanattorneyandhavetopayonly10Eurosforthisservice.

d. Tax counselors (“Steuerberater”)

In Germany, tax counselors are called “Steuerberater”. They can give youadviceintaxandaccountingmeasures.

SincetheGermantaxlawisconsideredtobeoneofthemostcomplicatedintheworlditcanbehelpfultoconsultataxcounselore.g.foryourannualtaxdeclarationifyouareobligedtopaytaxesinGermany.

Ifyouarenotsatisfiedwithajudgmentthereareusuallytwotypesofappeal,“Berufung” (appealonquestionsof factor law)and“Revision” (appealonquestionsoflaw).Youhavetobeawarethoughthatincivillawproceedingsatordinarycourtsanappealisonlypossibleiftheamountindisputeishigherthan600Eurosorifthefirstinstanceconsidersadecisionbyahighercourtessentialinordertoassureconsistencyinjurisdiction.

a.“Berufung”

The “Berufungsinstanz” (instance of appeal) represents a second instancewhereyoucanchallengethedecisionofthelowercourtbothinlegaltermsandintermsoffact.Incivillawcasesyouarethoughonlyallowedtobringforwardnewfactsof thecaseundervery limitedcircumstanceswhile inacriminallegalproceedingallfactsofthecasearereevaluated.

b.“Revision”

The “Revisionsinstanz” (instance of revision) only allows a petitioner toquestioninlegaltermswhethersubstantivelawhasbeenappliedcorrectlyandwhether the fundamental procedural Regulations have been observed.While in criminal legal proceedings the parties can directly invoke the“Revisionsintanz”incivillawcasesitisonlypossibleafterthedecisionofthe“Berufungsinstanz”andifthisdecisionislefttoappealonapointoflaw.

3. Legal remedies

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Ifyouhavesucceededinalegalproceedingyouwillgetalegaltitlewhichyou can enforce. In Germany it is the “Gerichtsvollzieher” (bailiff) or theexecutioncourtinthejudicialdistrictoftheadverseparty’sresidencewhoiscompetentfortheenforcementoflegaltitles.

“Titel,Klausel,Zustellung”:Afterhavingobtainedalegaltitle(“Titel”),youwillhavetoasktheauthoritytoexecute(“Vollstreckungsklausel”)whichwillbeendorsedonyourjudgment.Thethereforeendorsedtitlehastobenotifiedtotheadverseparty(“Zustellung”).

AccordingtoEuropeanlegislationyouhavealsogotthepossibilitytoenforcealegaltitlefromoneEuropeancountryinanotherEuropeancountry.

Example

Excursus: Applicable law and competent courts

AsaBritishcitizenyouhavesucceededinalegalproceedingthatwastakingplaceinGreatBritainagainstacompanythatisbasedinGermany.YouhavegotthepossibilitytoenforcethistitleinGermany.

Inthiscase,youmust—additionallytotheabovementionedsteps—applytotherelevantcourtinGermanyforadeclarationthattheforeignjudgmentisenforceable(exequatur)accordingtoRegulation(EC)44/2001.

In cross border case you will always have to consider two questions before you go to court: Which one is the competent court and which law will this court apply?

AssumingthatyouhavebeenonholidayinGermanyandonthisoccasionyouhaveboughtadigitalcamera.Backhomeyougetawarethat it isnotreallyworkingas itshouldandyouthereforecontactthetraderinGermanywhodeniesanyresponsibility.

You are now considering going to court, but will you have to seek a German court or do your home country’s courts have jurisdiction?

TheanswertothisquestiongivesRegulation(EC)44/2001:Ingeneralthefactordeterminingjurisdictionisthedomicileofthedefendant:PersonsdomiciledinaMemberStateshall,whatevertheirnationality,besuedinthecourtsofthatMemberState.Accordingtothisgeneralrules,youwouldhavetofileyourclaimwiththeGermancourtsasthedefendantisdomiciledinGermany.

4. Enforcement of judgments

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Nevertheless, theRegulationcontainsanumberofprovisionsthatdepartfromthisprincipleandallowcourtproceedings tobebrought inanotherMemberStateotherthanwherethedefendantisdomiciled.

Ifthecontracthasbeenconcludedbetweenaconsumerandaperson• who pursues commercial or professional activities in theMember

Stateoftheconsumer’sdomicileor,• by anymeans, directs such activities to thatMember State or to

severalStatesincludingthatMemberState,and• thecontractfallswithinthescopeofsuchactivities,

theconsumermaybringproceedingsagainsttheotherpartytoacontracteitherinthecourtsoftheMemberStateinwhichthatpartyisdomiciledorinthecourtsfortheplacewheretheconsumerisdomiciled.

AstheGermantradersoldyouthegoodinhisshopinGermany,hedidn’tdirective his activities to the Member State of your domicile and youthereforecan’tchoosetobringyourissuetothecourtsofyourcountryofresidence.

Which law will the court then apply?

Youwillfindtheanswertothisquestioninthe1908RomeConventionwhichhasbeenreplacedbytheRome-I-Regulationby17thofDecember2009:

AsabasicprincipleoftheConventionaswellastheRegulationtheapplicablelawcanbe freely chosenby theparties (freedomof choice).Where thepartieshavenotdeterminedwhichlawshallbeapplicabletotheircontract,thecontractwillbegovernedbythelawofthecountrywithwhichithastheclosestconnection.

Thecontractispresumedtobeconnectedwiththecountrywherethepartywho is to provide the characteristic performance is habitually resident,whichingeneralinpracticemeansthatasalescontractisgovernedbythelawofthecountrywherethesellerisestablishedandacontractforservicesisgovernedbythelawofthecountryplacewheretheserviceproviderisestablished.Buttheseareonlypresumptionsandthecourtcanchoosetoapplyadifferentlawifitfindsthatsuchlawismorecloselyconnectedwiththecontractinquestion.

Inordertoprotecttheweakerparties,suchasconsumers,theConventionand theRegulation foresee that the application of a particular law shallnot deprive a consumer of theprotection ofmandatory rules of the lawnormallyapplicabletothem

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until the 17th of December 2009 from the 17th of December 2009

if in thatcountry theconclusionof thecontract was preceded by a specificinvitation addressed to him or byadvertising, and he had taken in thatcountryallthestepsnecessaryonhispartfortheconclusionofthecontract,or

iftheprofessionalpursueshiscommercialor professional activities in the countrywhere the consumer has his habitualresidence,

or

iftheotherpartyorhisagentreceivedtheconsumer’sorderinthatcountry

or

ifhe,byanymeans,directssuchactivitiestothatcountryortoseveralcountriesincludingthatcountry

ifthecontractisforthesaleofgoodsandtheconsumertravelledfromthatcountryto another country and there gave hisorder, provided that the consumer’sjourneywasarrangedbythesellerforthepurposeofinducingtheconsumertobuy.

andthecontractfallswithinthescopeofsuchactivities.

IfyouarelivingintheFrenchborderregionandyouregularlyreceiveadvertisingleafletsfromashopinGerman,Frenchlawwill be applicable to a contract closed in this shop.But theconsumercouldchoosetogoeithertoaFrenchoraGermancourt.

IfyouareAustrianand travel toGermanywithanorganizedsellingtourandthetraderhasinvitedyouinordertoconcludethe contract theAustrian law should be applicable. You canchoosebetweenanactiontoanAustrianoraGermancourt.

IfyouasaPolishconsumerordersomethingviainternetfromaGermantraderwhoisofferinghisgoodsonahomepageinPolishandwhodeliversthegoodstoPoland,thenPolish lawshould be applicable in this case.The Polish or theGermancourtcanbeaddresses.

Attention: IfyouarenotsurewhichlawisapplicableorwhichcourtiscompetentinyourcasetheEuropeanConsumerCentreinyourcountryofresidenceiscompetenttogiveyoufurtheradvice.

Example

In Germany applies the general principle that the unsuccessful partyshallbearthecostsoftheproceedings:thelooserpays!

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Ifyouwanttoinsuretheriskofhavingalegaldispute,youmightconcludealegalinsurance(“Rechtsschutzversicherung”).Theinsurancecompanywillcoverthecostsifyouareinvolvedinalegalproceeding.

Ifyoudecidetoconcludealegalinsuranceyoushouldcarefullyreadallthecontractclauses.Firstofalltherearedifferenttypesoflegalinsurances.Youcanoftendecideforwhatkindofdisputesyouwanttohavecoverage(e.g.rent,caraccidentoryouremploymentcontract).YouarealsooftenobligedtocoveryourownriskwithanamountofuptoseveralhundredEuros.

InGermanyitisconsideredtobepartoftheruleoflawthatnooneshouldbepreventedfromgoingtocourtwhenhehasgotawellfoundedclaimbecausehe hasn’t got themeans to pay for the legal proceeding.Therefore thesepeoplehavegotthepossibilitytoaskforlegalaid.

Inordertogetlegalaidyouhavetofillinaquestionnairewhichyoucangetfromanattorneyatlawordirectlyatthecompetentcourt.Beforeyouwillbegrantedlegalaid,thecompetentcourtwillevaluatethechanceswhetheryoucansucceedwithyouclaim.

SinceDecember2004youcan,accordingtoEuropeanlegislation,alsoaskforlegalaidifyouwanttogotocourtinanothercountryoftheEuropeanUnion.Ifyouareentitledtoreceivelegalaidinthiscasedependsonwhetheryouareconsideredtobeinneedofassistanceinyourhomecountry.

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/judicialatlascivil/html/la_information_en.htm

5. Defense/legal insurance

Attention: Legalinsurancesoftenonlycoverdisputesforthecountrywherethey were concluded. If you need coverage from your legal insurance foreventual disputes in Germany you should carefully check the terms andconditionsofyourcontract.

6. Legal aid (“Prozesskostenhilfe”)

YouareaGreekcitizenandwanttogotocourt inGermanybuthaven’tgotthemeanstodoso.Thenyoucanaskforlegalassistancefor thisprocedure inGreece.Youwill thenbegranted legal aidaccordingtotherequirementsinyourhomecountryGreece.

Example

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Thefollowingproceduresareadaptedtohelpyougettingyourrightinaquitesimpleandquickwaye.g.whensomebodyinGermanyowesyoumoney,didn’tdelivertherequestedproductorwhenyouhadacaraccidentinGermany.

IfsomeoneowesyoumoneyinGermanyandrefusestopayitbackyoudon’thavetostarta legalproceedingstraightaway.Thereisalsothepossibilitytostartaneasierandlesscostly“Mahnverfahren”(judicialdunningprocedure)first.

a. “Mahnbescheid”

There is a standardised form for this procedure. You can just fill in aquestionnairewhereyoumentionthecontactdetailsofthedebtorandthesumindispute.Thecompetentcourt,whichisforEuropeancitizensoutsideGermanytheAmtsgerichtWedding(Berlin)willnotexaminethefactsofthecase. Furthermore no documents are required to prove your claim whichmakesthewholeprocedureverysimplecomparedtoalawsuit.

Forthisprocedureyoudon’thavetoberepresentedbyalawyer.Youhavetobeawarethoughthatthedefendanthasgotthepossibilitytofileanoticeofoppositionagainstthe“Mahnbescheid”.Ifthedebtorconteststheclaim,thecourtissuingtheorder(thedunningcourt)passesthelegaldisputeontothecompetentcourtforthiscase,ifyouhaveappliedforthedisputetobesettled.

Youcangettheformforthe“Mahnbescheid”onlineunderhttps://www.online-mahnantrag.de/omahn/Mahnantrag?_ts=838010-1141121731582&Command=start

Mahnverfahren

1. Judicial dunning procedure

C. Special procedures

Attention: You will find further information about the judicial dunningprocedureonthehomepageoftheEuropeanConsumerCentreGermanyunderthefollowingaddress:http://www.eu-verbraucher.de/en/legal-procedures/judicial-dunning-procedure/TherewealsoprovideanEnglishversionofthequestionnaire.

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b.“Vollstreckungsbescheid”

If thedefendantdoesn’tfileanoticeofopposition,thecreditorcanapplyforanenforcementorder(“Vollstreckungsbescheid”).Theapplicationforanenforcementordercanonlybemadeafterthetimelimitoftwoweeksforthenoticeofoppositionhasbeenexpired.

Theenforcementorderisalreadypreliminaryenforceable.Ifthedefendantdoesn’tfileanoticeofoppositionwithintwoweeksafterhehasreceivedtheenforcementorder,youareentitledtofinallyenforceyourtitlewhichcanbeconsideredasanequivalenttoacourtdecision.Withthistitleyouwillhavethepossibilityofcompulsoryexecutionforuptothirtyyears.

2. European order for payment procedure

Attention:The“Mahnverfahren” is a convenientandcheapmethod togetyourmoneyback fromyourdebtor. It isapossibility tocircumventa timeconsumingandcostlycourtproceeding.Itisespeciallyadvisablewhenyourclaimiswellfounded.

Nonetheless,youwillhaveaGermantitletobeexecutedinanotherMemberState.YouwillthereforehavetoproceedinthatMemberStatetheprocedureofrecognitionofthetitle(exequatur)beforeyoucanexecute.

Inordertofacilitatecrossbordermeansofcivilredress,theEuropeanUnionhas decided on 2 regulations settling rules for procedureswhich are eveneasierandquickertoconductthanthedunningprocedure:theEuropeanorderpaymentprocedureforuncontestedclaimsandthesmallclaimsprocedureforcontentiousclaimsnotexceeding2.000€.

Since consumers often face difficulties to get theirmoney back in a crossbordercase,theEuropeanParliamenttogetherwiththeCouncilhavepassedaRegulationwhichcameintoforceonthe12thofDecember2008(exceptin Denmark). The Regulation establishes a European procedure for ordersof payment.The procedure simplifies, speeds up and reduces the costs oflitigationincross-bordercasesconcerninguncontestedpecuniaryclaims.

The procedure does neither require presence before the court norrepresentationbyalawyer:Itcanevenbestartedandhandledinapurelyelectronicway.

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Theformmustincludethekeydetails,likethenamesandaddressesofthepartiesandtheirrepresentatives,thenameandaddressofthecourttowhichtheapplication ismade, theamountof theclaim, thecauseof theactionandthecross-bordernatureofthecase.YouwillhavetocompleteitinthelanguageoftheMemberStateinwhichthecourtissituated.ButthankstotheavailabilityofstandardformsforthecommunicationbetweenthepartiesandthecourtthatareavailableinallEUlanguageslanguageproblemsareminimised.

ThecourttowhichanapplicationforanEuropeanorderforpaymenthasbeenmade considers whether the application conditions have beenmet. If theconditionsaremet,thecourtissuestheorderassoonaspossibleandnormallywithin30daysofthelodgingoftheapplication.

The judicial decision obtained as a result of this procedure will circulatefreely intheotherMemberStates;thecreditorwillnothavetoundertakeintermediatestepstoenforcethedecisionabroadliketheabovementionedexequatur.OnlyatranslationofthetitleinthelanguageoftheMemberStatewhereitshallbeexecutedwillbeasked.

Attention: The form of the European order of paymentwill facilitate theprocedureofclaimingyourmoneybackinanothercountryoftheEuropeanUnion.Whereas thedunningprocedure is a two-stageprocess and its titlehastoruntroughtheexequaturprocedureinthecountrywhereyouwanttoexecuteit,theEuropeanorderforpaymentprocedureisenforceableafteronestepandwithoutexequatur.

You will find the questionnaire as well as further information under thefollowingaddresses:

http://www.eu-verbraucher.de/en/legal-procedures/european-judicial-procedures/

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Not only the order for payment procedurewill facilitate the possibility togetyourmoneybackfromadebtorwithintheEuropeanUnion.Onthe1stofJanuary2009theRegulationonsmallclaimscameintoforce.Thisprocedurefacilitates cross-border legal proceedingswith an amount in dispute of upto2.000Eurosandappliestopecuniaryclaimsaswellastonon-pecuniaryclaims.

WhereastheEuropeanorderforpaymentprocedureistheaccurateprocedurefornotcontestedclaims,thesmallclaimsprocedurewillbethegoodchoiceifyoureckonwiththeotherparty’sobjection.

As a consumer youwill therefore have easier access to justice nomatterif you had a problemwith a small car accident in your holidays or if theinternettraderfromwhomyouboughtaproductdidnotfulfillhiscontractualobligations.Toinitiatetheprocedureyoucanalsofillinastandardisedformestablishingtimelimitsforthepartiesandforthecourtinordertospeeduplitigationconcerningsmallclaims.Youdon’thavetoberepresentedbyanattorneyatlaw.Thiswillenableyoutoclaimyourrightsinanefficientandcheapprocedure.

Theprocedure isawrittenprocedure,unlessanoralhearing isconsiderednecessarybythecourt.Thecourtmayholdahearingortakeevidencethrougha video conference or other communications technology if the technicalmeansareavailable.

Finally, the Regulation abolishes the intermediatemeasures to enable therecognitionandenforcementofajudgementgiveninaEuropeanSmallClaimsProcedure.AjudgmentshallberecognisedandenforcedinanotherMemberStateautomaticallyandwithoutanypossibilityofopposingitsrecognition.

3. Small Claims Regulation

Attention:ThesmallclaimsRegulationwillgiveyouthepossibilitytodealwithacross-borderdisputeonyourownbyusingastandardisedquestionnaire.

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Ifyouhavegotaclaimagainstacompanyandthiscompanyhasmeanwhiledeclaredinsolvencyyouhavegotthepossibilitytoregisteryourclaimintheinsolvencyprocedure.

Attention:When youhave got a claimagainst a company that is based inGermanyandyoudon’tknowwhetherthiscompanyhasdeclaredinsolvencythe European Consumer Centre Germany can give you further advice. Wecanfindoutwhetheracompanyhasdeclaredinsolvencyandwhereyoucanregisteryourclaim.

Afteracompanyhasdeclaredinsolvencythecompetentcourtwilltransferthecasetoaliquidator.Thisliquidatorwillthendecidewhetheritispossibletoopenaninsolvencyprocedureorwhetherthishastoberejectedsincethecompanydoesn’thaveanymeanstopaybackitsdebts.Incasetheliquidatordecidestoopentheprocedureyouhavegotthepossibilitytoregisteryourclaimattheliquidator’soffice.Beawarethatonlytheliquidatorandnotthecourtiscompetentfortheregistrationofyourclaim.

Whenyour claim is considered tobewell foundedand it is asserted that thecompanystillhasgotthemeanstopayitsdebts,youwillreceiveyourmoneybackoratleastapartofit(theinsolvencyrate).

4. Insolvency procedure

YouwillfindanEnglishtranslationofaformforaninsolvencyprocedureaswellasfurtherinformationonourhomepageunder:http://www.eu-verbraucher.de/en/legal-procedures/insolvency-procedure/

“Ordnungs-widrigkeit”

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Whenyouhavecommittedanadministrativeoffence(e.g.speedingfine,crossingaredlight)andarestoppedbythepolicetheywillusuallyaskyouforadepositforwhichyouwillgetareceipt.

Whenyoufinallyreceivethenoticeofthecommittedoffence,youhavegottherighttoappealagainstthisdecisionwithintwoweeks.Accordingtoyourappealtheauthoritiescandecidewhethertoreducetherequestedamountoreventorenouncetheirlastdecision.Otherwisetheauthoritywillforwardthecasetothecompetentcourtthatwillthendecideoveryourappeal.

If you are interested in further information about the legal system in Germany or are facing one of the above mentioned problems the European Consumer Centre Germany will give you further advice. Just contact:

Europäisches Verbraucherzentrum Deutschland Rehfusplatz 11 As of March 2011: Am Bahnhofsplatz 3 77694 Kehl Germany Phone: 0049-(0)7851-99148-0 Fax: 0049-(0)7851-99148-11 Mail: info@euroinfo-kehl.eu

Please note that even after an accurate research we can not guarantee for the accuracy of the given information and therefore deny any liability for it.

5. Administrative offence

Attention:DuetoaEuropeanResolutiontherewillmostlikelybethepossibilitytoenforceadministrativeoffencesthatyouhavecommittedinaEU-MemberState in your home country. This possibility exists for fines higher than70EurossinceNovember2010.

Nonetheless, you should always carefully respect the traffic rules in eachEuropeancountry.

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Amtsgericht:localcourtArbeitsgericht:labourcourtBerufung:appeal(onissuesoffactandlaw)Betriebsrat:staffassociation/workers´councilBGB:GermanCivilCodeBundesgerichtshof:FederalCourtofJusticeBundesverfassungsgericht:FederalConstitutionalCourtFinanzamt:taxofficeGarantie:productwarrantyGewährleistung:statutorywarrantyGebühren:feesGerichtsvollzieher:bailiffGüteverfahren, Streitschlichtung:conciliatoryproceedingsKündigungsschutzgesetz:EmploymentProtectionActKündigungsschutzklage:actionagainstunfairdismissalLandgericht:districtcourtMahnbescheid:courtorder/defaultsummonsNotar:notaryOberlandesgericht:higherregionalcourtProzeßkostenhilfe:legalaidRecht:lawRechtsanwalt/Anwalt:attorneyatlaw/barristerRechtsschutzversicherung:insuranceofdefenceandrecoveryRevision:appeal(onissuesoflaw)Richter:judgeSicherheitsleistung:securitylodging/provisionSteuerberater:taxcounsellorStrafzettel, Bußgeld, Verwarnungsgeld:finesVollstreckungsbescheid:enforcementorder

D. Helpful vocabulary

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European Consumer Centre GermanyRehfusplatz11AsofMarch2011:AmBahnhofsplatz3D-77694KehlPhone:0049/7851/99148-0Fax:0049/7851/99148-11Web:www.euroinfo-kehl.euMail:info@euroinfo-kehl.eu

Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (Federal Bar)Littenstraße9D-10179BerlinPhone:0049/30/284939-0Fax:0049/30/28439-11Web:www.brak.deMail:zentrale@brak.de

Bundessteuerberaterkammer (Federal Chamber of Tax Consultants)HausderSteuerberaterNeuePromenade4D-10178Berlin-MittePhone:0049/30/240087-0Fax:0049/30-240087-99Web:www.bstbk.deMail:zentrale@bstbk.de

Bundesministerium der Justiz (Federal Ministry of Justice)Mohrenstraße37D-10117BerlinPhone:0049/30/18580-0Fax:0049/30/18580-9525Web:www.bmj.de

E. Useful adresses

LINKS:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/judicialatlascivil/html/fillinginformation_

en.htm(EuropeanJudicialAtlasinCivilMatters)

http://www.mahngerichte.de/mahngerichte/wedding.htm(CourtofWedding)

http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/(EuropeanJudicialNetwork)

TheEuropeanConsumerCentresprovideconsumerswithinformationoncross-borderpurchaseofgoodsandservices,withassistanceintheami-cableresolutionofcross-bordercom-plaintsandoutofcourtprocedures.

TheGermanFederalBaristheum-brellaorganisationof27regionalBarsandtheBarattheFederalCourtofJustice.TheBarsrepresentapprox.117,000lawyersinGermany.

TheGermanFederalChamberofTaxConsultantsassistsinthesearchandselectionoftaxconsultantswhichprovideassistanceonissuesrelatingtotaxlaw,businessmanagement,andinchoosingthecorrectlegalstructure.

TheFederalMinistryofJusticepro-videsarangeofinformationalmate-rialaswellasfreeonlineaccesstovirtuallytheentirebodyofcurrentfederallaw.

Rehfusplatz 11As of March 2011: Am Bahnhofsplatz 3

77694 KEHLphone: +49 7851 991 48 0fax: +49 7851 991 48 11

e-Mail: info@euroinfo-kehl.eu

Open to the public: Tuesday to Thursday 9 a.m. − 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. − 5 p.m.

Kehl/StraßburgOne address - Two services

www.euroinfo-kehl.eu

European Consumer Centre France

European Consumer Centre Germany

EURO-INFO-VERBRAUCHER e.V.

The ECC Germany is funded by the Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany) and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (Germany), following a decision of the German Parliament, as well as by the European Commission.

ECC-Net: European Consumer Centres Networkhttp://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/index_en.htm

An independent French-German consumer association