Consumer advocates had filed a lawsuit against Berliner Sparkasse because of unannounced cost increases. The court ruled in the customers' favor.
They can now demand money back. Customers should check their own bank's monthly account statements from January 1, 2018. Anyone who finds an increase in the account management fee between January 2018 and (for example) April 2024 may be entitled to repayments. The consumer advice center provides a sample letter for this purpose - customers should send this to their bank in order to reclaim the money they have paid too much. To find out whether you as a bank customer are affected by such cost increases, you need to take a look at your account statement. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255 or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.