Consumer advocates: 1N Telecom ignores ruling by the Federal Court of Justice

The company 1N Telecom, which has been controversial for a long time, continues to cause trouble. Only a few months ago, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that the general terms and conditions (AGB) of the telecommunications company are invalid if they are only made available via an internet link on a paper form. The BGH emphasized that such a practice does not enable customers to take note of the contract terms clearly and unambiguously. Consumer advocates now accuse the DSL provider: Despite the clear announcement, 1N Telecom continues to try to collect money with old and new tricks.

Consumer advice centers have been receiving complaints from concerned citizens for years who have received payment demands for alleged contracts with the Düsseldorf-based company. Many of those affected were originally customers of Deutsche Telekom and were misled by misleading mailings to supposedly switch providers. As a result, they are now paying for a connection they are not actually using.

Customers often signed, believing they were merely extending their existing contract. Shortly thereafter, however, they discovered that their previous connection had been canceled and a new contract with 1N Telecom had been concluded instead. Even after timely revocation or contestation of the contracts, the company insisted on claims of up to 500 Euros.

"Settlement offer" for 200 Euros

Although the BGH ruling has put a stop to this procedure, the Düsseldorf-based company is now trying to enforce its claims through detours. "Partially with success," the Saxony Consumer Advice Center knows. According to them, 1N Telecom has since sold the alleged claims to the newly founded Essen-based company TPI Investment. This company is now demanding payment of sometimes high amounts from former customers of the provider.

Currently, according to the Saxon consumer advocates, TPI is offering those affected offers for alleged out-of-court settlements. In these, they are asked to pay 200 Euros. Otherwise, the "reinstatement of the original, higher claim" is threatened. Fear-mongering terms such as titling, enforcement, and even handwriting comparison reports are said to be woven into the letters.

Consumer advocates: Brazen attempt

The Saxony Consumer Advice Center considers this procedure to be brazen and unacceptable. Heike Teubner, head of the advice center in Auerbach, explains: "We fundamentally see no legal basis for accepting such settlement offers. After the BGH ruling, the claims often lack a contractual basis." The expert urgently advises all those affected to object to these demands and by no means to make payments out of fear. Those who need help formulating an objection can receive independent and individual advice from the institution.

As early as the end of 2024, the Leipzig Local Court confirmed to a defendant customer that no legally valid contract was concluded in the case of a supposed tariff change with 1N Telecom. Affected customers were "apparently under the pretense of a contractual relationship with the plaintiff" with Telekom "a useless and superfluous second fixed-line contract was slipped in." The Düsseldorf-based provider with the similarly sounding name has been irritating consumers for many months with unsolicited advertising mail and alleged prize draws.

(mki)