Complaints office for IBAN problems still in demand even after five years

Jyears after the introduction of the international account number IBAN Consumers in Germany are still reporting problems with their acceptance. According to the Center for Combating Unfair Competition in Bad Homburg, around 100 cases per year are reported in which consumers were unable to use a foreign bank account with certain companies for payments in Germany, although this was expressly permitted in the Sepa payment area (“Single Euro Payments Area”) should be possible. Since the establishment of the SEPA complaints office at the end of May 2017, around 650 complaints have been received.

“In view of the large number of transactions per day, it is not a huge problem, but there are always individual cases that are annoying for consumers,” said lawyer Peter Breun-Goerke from the competition center of the German Press Agency. “Companies that provide the technical infrastructure at great expense to ensure the acceptance of all Sepa accounts also suffer a competitive disadvantage.”

“Most companies see their mistake”

There have been problems with a foreign IBAN when processing direct debits, among others with insurers, energy suppliers and building societies. For example, if employees from other European countries working in Germany wanted to have insurance contributions debited from their account at home, but the insurer only accepted a bank account in Germany. Recently, according to Breun-Goerke, the complaints have included cases in which Lithuanian bank accounts were affected.

“Most companies see their mistake. We usually come up with sensible solutions quickly,” said Breun-Goerke. “We do not insist that companies accept a foreign IBAN in an automated process. But you have to ensure that customers can also use a foreign Iban.” In 30 cases, the competition center took the so-called IBAN discrimination to court. With the exception of one trial, all were won, Breun-Goerke summed up.