Lawsuit against Primastrom and Voxenergie - consumer advocates give customers hope

The Federal Consumer Association (vzbv) has filed a lawsuit against the energy suppliers Primastrom and Voxenergie. According to the consumer advocates, the two companies have increased their prices, in some cases drastically, despite an agreed price guarantee. From the point of view of the vzbv, this was inadmissible. After all, the providers had adjusted the prices "unilaterally" and "without the consent of the consumer" upwards.

According to the association, some providers have more than tripled their electricity prices since last year, and gas prices have even increased ninefold in some cases. In the run-up to the lawsuit, more than 1,100 consumers reported their cases to the vzbv.

"In the current energy crisis, consumers are dependent on a secure and plannable energy supply," says Ronny Jahn, head of the team for model declaratory judgments at vzbv. Primastrom and Voxenergie advertised with price guarantees. "Nevertheless, they sometimes increase their prices by several hundred percent," Jahn complains.

The vzbv now wants to have the court determine that this procedure is illegal. If the consumer advocates are right, customers of the two suppliers would only have to pay the agreed prices. In addition, a claim for damages can be considered if consumers have terminated the contract due to the increased costs, the vzbv explains. Because: Many customers then found themselves in significantly more expensive contracts.

A requested statement from the companies was still pending immediately after the notification from the consumer advocates. In the coming weeks, the register of complaints will be opened at the Federal Office of Justice. Those affected can then register and participate in the process.

According to consumer protection groups, Primastrom and Voxenergie alone accounted for 44 percent of the nearly 3,600 complaints about energy in June 2022. However, other suppliers would also attract attention with questionable price increases, according to the vzbv. Consumer advocates are therefore likely to take action against other providers in the coming months.

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