The app keeps crashing, the stream is choppy, the cloud storage is unresponsive: From the new year, consumers will have more rights when it comes to complaining about digital products – for example, physical data storage devices, music and video files, e-books, apps, cloud applications or social networks. This means that you can complain about defects in these products, have these defects remedied or even request a complete replacement. The new rights also apply in part if consumers do not pay with money, but instead provide data in return.
Changed conditions for contract terminations
From March 2022, telephone and internet contracts that automatically renew after the minimum term has expired can be terminated with one month’s notice. In addition, the provider must inform you in advance of the automatic contract renewal. From July 2022, it will also be possible to terminate many contracts concluded online using a cancellation button or link. This website function must be found in the same place where the contract conclusion is offered and it must be clearly marked.
Vaccination certificate becomes part of the electronic patient record (ePA)
The electronic patient file (ePA) will be given additional ios database functions this year. Over the course of the year, vaccination records, maternity records, child examination records and dental bonus records can also be integrated. In addition, insured persons have the option of determining who can access each stored document, for example for an examination by a specialist. All those with statutory insurance have been able to receive the electronic patient file from their health insurance company for a year now.
Autonomous driving becomes possible on German roads
Self-driving buses or robo-taxis in city traffic? What this consumer is not brand loyal is already being tested in some
places in Germany should soon be possible everywhere in public transport. For this, the Autonomous Vehicle Approval
and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV) still has to be passed – this is planned for the beginning of the new year. The
ordinance regulates the technical details so that vehicles in which the driver can completely hand over control of the
vehicle are actually allowed to drive on German roads. Germany is a global pioneer in this: the corresponding law was
passed in July 2021, which basically allows the use of autonomous vehicles in public roads. It is the first of its kind and
allows the use of driverless vehicles of the so-called level 4 on fixed routes in regular road traffic.
Digitalization of administrative services planned
Child benefit, passport, building permit: By the end of 2022, it should be possible to apply for these and other
documents online in Germany instead of going to the office. aubdirectory This is made possible by the Online Access
Act, or OZG for short. 575 such administrative services are then to be offered digitally via the federal, state and local
government administration portals – from A for waste disposal to Z for second home tax. However, it is questionable
whether this goal will be fully achieved.
E-invoicing becomes mandatory in other federal states
Companies that work with the public sector in Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and Saarland must use electronic
invoicing from January 1, 2022 if the invoice amount exceeds 1,000 euros. They will then no longer be able to submit a
paper invoice or a simple PDF document as an email attachment. The federal government and Bremen have already
been using e-invoicing since November 2020. Other federal states are to follow suit.
