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Consumer Watchdogs Warn Pension Website Mimics German Pension Authority and Say Its Invoices Are Not Binding

Authorities say the site's defective order button prevents a valid contract, prompting guidance to use the official pension website.

Overview

  • The portal rentnerauskunft.de is run from London and charges €29.90 to forward requests that the Deutsche Rentenversicherung provides free of charge.
  • Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg reports a recent spike in complaints about the site, which closely copies the look and language of the official authority.
  • The button labeled “Anfordern” fails Germany’s BGB §312j “button solution,” so the consumer watchdog says no contract is formed and invoices need not be paid.
  • Submitting forms through the portal sends sensitive personal data to a private UK company rather than directly to the pension authority, raising privacy concerns.
  • The DRV and the European Consumer Centre warn of increasingly convincing impersonation, including phishing and AI‑assisted clones, and urge users to verify URLs and use official channels.