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Germany's Regulator Logs 39,842 Illegal Cold-Call Complaints in 2025

The agency responded with roughly €1.1 million in fines, including first-ever penalties for missing consent records.

Overview

  • The Federal Network Agency received 39,842 written complaints last year, a 6% increase from 2024.
  • About one in five complaints concerned sweepstakes pitches, followed by services, energy contracts and building products.
  • Reports about photovoltaic offers declined, which the regulator attributes to the deterrent effect of sanctions against rogue solar marketers.
  • Fines totaled about €1.1 million, roughly €0.3 million less than in 2024, with first enforcement of the 2021 consent-documentation requirement.
  • Agency chief Klaus Müller warned that unlawful telemarketing harms consumers and competition, pledging continued action as consumers can file complaints on the agency's website.