A rail passenger in Germany who arrives at least 60 minutes late gets 25 percent of the ticket price back. In 2024 Deutsche Bahn received about 6.9 million claims for compensation. It paid knapp 197 Millionen Euro, almost 197 million euros, to passengers. In 2023 it had paid 132.8 million euros.
Stuttgart 21
Stuttgart 21, the new underground main station, sollte rund drei Milliarden Euro kosten und schon 2019 in Betrieb gehen. It was supposed to cost about three billion euros and open in 2019. In June 2026 representatives of Deutsche Bahn told the Bundestag transport committee that it would open at the end of 2031. The latest cost estimate is about 11.3 billion euros. The financing contract of 2009 had committed the project partners only up to a little over 4.5 billion euros. A court ruled that the railway must bear the extra costs alone.
“He Will Fulfill This Contract”
In spring 2022 Robert Lewandowski wanted to leave Bayern Munich for FC Barcelona. On 15 May 2022 Bayern’s chief executive Oliver Kahn said: Er hat einen Vertrag bis 2023. Diesen Vertrag wird er erfüllen. Basta! He has a contract until 2023. He will fulfill this contract. Basta! Two months later the transfer was agreed. Barcelona paid a fee of 45 million euros.
A Dealer Contract Since 1927
In September 2019 Jürgens GmbH in Hagen, a Mercedes-Benz dealer that grew out of a small repair shop, celebrated its 100th anniversary. The trade journal Autohaus reported that the firm had held a dealer contract since 1927. A senior Mercedes-Benz sales manager thanked the company für die lange und vertrauensvolle Partnerschaft, for the long partnership of trust.
Seventy Years With One Supplier
On 21 March 2024 the German Football Association announced that Nike would supply the national teams’ kit from 2027. Adidas had supplied it for more than 70 years. The association said Nike had made das mit Abstand beste wirtschaftliche Angebot, by far the best economic offer. The reaction reached the federal government. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach called it a wrong decision wo Kommerz eine Tradition und ein Stück Heimat vernichtet, where commerce destroys a tradition and a piece of home. Economics Minister Robert Habeck said he would have wished for a bit more patriotism toward Germany as a place to do business. Bavaria’s premier Markus Söder said German football was Heimat pur, pure home.
Words for Promising Too Much
den Mund zu voll nehmen — to fill one’s mouth too full: to promise or boast too much
große Töne spucken — to spit big tones: to talk big
viel versprechen und wenig halten — to promise much and keep little
Luftschlösser bauen — to build castles in the air
heiße Luft — hot air: empty talk
One Day Late, and the Thesis Fails
At the University of Bamberg, a bachelor’s student has three months to write a bachelor’s thesis. For a thesis sent by post, the date of the postmark counts. Then the rule: Wird die Bachelorarbeit nicht fristgerecht gemäß § 29 Abs. 4 abgegeben, gilt sie als mit „nicht ausreichend” (5,0) bewertet. If the thesis is not handed in on time, it is graded insufficient, the failing grade of 5.0.
The Late-Filing Surcharge
Every German who must file a tax return faces a fixed deadline, and the tax code puts a price on missing it. If an annual return is not filed within 14 months after the end of the year, the tax office as a rule has no choice. A Verspätungszuschlag, a late-filing surcharge, ist … festzusetzen, must be imposed. It is 0.25 percent of the tax still owed for each month or part of a month of delay, but at least 25 euros for each month or part of a month.
The A400M
The German armed forces ordered 53 A400M transport aircraft from Airbus. The first one arrived in December 2014, years late. In January 2015 the Airbus chief executive, Tom Enders, apologized in public: Wir haben nicht die Leistung abgeliefert, die wir uns gewünscht haben, und ich muss mich dafür entschuldigen. We did not deliver the performance we wanted, and I must apologize for it. In June 2016 Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the armed forces had einen sehr handfesten Vertrag, a very solid contract, in which compensation was clearly set out. Wir werden auch diese Schadenersatzansprüche geltend machen. We will claim this compensation.
The Appointment Binds Both Sides
When a booked craftsman in Germany does not come, the customer cannot claim for a wasted day off. Einen Anspruch auf Ersatz eines vertanen Urlaubstages oder Verschwendung von Freizeit gibt es nicht, the legal portal of the insurer ERGO explains. Losses that can be counted in money can be claimed, if the craftsman is at fault. A self-employed customer’s lost earnings are one example. The rule also binds the customer. Sind Sie trotz Terminvereinbarung nicht zu Hause, kann der Handwerksbetrieb Ihnen die Fahrtkosten für die vergebliche Anfahrt in Rechnung stellen. If you are not home despite the agreed appointment, the firm can bill you for the wasted trip. In 2018 a master hairdresser in Hanover announced his own rule: Wer seinen Termin nicht absagt und wegbleibt, muss den vollen Betrag zahlen. Whoever does not cancel and stays away pays the full price.