Sobald du weißt, dass du einen Termin nicht wahrnehmen kannst, sage den Termin ab. (As soon as you know you cannot keep an appointment, cancel it.) This is a rule in a guide on canceling appointments, published by Utopia.de in January 2025. The guide adds: Kurzfristig absagen ist besser als nicht absagen. (Canceling at short notice is better than not canceling.) A doctor’s appointment should be canceled at least 24 hours ahead.
Words for Keeping a Promise
Versprochen ist versprochen — a promise is a promise.
Zu seinem Wort stehen — to stand by one’s word.
Verbindlich zusagen — to accept in a binding way. Said of a person, unverbindlich means noncommittal, and it is not praise.
Bescheid sagen — to let someone know. Sag rechtzeitig Bescheid — let me know in good time.
Absagen — to cancel. An appointment is canceled, not simply missed.
Eine Vorwarnung geben — to give advance warning.
Hält, was es verspricht — it keeps what it promises, a standard phrase of praise for a product.
The Airport Opening That Was Called Off
Berlin’s new airport, BER, was due to open on 3 June 2012. On 8 May 2012, four weeks before that date, the opening was called off because of problems with the fire protection system. Terminal 1 finally opened on 31 October 2020.
Files examined by the Berlin parliament’s inquiry show that it had been clear inside the airport company since the end of 2011 at the latest that the date was in danger. In March 2012, McKinsey wrote to the management that a delay of almost four months ist bis zur Inbetriebnahme nicht aufzuholen, could not be made up before opening. According to an internal email, the managing director Manfred Körtgen wanted the word äußerst, extremely, removed from the critical paths in a controlling report. Körtgen later told the committee that he did not remember giving that instruction. A member of the supervisory board later said: Auf jeden Fall wurden wir falsch informiert. (In any case, we were given false information.)
No reminder needed when the date was agreed
German law normally requires the creditor to send a reminder before the debtor is formally in default. But where the parties have fixed a performance date by the calendar, no reminder is required at all — § 286 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 BGB. Default begins the moment the date passes.
The Latin maxim is quoted in German textbooks: dies interpellat pro homine — the day admonishes in place of the man.
A German who agreed a date does not expect to be chased, and the law agrees with him.
Registering concerns
German construction law places a duty on the contractor: where he has concerns about the intended method of execution, about materials supplied by the client, or about the work of other trades, he must notify the client immediately and in writing, and preferably before starting. The provision is § 4 Abs. 3 VOB/B.
Doing so releases him from liability for defects arising from those points. Failing to do so leaves him liable for consequential damage he did not cause.
The obligation runs the wrong way for a contractor’s own interest, and it is the law.
Fristsetzung
The German term Fristsetzung conveys the concept of deadline setting; defining clear time limits. It is culturally significant because used in contracts and offers to ensure predictability.