consumer
Truck tolls, care, wine and rail: What changes in December
The truck toll on German highways will increase on December 1st. photo
© Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa
In the last month of the year there are new connections for rail travelers. Football fans can hope for European Championship tickets a second time. And a professional group can look forward to more money.
In December, consumers will face some changes: for some, electricity and gas prices will fall. However, it will be more expensive Truck toll. An overview of the changes in the new month:
Timetable change
There are many new connections at Deutsche Bahn when the timetable changes on December 10th. This particularly benefits ICE passengers between Berlin and Bavaria and on the Berlin-Hannover-NRW axis.
Rail tariff dispute
After the failure of collective bargaining between the train drivers’ union GDL and Deutsche Bahn, passengers could face strikes in December. The train drivers’ union could call for warning strikes at any time or – after the strike vote – for indefinite strikes.
Electricity and gas tariffs
For many consumers, electricity and gas prices fall in December and January. Customers in basic service tariffs, which apply to around a quarter of households, are affected.
Google deletes accounts
Google says it will begin deleting inactive accounts in December. Anyone who has an account for Gmail and other services but has not used it for a long time should register in November if they still need it.
Tickets for the European Football Championship
Football fans who came away empty-handed in the first round of ticket allocation for the 2024 European Championship will have a second chance in December. Then the UEFA association sells more tickets.
More money for nursing staff
Employees in geriatric care will receive more money from December 1st. The minimum wage per hour increases to 18.25 euros for nursing staff, to 15.25 euros for qualified nursing assistants and to 14.15 euros for nursing assistants.
Higher truck toll
The truck toll on German highways will increase on December 1st. A surcharge of 200 euros per ton of carbon dioxide released then takes effect as a climate protection measure.
Utility bills
Many tenants have to submit complaints about a utility bill for 2022 by December 31st so that their claims do not expire. Depending on the contract, other deadlines are also conceivable.
Start of ski season
The winter sports resorts are preparing for the season. The Zugspitze is expected to be the first ski area in Germany to start skiing operations on December 1st. The other areas also want to open in December.
Wine labels
What’s in wine or sparkling wine? From December 8th, the calorific value must appear on the bottle label. Nutritional values and ingredients on the bottle label must also be visible to consumers – either on the label or electronically accessible, for example using a QR code.
Compulsory insurance for riding lawn mowers
If you want to drive your ride-on lawn mower on public paths outside of your home lawn, you will soon have to insure it. In the future, vehicles with maximum speeds between 6 and 20 kilometers per hour, as well as forklifts or small tractors that travel on public land, will be subject to insurance. The federal government must implement a corresponding EU directive by December 23rd.
Christmas mail
To ensure that Christmas greetings and gifts arrive in time for Christmas, Deutsche Post recommends sending letters and postcards by December 21st and parcels by December 20th.