Verwaltungszwangsverfahren

So I keep getting letters from the nice people at the GEZ. Demands to fill out a form telling them whether or not I have a TV and radio. I don't own a TV or radio. None. So I put the letters in the bin. No obligation to return the forms if you're not liable for broadcasting license payments.

I used to always just get letters from the GEZ. Recently I've started getting them from the Bayerischer Rundfunk as well.

The latest one said that I had ignored all their previous letters (correct) and if I was to ignore this one then I have to reckon with a Verwaltungszwangsverfahren. They even put it in bold just like I have.

Now...

Verwaltung = administration
zwang = compulsory
verfahren = procedure

Putting it all together: "administrative compulsory procedure"?

Ideas?

A big scary word in order to frighten the weaker-willed into submission? Or something I need to be genuinely concerned about? The letter has gone in the bin already anyway.

Because you haven't sent back any info about whether you have a radio or TV they are going to send around a controller to check you out.
As far as I know you should have ticked off the box for no radio/no tv and posted the letter back. You naughty non-german you !

If the controller turns up you don't have to let him in. You don't even have to tell him whether you have a tv/radio or not. However if you do tell him you have to give a correct answer.

According to these people:


(translation)

(Question)If you don't have any appliances (that can receive a signal) do you have to tell them anything or answer at all=

(Answer) If you don't have any of these appliances you are not required to answer them.

Dunno how true that is, but as just mentioned, don't let them in your apartment, or better yet don't answer the door when you're not expecting someone.

Fantastic German word, ain't it?

It's a real humdinger of word allright, you can hear the triplicate copies being stamped from here.

"Verwaltungszwangsverfahren" means simply a formal process to determine if you have a TV or radio receiver. This may mean a visit, or a detector van outside your home to "listen". You don't need to answer their letter if you don't have any devices, but to save hassle it would be a darned sight easier if you did. They start to get bothersome

Do you really have no TV or Radio? No radio in your mobile phone, or car, none in your Hifi and no tuner in your PC? They all count, even if you don't use them...

YL6

Hide in the cupboard with the cat its your only hope.

Or alternatively , pay up.

Thanks for the feedback! (except for "not me honest" who once again didn't engage brain and read what was written before replying).

Yes, I really have no TV or Radio. I have nothing at all which picks up such radio waves. I have a computer on the DSL, an analogue phone line, and a cell phone without radio facility. And no car, let alone car radio. I don't even have a clock which uses the radio signals to set it's time.

So I'm quite clear in my mind I don't have to pay.

I was also of the understanding that if you don't have to pay, you don't have to tell them. And by golly I'm not going to! I want to waste their time. The GEZ are bullies and they deserve to be given the run-around.

So, "Verwaltungszwangsverfahren" = "person coming to check me out". Sounds about right I suppose. Case solved.

Am not worried about the visits. I never answer the door to strangers. I hope they make lots of wasted journeys.

I still say you should hide in the cupboard

And if you want to waste their time then I hope to God they waste yours back.
They are only doing their job.
If you just told them the truth to start off with then you wouldn't have a problem so stop whining
Yeah yeah I Know your not obliged too.
FFS they are not pyschic of course they want to check you out. Tick the fing no box and you wouldn't have a bloody problem.
And if they put the Gez up due to wasted man hours we know which particular child to blame.

Aw come on peeps, Twirlie is doing his bit to keep someone in a job, there 11.4% unemployed!

Besides, the cat probably needs company!!

You actually believe his I have no tv, no radio line.
Yes and I'm a fairy princess

No, you are just bitter and twisted.

To put your mind at rest, I just received the same letter from the GEZ, which I've also done for the past five years. I put some junk mail in their envelope and sent it back to them without putting a stamp on it, and shredded their letter.

I pay for my radio and have no TV but that doesn't stop the idiots at the GEZ treating me like a suspect - they deserve all the mockery they get.

EDIT: And because the inspectors they send round are paid by the number of people they sign up I suspect they target foreigners and others who may not know you can just tell them to hop off.

That's because, the Germans are honest and will pay! Where as alot of foreigners try to play dumb and won't pay- as we don't have this tax in our homelands... but god, we have decided to live and work here, we have to play by their rules! If we like them or not!

Carm, exactly right. However Twirlie and I are both honest and pay for what we use, but this doesn't stop the GEZ sending threatening letters three times a year just because we don't pay for what we don't have. Twirlie is right to describe them as bullies - by acting like this they do nothing but create an air of resentment. Tracking the cheapskates who don't pay is a difficult job, but the GEZ's methods are not making them friends.

A while back some German group setup a "Brot fur GEZ" campaign..

After seeing all the signs posted for the "Send us money, so we can buy bread for starving people" groups they setout is get bread for GEZ..

People were encouraged to stuff a slice of bread in the GEZ return envelope, so they wouldn't starve.. If your German is up to par do a search on Google for more info..

[img]http://blog.linsin.de/wp-content/images/logo_1.jpeg[/img]

Errrrm but we do! At least the British and Irish do.


Don't agree. Once ypu've spent a significant part of your working life here I think you are no longer obliged to creep through your life as a barely tolerated "guest".

@MT
There is a difference between "creeping" and showing some respect.
I don't think Carm was suggesting we act subserviently.

Fucking right!!! God, we live here!!! we have to adapt to their lifestyle, we cannot expect them to adapt!

I just got my new electric bill...its high, but I cannot fight it! I have to deal with it personally. Its called life!

Don't get me wrong, I DO think that everybody should stick to the accepted rules that are there for everyone's benefit.

If you can afford it for example, I don't think you should be travelling on the U-Bahnticketless just becasue you can get away with it there more easily than at "home".

But when the archetypal evil Bavarian granny from hell sprints down the platform, HACKS her way through the crowd with her stick but then suddenly demands the disabled seat (with a glower at the person at there) with a brandished Ausweis and then slams all the windows shut: Then we should criticise.

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