Get refund and reimbursements for train and flight cancellations and delays due to strike
Deutsche Bhan and Lufthansa workers go on another strikeYou must have already read in the news about the two-day strike by DB and Lufthansa's group workers. For those who don't know, the DB workers union (GDL) is demanding to reduce the working hours from 38hrs per week to 35 hrs per week without reducing the wages. Verde, the workers' union of airport staff, is demanding a raise of 12.5% or at least 500 € per month, plus a 3000 € inflation bonus. The negotiations are ongoing, and no one knows when both parties will agree. I know disruptions in public transport are taking a toll. You might have booked a trip to Paris and couldn't make it there on time. What will happen to the train and flight tickets, hotel bookings, and other plans you made? Let's check what you can do if your trip is canceled due to a strike. What can you do if your travel is delayed or canceled?Train ticketsYou can claim a refund if your travel is delayed by 60 minutes. Here is what Deutsche Bhan's website says. If the train is expected to arrive at the destination with a delay of at least 60 minutes, you have the following options:
If you choose to withdraw from the journey, the refund will be paid exclusively via bank transfer. It is not possible to issue a voucher in this case. You can request a refund at DB customer service and have 3 months to do so. Flight TicketsLike train tickets, you can request a refund for your air tickets if the flight was canceled due to a strike. You can read the official terms and conditions on the Lufthansa website and claim a refund online. Hotel / AirbnbUnfortunately, the train or flight companies are not responsible for the cost of the hotel or any other bookings. They are only liable for refunding the train or airfare. Thus, if your flight or train is canceled due to a strike, you need to negotiate with your hotel or Airbnb host to get a refund of the costs. As per law, the hotel is not responsible for the delay in transport. You are responsible for reaching the hotel on time. And if you can't, the hotel will not bear the costs. Thus, you should book hotels with a free cancellation option. Tired of German Bureaucracy? You can sue them...You don't have to endure the slow working schedule of ausländerbehorde or any other German administrative office. According to German law (§ 75 - Untätigkeitsklage), the administrative offices in Germany must process the request or at least reply within three months if they need something from you. Here is what the law says. 1. If a factual decision has not been made within a reasonable period of time on an objection or on an application for the performance of an administrative act without sufficient reason, the action is admissible, in derogation from Section
68.
2. The action cannot be brought before three months have elapsed since the objection was lodged or since the application for the administrative act to be carried out, unless a shorter period of time is required due to special circumstances of the case. 3. If there is sufficient reason why the objection has not yet been decided or the administrative act requested has not yet been issued, the court shall suspend the proceedings until the end of a period specified by it, which may be extended. So, if an administrative office doesn't move their ass within 3 months, you can sue them. It applies to all administrative tasks, such as your application for German citizenship, visa extension, or any other services. Have you been waiting for your citizenship for over a year? Get a lawyer and sue your local ausländerbehorde. Who pays the lawyer's fees?If you have legal protection insurance, your insurance company covers the legal costs. Otherwise, you have to pay the lawyer's fees and court costs. A case like this may cost around 800 euros in court fees and up to 1000 euros in lawyer's fees. But you don't have to worry about the money if you have done everything according to the administrative office's website. You'll get your money back once you win the case. Winning the case simply means that the administrative office did its job, such as approving your citizenship or extending your visa. Even if you don't get your money back, at least your file will move forward.
NOTE: Get a written confirmation of coverage from your legal insurance company before hiring a lawyer. This letter confirms that the insurer will cover the legal costs of the dispute. Don't have a legal insurance policy yet. Get one today. You can compare the legal insurance offers on Check24* or Verivox*. If you want a service in English, check Getsafe* legal insurance and Feather*. |