GEZ Letter in Your Mailbox? Here’s What to Do
Got a letter from the Beitragsservice (GEZ)? Don’t panic. Here’s what it means, whether you need to pay, and how to respond — step by step.
What is the GEZ / Beitragsservice?
GEZ (now officially called ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice) collects the German broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag). If you received a letter from them, it’s about registering your household and paying the €18.36/month fee.
Types of Letters You Might Get
1. Erstanmeldung (First Registration)
- They know you moved in (from your Anmeldung data)
- They want you to register and start paying
- Action: Register and pay. There’s no way around it.
2. Zahlungserinnerung (Payment Reminder)
- You’re registered but haven’t paid
- Action: Pay the outstanding amount immediately to avoid fees
3. Festsetzungsbescheid (Assessment Notice)
- Official demand for unpaid fees + Säumniszuschlag (late surcharge)
- Action: Pay within 4 weeks. You can file an objection (Widerspruch) if you believe the amount is wrong.
4. Mahnung (Final Warning)
- Last step before debt collection
- Action: Pay immediately or contact them to arrange a payment plan
Can You Avoid Paying?
Almost never. The fee is per household, not per person. The only exemptions are:
- BAföG recipients (students)
- Social welfare recipients (ALG II / Bürgergeld)
- Severe disability (Merkzeichen RF on your Schwerbehindertenausweis)
- If you already live with someone who is registered and paying
How to Respond
- Don’t ignore it — it will escalate to court enforcement
- Register online at rundfunkbeitrag.de
- Set up SEPA Lastschrift for automatic quarterly payments
- Keep your Beitragsnummer (account number) for reference
*Can’t understand your GEZ letter? Upload it to Clario for an instant plain-English translation with next steps.*