Letter types

Short guides to common German official letters. On each page you can read the basics, then use Briefed to decode your own document in plain English.

Driving & traffic

Bußgeldbescheid Official traffic fine — Einspruch deadline, Punkte, Fahrverbot, and when to contest.

Abmahnung Formal legal warning — Unterlassungserklärung, fees, deadlines, and how to respond.
Mahnbescheid Court payment order in the yellow envelope — 14-day deadline, Widerspruch, and Vollstreckungsbescheid.
Inkasso-Brief Debt collection agency letter — not a court document, fees, Verjährung, register check, and Schufa rules.
Mahnung Payment reminder before court — fees, deadlines, and how to respond.
Vollstreckungsbescheid Enforcement order after an uncontested Mahnbescheid — bailiff risk and limited remedies.
Gerichtsvollzieher Bailiff notice — Pfändung, appointments, and stopping escalation.
Pfändungsbeschluss Wage or account garnishment — protected amounts and P-Konto.

Finanzamt Nachzahlung Tax back-payment demand from the German tax office — amounts, deadlines, and what to do next.
Steuerbescheid Annual tax assessment — Nachzahlung, Erstattung, Fälligkeit, and Einspruch.
SCHUFA-Eintrag Credit report entries — retention, disputes, and data copies.

Stromanbieterwechsel Electricity provider letters — switch confirmations, tariff changes, rejected switches, Lieferbeginn, and Grundversorgung.
Gasanbieterwechsel Gas supplier letters — price hikes, Sonderkündigung, and final bills.
KFZ-Versicherung Car insurance — premium changes, SF-Klasse, and claims correspondence.

Rundfunkbeitrag Mahnung GEZ / Beitragsservice reminder — €18.36 household fee, Säumniszuschlag, exemptions, and enforcement risk.

Krankenkasse Beitragsanpassung Contribution rate change from your statutory insurer — Zusatzbeitrag, deadlines, and your special right to switch.

Mieterhöhung Formal rent increase — Mietspiegel, Kappungsgrenze, Zustimmungsfrist, modernization rules, and when the letter is invalid.
Nebenkostenabrechnung Annual utility and operating-cost settlement from your landlord — deadlines, allowable charges, and how to dispute.
Eigenbedarfskündigung Landlord personal-use termination — notice period and tenant protections.
Wohngeld-Bescheid Housing benefit decision — approval, back-payments, and Widerspruch.

Kündigung vom Arbeitgeber Employer termination — notice period and Kündigungsschutz deadlines.
Aufhebungsvertrag Mutual termination agreement — Sperrzeit risk and negotiation tips.
Arbeitslosengeld-Bescheid Unemployment benefit decision from the Agentur für Arbeit.
Bürgergeld-Bescheid Citizen's benefit notice — amounts, duties, and Sanktionen.
Krankengeld-Bescheid Sick pay from your Krankenkasse after employer sick pay ends.
Elterngeld-Bescheid Parental allowance — Basiselterngeld, Plus, and Nachforderung.
BAföG-Bescheid Student aid decision — Zuschuss, Darlehen, and appeals.
Renteninformation Annual pension forecast — not a bill, but important for planning.