The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) is complaining about a massive mail flood, although a free point inquiry has been possible online in Flensburg for eight years. “Every year, we receive around 500,000 written inquiries just for point information. That’s around 2,000 letters a day that enter the KBA and then leave it, all for this information” said KBA President Richard Damm to the “New Osnabrück Times” (Sunday edition).
“Although we’ve been offering a free online inquiry for private individuals in Flensburg since 2016, people still continue to write in” Damm said. The online option is quick, digital, and free of charge. “Despite this, law firms are still on the move, charging 15 euros and more for the registration information that is available for free at the KBA, and that’s within two minutes with a smartphone and ID card.” The only condition is that the online function of the ID card must be activated, which can only be done after a subsequent appointment at the citizen’s office.
At least, the number of private individuals using the online offer has increased from around 36 percent to over 60 percent in the last three years, Damm said. He can only encourage citizens “to use the digital way – it’s sustainable, saves paper, costs, and time, and it’s much faster than a letter.” Lawyers, however, are not open to the online way, and must send letters to Flensburg.