The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has issued a stark warning to Deutsche Post, Germany’s national postal service, threatening significant financial penalties in response to a dramatic surge in customer complaints. Agency President Klaus Müller, in remarks published Saturday, stated that Deutsche Post has received a “yellow card” signaling a potential move to enforcement measures including coercive fines if performance does not improve.
The authority’s newly acquired powers, granted through amendments to the postal law, allow it to levy fines of up to €10 million. Müller emphasized that these powers would be actively utilized to address persistent failures. Data presented by the agency indicates a concerning escalation: 38,760 complaints were registered by August, a 33% increase compared to the 27,693 recorded in the same period last year.
Regional disparities are particularly noticeable, with Schleswig-Holstein, specifically areas including Husum, Lübeck, Flensburg and Kiel, experiencing the most acute disruptions. Problem areas have also emerged in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Deutsche Post has attributed the service failures to operational strain, citing workforce shortages impacting the delivery of mail and packages. This explanation is being met with considerable skepticism, particularly given the recent increase in postal rates, effectively charging consumers more for a demonstrably diminished service. The timing of the complaints peak in July has been noted, although the authority reports a slight downward trend following the recruitment of additional staff, currently undergoing training.
However, the threat of further action remains critical. The approaching holiday season, traditionally a period of intense postal activity, is expected to place additional pressure on Deutsche Post’s operations, raising concerns that the current partial improvements may be unsustainable. The Bundesnetzagentur’s warning underscores growing political scrutiny of the nation’s postal infrastructure and the government’s responsibility to ensure adequate service for citizens. The effectiveness of Deutsche Post’s remedial actions will be under intense observation over the coming months.