Submitting a complaint against companies in the financial services sector

Service Description

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is responsible for protecting all consumers in the financial services sector. You can only submit complaints to BaFin about possible malpractice in a company in the financial services sector that is under the supervision of BaFin. BaFin cannot refund money that you have lost through securities transactions, for example.
It also has no influence on statutory or contractual deadlines, such as payment, reporting or limitation periods, if you submit a complaint. To ensure that you do not suffer any disadvantages, you must ensure that you comply with such deadlines yourself, irrespective of BaFin's review. In cases of doubt, it is advisable to seek legal advice.

In the event of a dispute, BaFin offers the parties involved the option of settling the dispute out of court in addition to lodging a complaint, if your complaint is suitable for this.
Regardless of which body is responsible for settling a specific disagreement, all procedures have certain principles in common:

  • Conciliation proceedings are largely conducted in writing.
  • Before an arbitration procedure, you should always have complained in writing to the company or institution concerned.
  • The arbitration procedure itself is generally free of charge for you as a consumer.
  • If you do not agree with the arbitrator's decision, you can still decide to take legal action, i.e. sue the institution in question.

BaFin is not responsible for complaints about

  • statutory health insurance, accident insurance, pension insurance or municipal compensation,
  • the stock exchange supervisory authority,
  • some smaller insurance companies that only operate regionally and are subject to state supervision,
  • Old funds, provided they are not subject to the Capital Investment Code, the Securities Sales Prospectus Act or the Asset Investment Act,
  • brokers of investment funds and other financial service providers that do not conduct business requiring a license under the German Banking Act.
  • Restrictions also apply to foreign companies.

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)

Competent Authority

Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)

Address
Graurheindorfer Straße 108
53117 Bonn, Stadt
Remark: Address Bonn
Link to the directions:
Anfahrt

Postal address
Post office box 1253
53002 Bonn, Stadt

Address
Marie-Curie-Straße 24-28
60439 Frankfurt am Main
Remark: Address Frankfurt am Main
Link to the directions:
Anfahrt

Postal address
Post office box 500154
60306 Frankfurt am Main
Telephone
+49 228 4108-0
Fax
+49 228 4108-1550
E-Mail
Contact us
Remark: General
E-Mail
Contact us
Remark: with qualified electronic signature
E-Mail
Contact us
Remark: especially for appointment notices regarding supervisory and administrative board members
DE-Mail
poststelle@bafin.de-mail.de
Transport connection
61

61

61

61

61

61

61

61