Truck tolls, care, wine and rail: what's changing in December
Consumers will be faced with a number of changes in December: Electricity and gas prices will fall for some. Truck tolls, on the other hand, will become more expensive. An overview of the changes in the new month:
Timetable change
Deutsche Bahn is introducing many new connections with the timetable change on December 10. ICE passengers between Berlin and Bavaria and on the Berlin-Hanover-NRW axis will benefit in particular.
Railroad wage dispute
Following the failure of the wage negotiations between the train drivers' union GDL and Deutsche Bahn, passengers could also face strikes in December. The train drivers' union could call warning strikes or - after the ballot - even indefinite strikes at any time.
Electricity and gas tariffs
Electricity and gas prices will fall for many consumers in December and January. Customers on basic supply tariffs, which apply to around a quarter of households, will be affected.
Google deletes accounts
According to Google, it will begin deleting inactive accounts in December. Anyone who has an account for Gmail and other services but has not used it for a long time should log in in November if they still need it.
Tickets for the European Football Championship
Soccer fans who missed out in the first round of ticket sales for the 2024 European Championships will get a second chance in December. Uefa will then sell additional tickets.
More money for care workers
Employees in geriatric care will receive more money from December 1. The minimum wage per hour will rise to 18.25 euros for care professionals, 15.25 euros for qualified care assistants and 14.15 euros for care assistants.
Higher truck toll
On December 1, the truck toll on German highways will increase. A surcharge of 200 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted will then apply as a climate protection measure.
Service charge bills
Many tenants must submit complaints about a utility bill for 2022 by December 31 to ensure that their claims do not expire. However, other deadlines are also possible depending on the contract.
Start of the ski season
Winter sports resorts are gearing up for the season. The Zugspitze is expected to be the first ski resort in Germany to open on December 1. The other resorts also want to open before the end of December.
Wine labels
What's in wine or sparkling wine? From December 8, the calorific value must appear on the bottle label. Consumers must also be able to view the nutritional values and ingredients on the bottle label - either on the label or electronically, for example using a QR code.
Compulsory insurance for ride-on lawn mowers
Anyone who wants to use their ride-on lawn mower on public roads outside of their home lawn will soon have to insure it. In future, vehicles with maximum speeds of between 6 and 20 kilometers per hour, as well as forklift trucks or small tractors that are driven on public land, will be subject to compulsory insurance. The German government must implement a corresponding EU directive by December 23.
Christmas mail
To ensure that Christmas greetings and gifts arrive in time for Christmas, Deutsche Post recommends sending letters and postcards by December 21 and parcels by December 20.
Consumers in the social affairs sector might be affected by the electricity and gas tariffs decrease, benefitting those on basic supply tariffs. However, truck tolls could increase for consumers, resulting in higher costs for transportation. In December, soccer fans can purchase additional tickets for the 2024 European Football Championship, offering a second chance for those who missed out in the first round. Google will begin deleting inactive accounts, urging users to log in before December to maintain their accounts. Deutsche Bahn's carers will receive a pay increase starting December 1, enhancing their wages. During the timetable change on December 10, passengers traveling between Berlin and Bavaria, as well as the Berlin-Hanover-NRW axis, will benefit from new connections. On the other hand, the railroad wage dispute between GDL and Deutsche Bahn may lead to strikes in December, potentially disrupting train services for passengers.
Source: www.dpa.com
