A payment reminder
Mahnung
What a Mahnung is, how it differs from a Mahnbescheid from the court, and why the difference matters.
Şandar: Companies, insurers, public bodies
What this letter is
A „Mahnung“ is a reminder that someone believes you owe money. It comes from the company or office itself, not from a court.
It usually states the original amount, any added fees („Mahngebühr“), and a date by which they want payment.
The important distinction
A „Mahnung“ is not the same as a „Mahnbescheid“. A Mahnbescheid comes from a court (Amtsgericht), arrives in a yellow envelope, and carries a short legal period for responding. If your letter says Mahnbescheid, treat it as a court matter and get advice quickly.
Confusing the two is common and consequential, because only one of them starts a legal process.
What it usually asks you to do
Pay, or contact the sender about the claim. If you believe the claim is wrong, a Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre) can look at it with you — including whether it is one of the common letters that look official but are not.
The deadline that applies to you is printed on your own letter — usually near the top or at the end of the section describing what you must do. Look for a date, or a phrase such as „innerhalb von zwei Wochen“ (within two weeks) or „bis zum“ (by). Do not rely on a period you read online, including here: the same letter type carries different deadlines depending on why it was sent.
Ev ravekirin bi zîrekiya çêkirî hatiye çêkirin û dikare xeletî hebe. Nameya orîjînal a almanî derbasdar e. Di mijarên giran de ji kesekî pispor alîkarî bixwazin.