In May there will be some changes for consumers. For example, the corona measures in companies are being phased out.
Kassel – In May 2022, consumers will be faced with a number of innovations. For example, a tax return submission deadline is about to expire. The current Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance also ends. Other changes affect shops, coffee trips, online shopping, doorstep shops and beer as well as the 9-euro ticket. All information about the upcoming changes can be found here.
In addition to the high energy prices in April are also many groceries have become more expensive, sometimes even by 50 percent. Products included pasta, flour, meat and butter, among others. But beer is also affected by the price increases. The first breweries already increased their prices in April. The Radeberger and Bitburger Groups, among others, are now announcing that they will also follow suit, as the Westfälische Anzeiger reports. According to the Lebensmittel-Zeitung, a hectoliter (100 liters) of beer will be around six to seven euros more expensive. It can be assumed that other retailers will pass these additional costs on to customers.
Changes in supermarkets: This will be different from May
The higher grocery prices aren’t the only change that grocery stores are liking Aldi, Lidl, rewe, Edeka and Co. concern. Discounted groceries have often been awarded the original price and the discounted price. That no longer has to be the case. Information about the percentage discount is sufficient from the end of May 2022. Signs with the note “20 percent cheaper” or a similar inscription will then probably be seen more often. According to the Berliner Morgenpost, the reason for this is that the employees have less work and, in the best case, this would lead to less food wastage.
There is also another change that affects supermarkets, as reported by wa.de. According to the portal, the basic prices should be displayed the same. Some signs state the price per kilogram, others per 100 grams. In order to make it easier for customers to compare prices, the basic prices should only be shown in liters and kilograms. This will soon ensure a cross-market comparison unit.
Changes in May: Online shopping must ensure more transparency
There is also a change for consumers when it comes to online shopping. From May 28, providers such as Amazon or Ebay must provide information about the sorting criteria – i.e. why which product is displayed at a certain point in the shop. A breach of the new information obligation will be punished with up to 50,000 euros or 4 percent of a company’s turnover, the consumer advice center NRW informs. The Berliner Morgenpost adds that every seller must state whether it is a private, resale or direct sale.
In addition, one point of the relief package for consumers is to come into force at the beginning of June. The 9-euro ticket is intended to be a cost-effective alternative to driving and it is even possible to drive it to the sea. In order to be able to use the ticket from June 1st, however, it must be purchased beforehand. A few transport companies have therefore announced that they will offer advance booking. One example is the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund, which, according to the Berliner Morgenpost, wants to sell tickets from May 20th. However, it is unclear whether this will happen at all since the 9-euro ticket is still highly controversial.
Tax return and corona measures: An important deadline that should be observed expires in May
There is also an important deadline on May 31st. All those who submit their tax return for 2020 with the help of a tax advisor must urgently observe this. If the deadline is not met, a surcharge of 0.25 percent of the assessed tax will be charged, as reported by the Berliner Morgenpost. However, the surcharge is at least 25 euros.
And also the Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance, i.e. the Corona– Measures in the workplace, expire towards the end of the month. These expire on May 25th. It is not yet clear whether these rules will be extended. If not, in many companies that means a return to working as before the corona pandemic. This is already the case in some companies, since the companies are allowed to decide on the rules themselves, so wa.de.
- That will change in May 2022 – an overview:
- Other labeling for discounted groceries
- Cross-market comparison units for food (everything in liters and kilograms)
- Beer is getting more expensive
- More transparency when shopping online
- The deadline for filing the 2020 tax return is over
- Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance (Corona measures in companies) is expiring
- Stricter rules for coffee trips and doorstep selling
Coffee trips and door-to-door sales: new changes will ensure greater safety from May
But these were not all of the changes that consumers will have to face in May 2022. For so-called coffee trips, stricter regulations should apply from the end of May. On the one hand, a ban on the sale of medical products such as weight loss pills, dietary supplements and financial services such as insurance or building society contracts comes into force. On the other hand, the providers of such trips must be more transparent. This means that when you apply, you have to provide information about where you are going, which goods are being sold and how the organizers can be reached.
There are also new regulations for so-called doorstep sales. This is intended to ensure more security for all citizens. Amounts that are over 50 euros can no longer be claimed on the same day as the conclusion of the contract. Thus, such purchases and contracts should be easier to revoke. (Fee Halberstadt)