Margot Brands Limited: Unberechtigte Forderungen: So wehren sich Angeschriebene

Astrolonova, Fitnovaness, Novavitalia and Bongochat are all distinct brands belonging to the same company, Margot Brands Limited, which originates from Hong Kong. These brands send invoices to German consumers who have not registered for their respective services. The Verbraucherzentrale NRW advises affected individuals on how to respond to these fraudulent invoices.

To begin, they must determine if a valid contract was formed. Under German law, a contract arises only when the consumer has placed an order and clearly understood the cost and conditions of the order. The order confirmation often comes in the form of a single-click "binding order" button. If there is no such indication or if the consumer cannot recall placing an order, the invoice is usually deemed invalid according to consumer protection agencies.

In such cases, individuals should not be pressured by threats of collection costs, additional fees, or a Schufa entry. Instead, they should remain calm, refrain from making payments, and respond to the demand in writing, stating that no binding contract exists. They should use a template letter provided by the Verbraucherzentrale NRW for this purpose.

The written objection should be sent to the company that issued the invoice, and it should be sent via certified mail or email with read receipt to document the process. All evidence, including invoices, notices, and other correspondence, should be kept. If the case ends up in court, these documents will be necessary. Even when working with an collections agency, individuals should remain calm and not pay.

Reporting the attempt to commit fraud to the police is also advisable. Additionally, if there is unauthorized use of personal data, individuals should inform the state data protection officer.