Le­gal reg­u­la­tions on postal ser­vice pro­vi­sion

• Basic service provision
• Delivery rules
• Prices

Basic service provision

Deutsche Post AG is required under the Postal Act to provide the basic set of services defined in the Act.

Letters and parcels

On average over the year, at least 95% of domestic letters and parcels must be delivered within three working days and 99% within four working days. There is no legal right to have an item delivered within these time limits.

The old delivery speed requirements for letters will apply until the end of 2024. These are for an average of at least 80% of letters to be delivered on the working day following collection and 95% within two working days.

Newspapers and magazines

Daily or weekly newspapers and magazines should usually be delivered on the same day as they are published.

Post offices and self-service kiosks

There must be at least 12,000 post offices across Germany. Municipalities and residential areas with more than 2,000 inhabitants must have at least one post office. In urban areas with more than 4,000 inhabitants, there must be a post office within a radius of 2,000 metres.

Deutsche Post AG can operate a self-service kiosk instead of a post office in certain locations, but only with the consent of the Bundesnetzagentur and following consultation with the municipality concerned.

Postboxes

In urban residential areas, there must be a postbox within a radius of 1,000 metres.

Postboxes must have a collection every working day. Collection times must take business and economic needs into account. Collections must take place as and if needed on Sundays and public holidays.

Delivery rules

The Postal Act lays down rules on how letters and parcels must be delivered. These rules apply to all postal operators and not just to Deutsche Post AG.

Letters

Letters must be posted through the recipient's letterbox or handed to the recipient. If this is not possible, letters can be left with another person, unless the sender or recipient has given instructions to the contrary.

If the letter cannot be left with another person, the postal operator has two options. The operator can either deliver the letter at a later time or take the letter to a place (for instance a post office) where the recipient can collect it, in which case the operator must tell the recipient where the letter can be collected. If the letter is not collected within seven working days, it must be sent back to the sender.

Parcels

A recipient can choose between having their parcel:

• handed personally to them;
• placed in a parcel box outside their door; and
• taken to a post office or parcel locker for collection.

The recipient can also arrange with their postal operator to have their parcel placed in a certain place (such as their garage) or given to a certain person (such as their neighbour).

If the recipient has not given a preference, the parcel must be handed over personally. If this is not possible, the parcel can be left with another person, unless the sender or recipient has given instructions to the contrary.

If the parcel cannot be left with another person, the postal operator has two options. The operator can either deliver the parcel at a later time or take the parcel to a place (for instance a post office or parcel locker) where it has to be kept for collection for at least seven working days, in which case the operator must tell the recipient where the parcel can be collected. If the parcel is not collected, it must be sent back to the sender.

If a recipient does not want to collect their parcel at a self-service parcel locker, they can object to this option by informing their postal operator.

Prices

Letter and parcel prices

Letters and parcels (up to 20 kg) are part of the basic set of services. The prices that Deutsche Post AG charges for these items must therefore be approved by the Bundesnetzagentur first.
The Bundesnetzagentur defines the scope for price changes for various products (for example postcards, standard letters, compact letters, registered delivery, parcels up to 20 kg) for a certain period of time, taking into account current costs and the inflation rate. Changes in prices proposed by Deutsche Post AG are approved provided they are within that scope.
Deutsche Post AG can set its prices for parcels above 20 kg without having to get them approved first.

Prices for business customers

The prices that Deutsche Post AG charges business customers for letters must also be approved unless they have been agreed individually. Its prices for marketing mail and business customers' parcels do not have to be approved.

Books and small items containing goods

The prices for books and small items containing goods do not have to be approved by the Bundesnetzagentur. Deutsche Post AG can set its prices without the Bundesnetzagentur examining them first.