Broadcast fee registration letter
Rundfunkbeitrag — Anmeldung / Zahlungsaufforderung · sent by ARD ZDF Deutschlandradio Beitragsservice
Respond soon — routine but not ignorable
What this letter is
Arrives automatically a few weeks after your Anmeldung — the Beitragsservice learns about every new registration. It asks you to register for the €18.36/month household broadcast fee (or assigns you a Beitragsnummer directly). It looks bureaucratic but is completely routine, legitimate and not negotiable.
What to do
- Living alone? Register online (rundfunkbeitrag.de) or reply with the form, set up direct debit, done.
- Living in a WG or dorm with shared entrance? Only one fee per household is due — ask your flatmates for the existing Beitragsnummer and respond with it; you'll be exempted.
- Respond within the stated window (usually 4–6 weeks) even if only to say "flat already pays under number X".
- Verify payment details on the official website before paying — imitation letters exist; the official IBAN and your Beitragsnummer must match the portal.
General information, not legal advice. Always verify payment details on the sender's official website before transferring money.