Question 34
What do you do if you receive an incorrect bill from a German authority?
German original: Was tun Sie, wenn Sie eine falsche Rechnung von einer deutschen Behörde bekommen?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- I leave the bill unpaid.
- I file an objection with the authority. — Correct answer
- I send the bill back to the authority.
- I go to the tax office (Finanzamt) with the bill.
Explanation
If you receive an incorrect bill or official decision from a German authority, you can file a formal objection (Widerspruch). This objection must be submitted in writing and must be delivered to the authority within the set deadline, which is usually one month.
Key terms in this question
- public authority / government office — A public authority is a government institution that carries out official tasks for citizens, such as registering residency or handling taxes.
- one / someone — 'Einer' is a German pronoun or article referring to a single, unspecified male person or thing, equivalent to 'one' or 'someone'.
- German (female) / German — 'Deutsche' refers to a person who holds German citizenship or originates from Germany.
- Germans — 'Germans' is the plural of 'German' and refers to all people who hold German citizenship.
- Germans — 'Germans' is the plural of 'German' and refers to people who hold German citizenship or originate from Germany.
- Germans — Germans are people who hold German citizenship. They are citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- to get / to receive — To get or receive something means that something comes into your possession or is given to you. For example, you can get a gift, a message, or permission.
- German — German is the official language of Germany, Austria, and part of Switzerland. It is the native language of approximately 100 million people.