2024-04-26 21:16:54
If electronic devices break, you have two options: replace or repair. The repair bonus makes the decision easier. How you can benefit from it.
With the repair bonus you get part of the repair costs for electrical appliances reimbursed. Don’t throw away your vacuum cleaner, television, drill, cell phone and coffee machine if there’s even the slightest defect. You’ll save money on the one hand and protect the environment on the other. The catch: The repair bonus is currently only available in two German federal states and in Austria. We explain where the idea of the repair bonus comes from and exactly what you have to do to get money back.
Repair bonus: That’s the idea behind it
Thuringia was the first German state to introduce the repair bonus. The starting signal for this project was given in May 2021. The amount of electronic waste should be reduced. Since for many people the costs and effort involved in a repair were higher than in a new purchase, the bonus came at the right place. The inspiration came from Austria, where the principle was tested from 2017. The bonus can now be applied for nationwide.
The program has now even been expanded in Thuringia. Applicants currently also receive 50 percent of the costs for spare parts reimbursed if they go to a repair café with their broken device. Because the bonus was so well received, another federal state introduced the bonus: In November 2023, the Free State of Saxony followed Thuringia’s example and launched its own version of the funding program – with its own rules.
Conditions in Thuringia
50 percent of the repair costs for electrical appliances will be reimbursed. If you carry out the repair yourself in a repair café, you get half the cost of the spare parts. You receive a maximum of 100 euros per year and household. Payment is made until the funding is exhausted. This is provided by the Thuringian Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation.
The Thuringia Consumer Center processes the applications. This only works online. Additionally upload the invoice or a payment receipt. All people aged 18 and over who live in Thuringia are eligible to apply. You can find more information about the conditions and when applications will be accepted on the Thuringia Consumer Center website.
Conditions in Saxony
In Saxony, too, applications can only be submitted digitally. The Sächsische Aufbaubank SAB is responsible for processing. Only submit your claim after the repair has been successfully completed and you have paid the bill. All private individuals aged 18 and over with their main residence in Saxony are eligible to apply.
Unlike in Thuringia, using a repair café is not permitted if you want to use the repair bonus. Instead, you can choose from certified companies. You can find a list of all authorized repair companies at SAB.
You will receive the bonus if the repair costs at least 75 euros. You will be reimbursed half of the costs, but a maximum of 200 euros per repair. You have the opportunity to apply for the repair bonus in Saxony twice a year.