Did you get a backdated invoice for a total amount?
Even if you have not received an invoice or bill from your operator, they may have the right to retroactively bill a lump sum, known as “back billing.” Therefore, it is important that you react if you do not receive invoices that you should have received, otherwise you risk being charged for up to three years back.
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Operators have the right to invoice up to three years back in time, and the limitation period can be extended by the operator sending demands or reminders. Operators are not obliged to send out older call details for free and must anonymize or destroy traffic data when it is no longer needed.
An operator has the right to invoice three years back
A bill from the operator to the consumer is only statute-barred after three years. A claim from the consumer to the operator, for example, a request for a refund due to incorrect billing, is only statute-barred after ten years.
The limitation period can be extended by the operator sending a demand or reminder to you or by you paying part of the debt (interruption of the limitation period). Then a new limitation period is counted from the day of the reminder. The same applies to a claim from you to the operator.
If the operator sends out bills in a lump sum, so-called back billing, it does not necessarily have to be against the law. It may be because the operator missed including an amount earlier or because they depend on billing data from another company. The operator must be able to account for the basis of the bill. If you believe the bill is incorrect or if you cannot afford to pay the entire amount at once, you can contact the operator and ask for an installment plan or try to agree on another solution.