Invoice issued incorrectly: How do you react as a customer?

It doesn't matter whether you're shopping, filling up or getting a service: everyone has had the problem that the bill wasn't correct. But what should you do afterwards if the invoice was incorrectly issued?

The correct way to deal with an incorrect invoice is not always obvious. This article is about what steps you should take in an emergency and what rights a customer has in the event of an incorrectly issued invoice.

Table of contents Hide

1 The correct procedure: Invoice issued incorrectly – what to do?

2 mistakes happen - what are the most common reasons for incorrectly issued invoices?

3 What rights does a customer have in the event of an incorrect invoice?

The correct procedure: Invoice issued incorrectly – what to do?

Surely it is not pleasant when you find out that you should pay more than you actually have to. But what can you do specifically if you are presented with a bill that you think is wrong?

Of course, it's best to contact the company directly and describe the problem factually. Because often the error is not based on malicious intent and the problem can be solved quickly and easily. It is important to be careful to behave calmly and not immediately with accusations to throw yourself.

A good approach is to first ask friendly questions and understand exactly what the invoice is about and how the amounts are calculated. Of course, if all else fails or if you find the matter a bit suspicious, there is always the option of contacting the company's customer service or, as a last resort, a consumer protection lawyer.

Mistakes happen - what are the most common reasons for incorrect invoices?

Any mistake is annoying, but when it shows up on an invoice, it can be particularly annoying. An incorrectly issued invoice can not only lead to confusion, but also to the fact that the customer does not pay the amount. This can be a big problem for companies.

But what mistakes often occur when issuing invoices? And how can these be avoided?
One of the most common reasons for incorrect invoices is that the customer's contact details are not entered correctly. This can result in the invoice being sent to the wrong address or the customer being unable to read the name or account number correctly. It should therefore be ensured that the contact details of the customers are entered correctly.

Another common mistake is that the invoice lists defective products or services. It should be ensured that all information on the invoice is correct before sending it to the customer.

Last but not least, it should always be checked whether the total amount of the invoice is correct. If the amount is calculated manually, there is always a risk that a typo has been made. After all, this can happen to anyone. It is therefore advisable to use a calculation program or an online calculator to check the amount. In the best case, programs that  create free invoices are used .

What rights does a customer have in the event of an incorrect invoice?

If the customer has received an invoice that contains errors, they should first contact the customer service of the company in question and ask for clarification. They will try to solve the problem for the customer as quickly as possible.

After all, hardly any company wants to lose a regular customer because of such a small thing. If this is not possible, the customer still has the option of contacting a consumer advice center in the vicinity. This offers free advice in such cases and helps the injured party if they want to take legal action against the bill and ultimately against the company, restaurant or shop.