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Can my supplier charge extra for a paper bill?

DIRECT ANSWER

In principle no for consumers without a digital alternative. €1-€3/month surcharge = often invalid under Awgb. Defense explained.

Reviewed by FFCheck-redactie · Last reviewed 2026-05-28

Paper-bill surcharges (€1-€3 monthly) are increasingly legally challengable. Arguments against:

  1. Consumer lawsurcharge can't exceed actual extra cost (BW 6:230 + Unfair Commercial Practices Act)
  2. Equal Treatment Actelderly, no-internet, or unbanked consumers are disproportionately affected = indirect discrimination
  3. Energy Act 2024 + Regulation 944/2019right to transparent billing; no obligation to invoice digitally. ACM has warned suppliers about disproportionate surcharges since 2023. What to do: written request to remove surcharge, cite the three arguments + age or digital exclusion if applicable; on refusal: GCE complaint. High success rate at big suppliers wanting compliance. Allowed: paper as premium service with explicit contractual confirmation (rare).

Related

Can supplier raise monthly advanceYes — but only if your actual consumption (or tariffs) rose significantly, and only with proper substantiation. Unreasonable hikes you can r…Where to complain about energy supplier4 routes, in this order: supplier itself → Geschillencommissie Energie → ACM → civil court. We explain which route, when and at what cost.Final-statement dispute letter Suspend payment obligation and force a correct revision. With the right legal references + GCE complaint announcement. €19.

Sources

Updated: 2026-05-28

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