Debtor and insolvency counselling of the City of Munich
Counselling and help with debt and over-indebtedness, out-of-court settlements with creditors, support in applying for consumer insolvency proceedings.
Course description
Debt and insolvency counselling is based on a holistic approach. The primary aim is, first and foremost, to stabilise clients’ living situations. This primarily involves helping them to retain their homes and ensure they can pay for electricity and food.
We provide support and advice on:
- assessing personal and financial circumstances
- securing basic living needs
- household and budget planning
- examining and reflecting on spending habits
- coping with personal, family and other social problems
- Highlighting alternative options in consumer behaviour
- Mobilising self-help potential
- Clarifying legal and financial issues
- Debtor protection measures (for example, raising the threshold for garnishment)
- drawing up a debt settlement plan
- settling debts through an out-of-court settlement with creditors
- settling debts through court-supervised insolvency proceedings
The Municipal Debt and Insolvency Advice Service offers a helpline service on weekdays to all citizens seeking advice.You can reach the helpline from Monday to Thursday between 9 am and 3 pm and on Fridays between 9 am and 12 noon on 089 233-724353.
Special support services
- Deaf residents of Munich should contact the Social Services for the Deaf.
- Munich residents without their own home should contact the Central Homeless Assistance Service.
Required documents
Debtor and insolvency counselling processing form and documents relating to liabilities.
You can obtain the processing form from the relevant social centre.
Questions & Answers
Our partner organisation, FIT-FinanzTraining, is also on hand to help you get to grips with your financial situation and plan your budget. FIT-FinanzTraining was set up in 2005 by the Verein für Fraueninteressen e.V. and has been working on behalf of the Social Affairs Department of the City of Munich since 2006, in close cooperation with the city’s debt and insolvency advice service. There, they can help you prepare the documents required to register with the debt advice service.
If necessary, voluntary household management advice can also be arranged for a limited period.
Please contact your local Social Services Centre immediately. There is a specialist unit there dedicated to preventing homelessness.
If you have electricity arrears and are facing a power cut, please contact the electricity officer at your local Sozialbürgerhaus straight away.
For questions regarding consumer rights or legal matters, a consumer advice centre or a solicitor can provide you with information:
Verbraucherzentrale Bayern e.V.
Mozartstr. 9
80336 Munich
Tel.: 089 539870
Fax: 089 537553
Email: info@vzbayern.de
For legal advice for people on low incomes, please contact the ‘
’ office of the Münchener Anwaltverein e.V.:
Maxburgstraße 4 / C 142
80333 Munich
Tel.: 089 295086
Fax: 089 29161046
Consultation hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.00 am to 11.30 am
(in August, Mondays and Wednesdays only)
Bookings must be made by 11.00 am – proof of financial need must be provided!
During negotiations with creditors, agreements can be reached regarding instalment payments, payment deferrals or settlements.
In the event of consumer insolvency proceedings, as a recognised advice centre, we support you in attempting to reach an out-of-court settlement and in initiating and conducting the court insolvency proceedings.
We also advise self-employed small business owners on standard insolvency proceedings as part of our self-employed advice service.
To arrange debt counselling, please contact the district social services department at the social services centre responsible for your local district and make an appointment for an initial brief consultation.
Legal basis
§ Section 16 a of Book II of the Social Code (SGB II),
§ Section 11 para. 5 Social Code XII. Book (SGB XII),
§ 305 ff. Insolvency Code (InsO),
Art. 112 to 116 Bayer. Law on the Implementation of Social Laws (AGSG)
