We’ll be honest here: German bureaucracy is ruthless. Even the most basic problems can be difficult to solve, especially if you don’t speak fluent German yet. For example, all the communication you have with offices and the authorities, the contracts you have to sign, and letters you receive will be written in formal German. Even for native speakers, these types of letters and messages are difficult to understand.

The RAMPA team are here to be your bureaucracy whisperers! We are highly familiar with this type of vocabulary — both in terms of how to interpret it and how to respond to it, using the appropriate formalities — and we’ve got your back.

RAMPA offers a wide range of translation and technical support services, covering: contracts, complaints, customer service, internet and phone companies, and much more. In many cases, you’ll simply need to sign power of attorney over to RAMPA, then we can take action on your behalf. Let us take the stress out of solving your problems.

We can help you out with any problem — just try us! However, to give you an idea of how we can support you, here are a couple of the most common things we help our clients out with:

Contract analysis
Before signing a contract (Vertrag), it’s vital to understand the minutiae to avoid any unpleasant surprises at a later date. When you sign a contract in Germany, a relationship between you and another party is formally established, and can be very hard to undo. Germans are specialists in complicating any issue — and it’s no different when it comes to contracts! Their contracts are written in formal German, and are typically very long, and full of specific clauses that can be hard to interpret.

So if you are getting ready to sign a lease on an apartment, a contract with a phone company, or a new insurance policy, book a consultation with Rafael Felice — RAMPA’s contract specialist lawyer. He will be happy to go with you, point by point, through exactly what you are agreeing so that you can be completely in the know before you sign anything. Rafael can also help you out with contract terminations, fines, and suspensions. In short, he is the champion you need in navigating the world of German legal contracts!

Letters of complaint (Beschwerdebrief) or defence
Widerspruch is a big theme in German bureaucracy! The word can be translated as protest, complaint, or objection — or simply your right to respond to a company, office, or individual. If you get into a legal conflict in Germany, perhaps related to an accusation or formal decision made against you, you have the right to defend yourself and provide a written response.

Unless it’s a major case, you don’t need to hire lawyers or spend lots of money on your defence — instead, you can make your own defence. However, there is a specific format that you need to stick to (i.e., certain formalities and writing style) as well as, of course, perfect German.

Rafael is also a specialist in writing impactful and efficient letters of complaint and defence. In general, a good Widerspruch is enough to resolve most small conflicts. Rafael can analyse your situation, identify the best strategy for your defence, then write a strong response in formal German on your behalf. 

// RAMPA’s other essential technical support services include: