{"id":3699,"date":"2025-07-15T18:41:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T16:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/news\/federal-court-of-justice-ruling-affects-online-coaching-providers-refunds-also-possible-for-self-employed-individuals\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T16:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:31:55","slug":"federal-court-of-justice-ruling-affects-online-coaching-providers-refunds-also-possible-for-self-employed-individuals","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/news\/federal-court-of-justice-ruling-affects-online-coaching-providers-refunds-also-possible-for-self-employed-individuals\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Court of Justice ruling affects online coaching providers \u2013 refunds also possible for self-employed individuals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legal ruling with far-reaching implications \u2013 Cocron law firm advises entrepreneurs to review their case<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Berlin, July 14, 2025<\/strong> \u2013 In its ruling of June 12, 2025 (Case No. III ZR 109\/24), the Federal Court of Justice clarified that many online coaching programs fall under the Distance Learning Protection Act (FernUSG) and are invalid without the appropriate authorization. This applies not only to private consumers but also explicitly to self-employed participants.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lawyer Istv\u00e1n Cocron<\/strong> , specialist in consumer and contract law, explains:<\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;This is a clear message to the coaching industry: Anyone selling programs without accreditation is vulnerable. Even self-employed individuals can hope for a refund.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The case: 47,600 euros for coaching \u2013 without a legal basis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sole proprietor had booked a comprehensive online financial education program \u2013 consisting of e-learning content, live calls, and personal support. However, he lacked accreditation under the German Distance Learning Act (FernUSG).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Federal Court of Justice ruled:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since this involved systematic distance learning with feedback components, the offer required a license. Without a license, the contract was <strong>invalid<\/strong> according to Section 7 of the German Distance Learning Act (FernUSG).<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key message: Protection also applies in a business context.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that the Distance Learning Act (FernUSG) protects not only consumers but also business customers. The purpose of the law is to protect against disreputable educational offerings, not to target the type of customer.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No payment despite services rendered<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Particularly striking: The provider received no compensation \u2013 even though content had been provided. The concrete benefit to the customer was not proven. As a result: The money stays with the customer.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legal consequences for those affected<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entrepreneurs who have signed up for such coaching should have their contract legally reviewed. Under certain circumstances, payments already made may be fully refundable.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>law firm Cocron<\/strong> offers nationwide support \u2013 from contract review to the enforcement of repayment claims.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 Act now: Anyone who has entered into an unauthorized coaching contract should seek advice \u2013 before the statute of limitations expires.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Legal ruling with far-reaching implications \u2013 Cocron law firm advises entrepreneurs to review their case Berlin, July 14, 2025 \u2013 In its ruling of June 12, 2025 (Case No. III ZR 109\/24), the Federal Court of Justice clarified that many online coaching programs fall under the Distance Learning Protection Act (FernUSG) and are invalid without [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","news-kategorie":[32],"class_list":["post-3699","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-kategorie-online-coaching"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/3699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-kategorie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ra-cocron.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-kategorie?post=3699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}