What does Pfändung mean?
Pfändung (seizure) means a Gläubiger takes money or things from you with the state's help to collect a debt.
die Pfändung · die Pfändungen (plural)
Usually the bank account or the wages are seized. For this, the Gläubiger needs an enforceable title, for example a Vollstreckungsbescheid. Offices can often seize by themselves.
Part of your money is protected so that you can live on it. On a bank account, a Pfändungsschutzkonto, or P-Konto for short, protects it.
Your bank must turn your current account into a P-Konto if you ask, even if it has already been seized.
Get advice quickly, for example at a debt advice centre (Schuldnerberatung).
Example sentence
Wegen der offenen Forderung wird Ihr Konto bei der Musterbank gepfändet.
Because of the outstanding claim, your account at Musterbank is being seized.
What you can do
If you receive Kindergeld or social benefits, more money can be protected. An advice centre can give you a Bescheinigung (certificate) for this.
Related words
- Gläubiger A Gläubiger (creditor) is a person, company or office that you owe money to, or that claims you do.
- Schuldner A Schuldner (debtor) is a person or company that owes money to someone else. In letters about debts, this often means you.
- Vollstreckungsbescheid A Vollstreckungsbescheid comes from the court if you did not file a Widerspruch against a Mahnbescheid in time.
- Mahnbescheid A Mahnbescheid is a letter from a court. Someone uses it to demand money from you.