In 2023, the repair bonus will have been claimed approximately 480,000 times. The bonus was suspended between early July and late September after several cases of fraud were discovered where companies had faked repairs and pocketed the financing. Financing is now paid directly to customers and no longer billed to repair shops. More than 3,100 partner companies are currently participating in the financing campaign throughout Austria.
Since its introduction at the end of April 2022, approximately 840,000 vouchers have been redeemed, the Ministry of Climate Protection said in a press release on Wednesday. “Repairing instead of throwing away – that’s good for the environment and your wallet,” said Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens). Each repair voucher covers 50 percent of the repair costs up to a value of 200 euros. Customers can find out the status of the payment via the “Receipt Tracker” on Repairbonus.at.
The financing body for the repair bonus, Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH (KPC), identified 74 suspected cases of fraud among participating companies in the first half of the year and reported the companies to Austrian and European prosecutors. The KPC estimated the total extent of the damage this summer at a maximum of almost four million euros.
Nearly 40 percent for mobile phone repairs
Last year, 39 percent of voucher-funded repairs were for mobile phones/smartphones, 9 percent for dishwashers, washing machines, espresso and coffee machines and 5 percent for laptops. The remaining receipts were used for other repairs. Some sports retailers have recently been dissatisfied with the repair bonus. Many shops that sell electric bicycles are not authorized under commercial law to carry out (more complex) repairs within the meaning of the bonus, the Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Sports Retailers in Austria (VSSÖ) criticized in mid-December.
A total of EUR 130 million from ‘NextGenerationEU’ funds is available for the repair bonus as part of the Austrian Recovery and Resilience Plan. In addition, 74 million euros will come from national resources for the years 2024 and 2025. According to the Ministry of Climate Protection, an average of around 100 euros is financed per repair voucher.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
