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What does "AGB" mean in English?

Legal, Visas & Permits • 
Last updated on 14 March 2024

AGB stands for “Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen,” which translates to General Terms and Conditions in English. These are the standard terms and conditions that companies in Germany use to regulate the sale of goods and services.

What is “AGB”?

AGB, or General Terms and Conditions, are a set of rules and guidelines that companies in Germany use to define the terms of contracts with their customers. These conditions standardize the contractual process, making transactions smoother and more efficient by reducing the need for negotiation on every single term for each transaction. AGBs are crucial in German business practice, as they streamline contract closures and processing, create efficiency advantages, and provide a standard framework for certain types of contracts not adequately covered by the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB)[1].

More information about “AGB”

The use of AGB allows companies to tailor standard contract frameworks to their needs, potentially shifting the bulk of risk to the other party. However, this potential for abuse is balanced by statutory regulations that aim to ensure fairness and shared risk. Despite their importance, many customers often overlook the details of AGBs, focusing instead on price and quality, which highlights the need for clear and fair terms in these standardized contracts[1].

Here are some additional terms that are related to AGB:

  • BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch): The German Civil Code that provides the legal framework for private law in Germany, including contracts, property, and family law.
  • Verbraucherschutz (Consumer Protection): Laws and regulations designed to protect the interests of consumers, often relevant in the context of AGB.
  • Datenschutz (Data Protection): Regulations concerning the handling and protection of personal data, which can be an important aspect of AGB, especially in online transactions.
  • Gewährleistung (Warranty): Legal terms that define the seller’s liability for defects, which are often detailed in AGB[2][3].

AGBs play a crucial role in the German business landscape, providing a standardized framework that benefits both companies and consumers by making transactions more efficient and predictable.

Sources

[1] https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-68577-7_7 [2] https://www.jakobschenk.com/en_GB/agb [3] https://mentix-consulting.com/en/agb/ [4] https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/business-commerce-general/1130051-agb-allgemeine-gesch%C3%A4ftsbedingungen.html [5] https://www.frischpack-gruppe.de/en/?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.baackes-heimes.de%2Fen%2Fagb.html [6] https://www.gastronovi.com/en/terms-and-conditions [7] https://www.acronymfinder.com/Allgemeine-Gesch%C3%A4ftsbedingungen-%28German%3A-General-terms-and-conditions-%2F-Standard-business-conditions%29-%28AGB%29.html [8] https://deutschtec.de/agb-terms-and-conditions/ [9] https://www.npr-europe.com/de/agb/ [10] https://lawspeak.augustinbugg.com/what-exactly-are-standard-terms-and-conditions-alias-agbs/ [11] https://ha-be.us/process/info/agb [12] https://www.dr-clauder.com/en/Information/AGB/ [13] https://www.ladenburger.de/phocadownload/gesetze/agb_en.pdf [14] https://en.heimplanet.com/pages/agb [15] https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/business-commerce-general/525154-agb-%22allgemeine-gesch%C3%A4ftsbedingungen%22.html [16] https://www.planbar.com/en/info/agb/ [17] https://3faktur.com/en/terms-conditions/ [18] https://en.pons.com/translate/german-english/Allgemeine%2BGesch%C3%A4ftsbedingungen%2BAGB