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Is it legal for 1blu to quadruple my fees without consent?
As of December 2025, customers of the Berlin-based hosting provider 1blu are reporting another wave of significant price increases. This follows a pattern of escalating costs observed throughout 2024. If you hold a contract with 1blu, reviewing your current billing statement is essential.
Service Profile and Market Position
1blu has operated since 2005, offering web hosting, server solutions, and e-shops. While the company claims a client base exceeding 300,000 contracts, its reputation remains polarized. Industry reports generally classify 1blu as a smaller provider with “fair prices” but caution that technical expertise is often necessary to navigate their infrastructure.
Customer sentiment reflects this mixed record. Trustpilot ratings currently sit at a “Poor” 2.2, though this is based on a limited dataset of roughly 240 reviews. Historical issues, such as security incidents linked to Hostinger comparisons and DNS overwrites following the acquisition of Manitu, have previously eroded user trust.
The Trajectory of Price Hikes (2024–2025)
The current rate adjustments are not isolated incidents but part of a steep upward trend.
- Early 2024: Minor adjustments were noted, raising fees marginally (e.g., €1.25 to €1.50).
- Autumn 2024: A drastic shift occurred. Reports indicated premiums jumping from approximately €2.28 to €9.99 per month—a roughly 340% increase. 1blu attributed this to rising costs for personnel, hardware, and software licensing.
- December 2025: A new round of increases is targeting long-standing “budget” plans. Unlike previous instances where customers could object and retain old rates, current reports suggest 1blu may be blocking appeals, forcing users to accept the new rates or terminate service.
Legal Implications and Consumer Action
The primary contention regarding these hikes involves consumer protection laws under the German Civil Code (BGB).
The “Silent” Renewal Issue
Significant price changes generally require active consent from the customer. If a provider raises fees disproportionately without securing this consent, they typically must terminate the existing contract and request a new agreement. Simply applying a higher rate to an auto-renewing contract is legally questionable.
Special Right of Termination
Customers have noted that 1blu’s notification emails often omit the “Special Right of Termination” (Sonderkündigungsrecht). German law mandates that consumers must be informed of their right to cancel immediately when a provider alters essential contract terms, such as price, to the customer’s disadvantage.
Advisory Recommendation
If your invoice reflects these new rates:
- Check your inbox: Look for the notification email and verify if a cancellation window was offered.
- File an objection: Even if 1blu claims appeals are closed, submit a formal written objection citing the magnitude of the increase.
- Review alternatives: Given the price-to-performance ratio shift, compare your new rate against competitors like All-Inkl or Hetzner to determine if the service level justifies the cost.