German · Kaution / Nebenkosten
The service charge statement has arrived and you do not understand the extra payment: what to say in German
You received the service charge statement and don't understand the additional payment.
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How it's done. The Nebenkostenabrechnung is the yearly statement; Nachzahlung is an additional payment if advances were too low, Guthaben a credit if they were too high.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Ich habe die Nebenkostenabrechnung bekommen. Was bedeutet Nachzahlung?
Eekh KHAH-beh dee NEH-bayn-kos-teh-nuh-brekh-noong beh-KOH-mayn. Vahs beh-DOY-tet NAHKH-tsuh-loong?
I received the service charge statement. What does Nachzahlung mean?
Or say:Hier steht Nachzahlung. Was heißt das?
Kheer shtet NAHKH-tsuh-loong. Vahs khighst dahs?
THEY SAY
Das heißt, die Vorauszahlungen waren zu niedrig. Sie müssen den Rest zahlen.Dahs khighst, dee foh-ROWS-tsuh-loon-gayn VAH-rayn tsoo NEE-dreekh. Zee MYOO-sayn dayn rest TSAH-layn.
That means the advance payments were too low. You have to pay the rest.
They might also say:
Sie haben im Jahr mehr verbraucht, als Sie vorausbezahlt haben.
Zee KHAH-bayn eem yahr mehr fehr-BROWKHT, ahls zee foh-ROWS-beh-tsuhlt KHAH-bayn.
You used more over the year than you paid in advance.
2
YOU FINISH
Wie viel muss ich nachzahlen?
Vee feel moos eekh NAHKH-tsuh-layn?
How much do I have to pay?
THEY SAY
Das sind achtzig Euro. Die Überweisung ist bis zum Ende des Monats fällig.Dahs zeent AHKH-tseekh OY-roh. Dee yoo-behr-VIGH-zoong eest bees tsoom AYN-deh des MOH-nuhts FEH-leekh.
That is eighty euros. The transfer is due by the end of the month.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
Nebenkostenabrechnung
NEH-bayn-kos-teh-nuh-brekh-noong
noun
utility cost statement
bekommen
beh-KOH-mayn
verb
to get, to receive
bedeutet
beh-DOY-tet
verb
means
Nachzahlung
NAHKH-tsuh-loong
noun
additional payment
heißt
khighst
verb
is called
28 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Können Sie das bitte aufschreiben?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh OWFSH-righ-bayn?
Can you write it down, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
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→You ask about the deposit for the flatKaution / Nebenkosten · A2 in the app
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→The heating in the flat is not workingHausmeister / Reparatur · A2 in the app
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