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We believe that in many cases those affected can — and should — take action themselves. On this page you will find free templates that you can use without a lawyer’s help, as well as an honest assessment of when a lawyer actually makes sense.
Not every case requires a lawyer’s help. You can and should take some steps yourself. In other situations, a lawyer can make a real difference.
Start with the steps you can take yourself — especially the GDPR access request. Trade Republic’s response will give you a much better basis for deciding whether a lawyer’s help is worthwhile. If you then decide to engage a lawyer, you will come to us with a considerably better starting position.
You are free to use the template letters below. Before you do, we would like to explain a few risks to you. This is not meant to deter you — it is meant to enable you to make an informed decision.
Every letter you send to Trade Republic becomes part of the file — and can be used as evidence in later court proceedings, including against you. This applies in particular to your account of the facts: how you describe the course of the fraud, which details you mention, and how you portray your own role can determine whether or not a court finds you grossly negligent.
An example: If, in your demand letter, you casually mention that you had “actually already become suspicious” or that “the amount seemed unusually high” to you, Trade Republic can later use this statement to argue that you recognized warning signs but ignored them — and thus acted with gross negligence. Even a careless phrase such as “I should not have clicked on the SMS” can be interpreted as an admission.
The immediate measures (recall, account block, criminal complaint) are time-critical and should always be started immediately — with or without a lawyer. But the out-of-court demand letter does not have to go out the same day. At that point, it is worth pausing briefly and considering whether the wording could harm you in later proceedings. When in doubt: describe the facts objectively and concisely, without assessing your own role.
Certain claims are subject to deadlines. Trade Republic must respond to the GDPR access request within one month (Art. 12 Abs. 3 DSGVO). Claims for damages generally become time-barred under the general rules (§§ 195, 199 BGB) after three years. But: the period for reporting unauthorized payment transactions is only 13 months under § 676b BGB. If you miss this deadline, claims may be lost. The template letters are no substitute for keeping track of deadlines.
The template letters below do not constitute legal advice in an individual case. You use them at your own risk. The templates must be adapted to the circumstances of your specific case. We accept no liability for damages arising from the unmodified or incorrect use of the templates.
This access request is the most important first step. It compels Trade Republic to provide you with comprehensive information within one month — about your data, the security architecture, and its handling of the fraud wave. The response will form the basis for all further steps.
Note: The template letters are provided in German, as they are addressed to Trade Republic Bank GmbH in Germany. Replace all marked fields with your own details. Send the letter by email to service@traderepublic.com and additionally by registered mail. Trade Republic must respond within one month.
Use this letter if Trade Republic did not initiate the SEPA recall of your transfer or initiated it too late — especially if you contacted Trade Republic promptly but they could not be reached.
Important: This letter is particularly effective if you have documented the lack of availability — e.g., through screenshots of your call log, chat histories, or emails to Trade Republic with timestamps.
Use this letter after you have received the responses to the GDPR access request and the recall complaint and want to assert your claim for damages. Adapt it to the specific findings from the responses. In more complex cases, a lawyer’s support can be useful here.
Recommendation: Adapt this letter to the specific findings from the GDPR access response. Delete points that do not apply to your case (e.g., point 3 if 2FA was in place). The more precise the allegations, the more effective the letter.
If you have used the template letters and would like legal support in evaluating the responses or with the further steps, you can reach us by email. Ideally, bring Trade Republic’s responses and your documentation with you.