Ten times more calls than usual are currently being received by the Hesse consumer advice center.

"We've never experienced such a rush," says Managing Director Philipp Wendt.

The situation is similar in the other federal states.

The energy crisis and inflation are starting to make many desperate.

Anyone who doesn't know what to do picks up the phone, calls the consumer advice center for energy saving advice or individual legal advice when the electricity bill can no longer be paid.

David Lindenfeld

volunteer.

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Among the callers are students and pensioners, but also people who are studying and have a fixed income.

"Those who live off their income and have no way of building up reserves are particularly affected," says Wendt.

The FAZ spoke to three of them.

They are worried and hope for the new relief package.

Dieter Freis*, 62 years old

Sometimes Dieter Freis gets angry with himself. About the mistakes he made in the past.

Above all about the fact that he no longer paid into the pension fund because he "didn't think about the future", but believed: "Everything will go on so well." There are times when he is depressed: "But then it has to go on."

The 62-year-old has been drawing early pension for a year due to various illnesses.

Before that, the trained retail salesman from Hamburg had been self-employed for a long time, running several smaller shops and a cleaning company.

Those were the better times.

His wife left him eight years ago.

Freis got depression, slipped into personal bankruptcy, which is why he currently only has around 850 euros a month from his 1350 euros pension.

His wife at the time was to blame, says Freis.

Again and again she ordered things from TV stations and then after the separation she went to her home country in Ecuador.

"There's nothing you can do about it," says Freis.

He didn't notice anything about it.

Now he doesn't have much left to live on at 539 euros a month for a one-room apartment.

The rent has recently increased three times.

Freis also pays 49 euros for electricity, 89 euros for gas, heating and hot water.

He has now been written to by his provider: he should pay 30 to 40 percent more, then it would not have such a dramatic effect on the next bills, he says.

But Freis doesn't know where to get the money from.

He already goes to the table from time to time.

Or to the seniors' meeting place, where there are delicious rolls - "with grains," says Freis.

He is not entitled to the energy flat rate of 300 euros.

"Everything gets more expensive.

I'll probably have to start receiving basic social security in October or November.” He feels let down by politics.

He sees it coming that he will soon no longer be able to afford his apartment and will have to move in with someone.

"That would be very bad for me.

You no longer have privacy, you are no longer master of yourself.” According to the current plan, it will take a few more years for Freis to be debt-free – if everything goes well.