I am in the USA, and had the very good fortune to find help from a German ExPat to
work through the Prosecutors office for issues with a local German vendor.
I documented the transactions, email and bulletin board messages with the vendor, and created a
timeline account for the local prosecutor to review. The prosecutors office reviewed
all my documentation, and then informed me that they would forward the case to a judge.
The judge reviewed the case, and a fine was levied against the vendor.
I thought that was the end of it, I didn't get any monies returned or product.
However, a few days after I received the letter of judgment, the product arrived, and in good condition.
I was later contacted by a judge inquiring after confirmation of receipt of product.
I resent all of the my case documentation, and confirmed that I had received the
purchased items, and that any reduction of the fine I would leave up to the court.
In the end, Two letters, email, requesting resolution from the vendor were sent over four weeks.
Total time from purchase to the start of legal proceedings was ten months.
It took two months for the prosecutors office to file and receive judgment.
It took the vendor a legal judgement, fine, and eleven months and twenty nine days to send product.
Anything is possible. A local prosecutor and a little knowledge of the legal system may be necessary.
Luckily I had a good person, I had never met, contact me via bulletin board to help me.
