refund / filing
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refund
The repayment of money that has already been spent, for example costs that someone has paid in advance for another person or as part of a complaint.
Bitte reichen Sie die Belege ein, um eine Erstattung Ihrer Reisekosten zu erhalten.
Please submit the receipts in order to receive a refund of your travel expenses.
filing
In a formal or legal context, the act of submitting an official report or statement to an authority. Mostly used in the expression 'Anzeige erstatten' (to file a report/complaint).
Nach dem Diebstahl war sein erster Weg zur Polizei, um Anzeige zu erstatten.
After the theft, his first stop was the police station to file a report.
The word is a nominalization of the verb 'erstatten' (to refund/to file) with the ending '-ung'. It describes the act of refunding or filing, or what is refunded.
Die Erstattung des Betrags erfolgt innerhalb von 14 Tagen.
The refund of the amount will take place within 14 days.
In the legal meaning, this word is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'Anzeige erstatten' (to file a report/complaint). This means to officially report an incident to the police.
Wegen des Einbruchs hat sie sofort Anzeige erstattet.
Because of the break-in, she immediately filed a report.
In the meaning 'Rückzahlung' (repayment/refund), 'Erstattung' (refund) is often combined with the genitive to say what is being repaid. Typical phrases are: 'Erstattung der Kosten' (refund of the costs), 'Erstattung des Fahrpreises' (refund of the fare), or 'Erstattung der Gebühren' (refund of the fees).
Ich warte immer noch auf die Erstattung meiner Reisekosten.
I am still waiting for the refund of my travel expenses.
The two meanings are easy to distinguish. If it is about money, costs, or invoices, it always means repayment. If the word 'Anzeige' (report/complaint) appears with it, it is about a report to the police.
Für eine Erstattung der Kursgebühren ist es jetzt zu spät.
It is now too late for a refund of the course fees.
replacement / compensation
Both words can refer to financial compensation after damage. Erstattung more specifically means the repayment of money that has already been spent, while Ersatz refers more generally to compensation for damage or loss. Erstattung is suitable for repair costs paid in advance; otherwise, Ersatz is often used.
Die Versicherung erstattet mir die bereits bezahlten Reparaturkosten.
The insurance company will reimburse me for the repair costs I have already paid.
Die Versicherung leistet Ersatz für den beschädigten Laptop.
The insurance company will compensate us for the damaged laptop.
