German Phrase
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr auf keinen Fall.
Meaning
The sentence states a firm refusal to return a specific fee. It is a decisive, formal way of saying that the fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
When to use
Use this phrase in business or customer‑service settings when you need to communicate a non‑refundable charge clearly and unambiguously, such as in contract discussions, service agreements, or when answering a refund request.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WirerstattendieseGebühraufkeinenFall.
Verb: erstatten
Erstatten is a separable verb meaning 'to refund' or 'to reimburse'. In the present tense, the prefix 'er-' stays attached to the infinitive, and the stem 'statten' is conjugated.
Demonstrative pronoun: diese
Dies‑ is the masculine/feminine accusative form of 'dieser', used here to point to a specific fee.
Noun: Gebühr
Gebühr is a feminine noun (die Gebühr) meaning 'fee' or 'charge'. In the accusative case it stays unchanged.
Fixed phrase: auf keinen Fall
Literally 'on no case', this idiom means 'under no circumstances' and is used to give a strong negative statement.
Word order
In a main clause the finite verb (erstatten) occupies the second position; the adverbial phrase 'auf keinen Fall' follows the object.
🗨In Conversation
Können Sie mir die Bearbeitungsgebühr zurückerstatten?
Can you refund the processing fee for me?
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr auf keinen Fall.
We will not refund this fee under any circumstances.
✕Common Mistakes
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr auf kein Fall.
The adjective must be in the accusative masculine singular: 'keinen'.
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr nie.
"nie" means 'never' and does not convey the idiomatic strength of 'auf keinen Fall'.
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr nicht auf keinen Fall.
Double negation is redundant; choose either 'nicht' or the idiom.
↔Alternatives
Wir erstatten diese Gebühr nicht.
We do not refund this fee.
Eine Rückerstattung dieser Gebühr ist ausgeschlossen.
A refund of this fee is excluded.
Wir können die Gebühr nicht zurückzahlen.
We cannot pay back the fee.
Cultural Tip
German business communication values clarity and directness. While "auf keinen Fall" is perfectly grammatical, it sounds very strong and may be perceived as harsh. In more diplomatic contexts you might soften it with "Leider können wir die Gebühr nicht erstatten" (Unfortunately we cannot refund the fee). Also remember that the phrase is always used with the accusative case for the noun that follows.