You should ask both your home and mobile phone providers about their disconnect and renewal policies BEFORE you sign up.  Specifically, how long do you have to cancel or to stop a renewal before the contract is up?  Will they disconnect your service free of charge and with NO penalties if you have orders to move?  With mobile phones, this is best avoided by getting prepaid phones.  The extra expense is worth NOT having to fight with these unreasonable companies if you unexpectedly (or even expectedly) need to stop your service. 

Utility companies, in apartments, read the meters once a year and you have to wait until the following year (or many months) to see your final bill--whether you owe money or get money back.  This is stupid, but it's how they do it.  If you want to avoid this, get a duplex with individual metering, or a stand-alone house (you'll be happier with either of these anyway because, seemingly paradoxically, Germans are both unfriendly and incredibly nosy).