Do restaurants in Germany accept credit cards?
Credit cards are accepted in large German retailers and mid to upmarket restaurants, for example. While Germans are typically considered innovative, they’re hanging on to cash. In places that do take cards, you’ll find that the EuroCard is the preferred plastic.
Do Germans use debit cards?
While there were around 2 billion transactions with debit card made in 2009, this number has almost tripled to approximately 5.9 billion debit card transactions in Germany in 2020. This could be seen as part of the movement towards the European Union as a cashless society.
What credit cards does Germany accept?
Generally, VISA and Mastercard credit cards are the most widely accepted cards in Germany (apart from debit cards). American Express is also accepted at major chains, but not at every shop.
Can a company refuse to take payment by credit card?
Can businesses refuse to accept cards? Any business is within its rights to refuse a method of payment. The question is whether this will affect their custom by doing so, especially as the use of non-cash payments is growing fast.
What type of card is in Germany?
Generally, VISA and Mastercard credit cards are the most widely accepted cards in Germany (apart from debit cards).
What is debit card in Germany?
Debit cards are also known as Eurocheque-Karte, EC-Karte,or girocard. In Germany, they are far more widely accepted than credit cards. Retailers prefer the instant debit card payment to credit charges. Debit cards are linked to a checking account and used for direct payments as well as ATM withdrawals.
Why don’t Germans use credit cards?
Whatever the reasons, as anyone who has visited or lived in Germany knows, the way Germans handle money is very different from the way North Americans do. Germans love cash and are averse to credit cards. Even checks, so popular in France, are a rarity.
Where can I pay with a credit card in Germany?
Carrying a lot of cashmoney is always a problem. You can pay with credit card in most of the restaurants. At any gas station, departmentstores and shoppingcenters. In Germany most of the people pay with there banking card called EC-Karte.
What stores in Germany do not accept EC-Karte?
Small Restaurants even McDonalds and BurgerKing will often not accept CreditCards. And almost every supermarket or drugstore will NOT accept paying by credit card. They all accept EC-Karte but I know only one Supermarket called FAMILA (located in north Germany) where you could pay with VISA or Mastercard.
Is it safer to pay with cash in Germany?
A recent survey by YouGov revealed that 72 percent of Germans think it is “safer” to pay with cash. So in February 2016, when the German finance ministry proposed a ban on cash payments of more than 5,000 euros to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, many Germans fiercely denounced the idea.