Germany - Debit Card use in Germany

Hello Folks,

I was in Essen the other day where I tried to buy a few grocery items in a supermarket. I proffered my UK, Visa-issued, debit card - which was refused. Of course, the hausfrauen standing behind me in the queue started clucking and fussing because they were being delayed by a few seconds!

The card worked fine in the local geldautomaten, so can someone explain why it does not work in shops and stores, please?

German-issued debit cards are all Maestro cards.

You will be able to use your Visa debit card in places that accept credit cards, but places that only accept debit cards (such as many supermarkets, ticket machines etc) will only accept Maestro.

Most stores in Germany do not except Visa/Master/Amex cards.
This is mostly due to the cost incurring when accepting them. This then leads to fewer people using them which leads to higher fees for merchants accepting them.

In short, merchants are just to greedy here and not customer service oriented.

In short, merchants are just to greedy here and not customer service oriented.

Well, that's what I thought - but dared not utter in public!

Thank you, Aviatrix and Swiss Circle.

Most stores in Germany do not except Visa/Master/Amex cards.
This is mostly due to the cost incurring when accepting them. This then leads to fewer people using them which leads to higher fees for merchants accepting them.

In short, merchants are just to greedy here and not customer service oriented.

I don't think this is to do with greedy merchants at all. It's to do with lack of demand.

Although things have started to change Germany is still very much a cash society. People have now got into the habit of using debit cards, but very few people use credit cards for day-to-day things. Those who have credit cards (and there are still many who don't!) will often keep them in their desks at home rather than carry in their wallets, and put them into their wallets only when they go travelling abroad.

If your debit card does not show the MAESTRO sign you´re out of luck in Germany ...
The V-pay system has not really been established yet - it´s still relatively new here in Germany and the Mastercard/MAESTRO company is obviously not going to share the market with new entrants voluntarily ...
Plus merchants usually pay a fixed rental for the debit card "swipe machine" and are not willing to pay for a second system that´s not really used anyways ...

The reason for non-acceptance or limited acceptance of credit cards in german stores (in particular supermarkets - but not limited to) is simply because there´s a huge difference in the commission the dealer has to pay to the CC company compared to the debit card system.

CC companies take about 2-3% off the total but the debit card system charges a "flat rate" of less than 50 Cents regardless of the total amount ...

The reason for non-acceptance or limited acceptance of credit cards in german stores (in particular supermarkets - but not limited to) is simply because there´s a huge difference in the commission the dealer has to pay to the CC company compared to the debit card system.

CC companies take about 2-3% off the total but the debit card system charges a "flat rate" of less than 50 Cents regardless of the total amount ...

We have similar commission rates in the UK (i.e., percentage based for credit cards, a flat fee for debit cards), yet supermarkets here do take credit cards, and have done for at least a couple of decades (I am old enough to remember a time when hotels, restaurants and high end shops took them but supermarkets didn't)

I still think the issue is one of lack of demand. Germany was quite a late starter when it comes to credit cards. I still remember the total amazement shown by German friends when I had a credit card, as a university student, in the late 1970s. In Germany credit cards were for the rich and for frequent business travellers (and came with quite a high annual fee - whereas they were free here). Credit card use is now much more common in Germany - but it's still lagging behind other countries. I would say that Germany is now where the UK was in the 1980s.

I don't think this is to do with greedy merchants at all. It's to do with lack of demand.

Although things have started to change Germany is still very much a cash society. People have now got into the habit of using debit cards, but very few people use credit cards for day-to-day things. Those who have credit cards (and there are still many who don't!) will often keep them in their desks at home rather than carry in their wallets, and put them into their wallets only when they go travelling abroad.

This is the correct answer! When I first arrived, I was shocked that I couldn't use my credit cards at Saturn (the number one consumer electronics shop for most of the country).

Some years ago when all UK-issued credit cards already had chip & PIN, I tried to pay for some duty free purchase on a Lufthansa flight and none of the 3 or 4 cards I had could be read by onboard handheld terminals.

I still think the issue is one of lack of demand.
No, it´s the unwillingness of dealers to calculate commissions into their margins ....

Germany was quite a late starter when it comes to credit cards. I still remember the total amazement shown by German friends when I had a credit card, as a university student, in the late 1970s. In Germany credit cards were for the rich and for frequent business travellers (and came with quite a high annual fee - whereas they were free here). Credit card use is now much more common in Germany - but it's still lagging behind other countries. I would say that Germany is now where the UK was in the 1980s.

That´s true. But Germany has already catched up with most neighbouring countries. But if you try to make very small payments by CC you´ll get very often denial by the merchant !
It is not that customers don´t want it ! I´ve run many times out of cash and been forced to find an ATM to draw some ...

Some dealers don´t even accept debit cards at all !
E.g.: Mc Donald´s, BK, etc.

In Germany the debitdard is much more popular than a credit card. In addition Germans don't use credit cards to get credit as for example many Americans do it. The credit card is more used to for traveling and shopping abroad. For shopping and paying in Germany its either cash or the debit card which is widely accepted. So for many there is no reason to get a credit card. Not everyone is a flyertalker who tries to earn additional mile by using an airline credit card.

I guess infrastructure (and lack thereof) also plays into this. Most shops (save for the larger ones maybe) are still using dial-up for their payment terminals, so it will literally take ages for any non-cash payment to be processed. You can actually feel the piercing looks people in the queue behind you will throw you just because you're paying by card.

Compare that to the Netherlands, for example, where cashless payments are more than ubiquitous. It takes 1-2 seconds for a transaction to be authorized, plus (and that makes a big difference compared to Germany) you can already swipe your card and enter your PIN while the person at the till is doing their thing so all you have to do is press "Enter" to confirm the total amount.

That's a hundred times faster than the granny in line that's decided to pay 49,99 with exact change. Nonetheless Germans will find her more acceptable than someone paying with their card. Go figure.

In short, merchants are just to greedy here and not customer service oriented.

Margins in supermarket business are pretty small. This has nothing to do with customer service orientation. Increase all prices by 2 percent and CC will be accepted. Germany has one of the most competitive supermarket markets.

Funny that a comment like this comes from Switzerland. I wonder why thousands of Swiss come to Konstanz for their weekend shopping - prices in the supermarkets are one of the reasons.

For shopping and paying in Germany its either cash or the debit card which is widely accepted.

Maybe it is, maybe it is not - but I am in Germany right now, and not a single establishment will accept my (Visa-issued) debit card!

If you had told us that "it is the Maestro debit card that isd widely accepted" your words might have been that much more credible!

Maybe it is, maybe it is not - but I am in Germany right now, and not a single establishment will accept my (Visa-issued) debit card!

Shout at your bank!

I knew mine was lying when they told me that my brand-new Visa debit card would work exactly the same as the Maestro card it was replacing, because I knew that it would not work as a debit card in Germany. I told them... but they wouldn't believe me! (I would have taken it further... but I have a German bank account complete with Maestro card, and I decided life is too short to make a fuss about something that doesn't directly affect me)

Maybe it is, maybe it is not - but I am in Germany right now, and not a single establishment will accept my (Visa-issued) debit card!

If you had told us that "it is the Maestro debit card that isd widely accepted" your words might have been that much more credible!

No reason for you to shout at him or consider his words to be not credible. We are Germans and for us is EC or Maestro or V-Pay the equivalent for a debit card. Why the heck do you expect that a US Visa debit card works overseas? Germany is not the US and the more than 80 Million people have other payment habits than the US. An internationally acknowledged Credit Card will certainly be accepted but not a US debit card.

No reason for you to shout at him or consider his words to be not credible. We are Germans and for us is EC or Maestro or V-Pay the equivalent for a debit card. Why the heck do you expect that a US Visa debit card works overseas?

US???

The OP is based in the Bailiwick of Jersey which was in Europe (and part of the British Isles) last time I looked on a map.

UK banks used to issue Maestro cards. Over the last couple of years they have all switched to Visa debit card - which works fine in the UK (and the Channel Islands!) but causes problems in countries whose debit card systems are entirely Maestro-based.

As an aside, I read somewhere recently that Lufthansa charges the same fee for Visa debit cards as they do for Visa credit cards because their system cannot tell the difference.

Margins in supermarket business are pretty small. This has nothing to do with customer service orientation. Increase all prices by 2 percent and CC will be accepted. Germany has one of the most competitive supermarket markets.

Funny that a comment like this comes from Switzerland. I wonder why thousands of Swiss come to Konstanz for their weekend shopping - prices in the supermarkets are one of the reasons.

I am actually living in Germany right now. When I moved here the first thing I got rid of was my Amex as too few stores would accept it. In Switzerland it was not an issue.

The markets in the US etc. are competitive too. In France, Netherlands, Uk, Scandinavia etc. its not aproblem, but in Germany it is.

I guess it has to do how people are being "raised".
When nobody really accepts those cards, why would anyone bother. Same goes for the very limited opportunities to collect miles and points.

To me its still annoying...

In regards to shopping in Germany during weekends, none of my Swiss relatives / friends do that. But I can understand that to some its reasonable to do so, as it´s quite expensive in Switzerland.

This is far from affecting only Americans. Visitors from other parts of Europe have the same problem in Germany. Denmark has a comparable situation, though, with stores often only accepting their beloved Dankort, althogh things have improved in recent years.

For non-EC/Maestro credit/debit-card grocery shopping in Germany, I would suggest going to one of the high-end chains (Edeka, REWE...), rather than the discount places (Lidl, Aldi, Netto...). I know several stores in Hamburg who do accept VISA/MasterCard/Amex.

US???

The OP is based in the Bailiwick of Jersey which was in Europe (and part of the British Isles) last time I looked on a map.

My bad. Language and style appeared more to be New Jersey than Jersey, CI so I made that mistake. However, it does not make a big difference. As long as a shop cannot get authorisation a shop will not accept a card. And to what I understand the Visa Debit Card System goes back to the issueing bank.

The markets in the US etc. are competitive too. In France, Netherlands, Uk, Scandinavia etc. its not aproblem, but in Germany it is.

To what I have read the supermarket market in Germany is one of the most competive globally due to the competition between Aldi, Penny, Lidl and Netto. Margins can be as low as 1 or 2 percent. This is certainly different in other countries and as it has been said, it is different in Germany with chains like Edeka, Rewe, Tengelmann and others.

For non-EC/Maestro credit/debit-card grocery shopping in Germany, I would suggest going to one of the high-end chains (Edeka, REWE...), rather than the discount places (Lidl, Aldi, Netto...). I know several stores in Hamburg who do accept VISA/MasterCard/Amex.

To what I have read the supermarket market in Germany is one of the most competive globally due to the competition between Aldi, Penny, Lidl and Netto. Margins can be as low as 1 or 2 percent. This is certainly different in other countries and as it has been said, it is different in Germany with chains like Edeka, Rewe, Tengelmann and others.

Certain supermarket chains do not take credit cards at all. However, other chains, such as REWE, Edeka and Tengelmann usually take major credit cards. I never had problems using my Amex card in any location of these brands in the last 10 years! Further on, there are SATURNs and Media Markts around that accept AMEX but don't accept VISA or Master Card.

In the end, just keep asking -even if there is no sign at the door. Except for low-cost supermarket chains or small stores ("Tante-Emma-Laden"), there are more stores around that accept credit cards than it looks like.

Using a debit-card system other than Maestro is a different story. However, I cannot expect that German debit-cards will work in any location of this planet - regardless of the company logo on it.

Using a debit-card system other than Maestro is a different story. However, I cannot expect that German debit-cards will work in any location of this planet - regardless of the company logo on it.

Well, one would expect a VISA-branded (not V-Pay) debit card to work. In places like Sweden this is the kind of card that most people have. Maestro is usually only issued to teenagers and people with bad credit.

However, I cannot expect that German debit-cards will work in any location of this planet - regardless of the company logo on it.

i have no problems in germany with my visa electron card. most shops accept it - and for those who don't I must admit, that my german maestro card works fine - and maestro worked fine in France, Switzerland and even in Russia.

My bad. Language and style appeared more to be New Jersey than Jersey, CI so I made that mistake.




If Flying Lawyer's attitude is indicative of the rest of his/her compatriots I shall not be visiting Germany again in a hurry.

Just keep up attitudes like those you have displayed here and your country might just lose the goodwill of a lot of other potential investors.

We are Germans and for us is EC or Maestro or V-Pay the equivalent for a debit card.

Germany is not the only country in Europe (or the rest of the world, for that matter). Do try to think outside the box!

I think the situation can probably be summarised like this:

- The German banking system does not recognise Visa as a debit card, only as a credit card. So a Visa debit card can only be used in places that accept credit cards.

- Retailers that expect trade from foreign visitors generally accept credit cards

- Retailers that cater largely to locals (like grocery stores) generally only accept cards that they can process through the debit card system (i.e., Maestro) because there is insufficient demand for them to get connected to the credit card system.

Germans don't expect to use credit cards in supermarkets, and I don't think supermarkets should be expected to make special provisions for the occasional visitor from abroad.

This is the correct answer! When I first arrived, I was shocked that I couldn't use my credit cards at Saturn (the number one consumer electronics shop for most of the country).

Even Ikea in Germany only accept EC card :td: We bought a baby matress and some other things at Ikea and at the till they told us that they only accept EC card. Fortunately we had cash with us. Mr. Nacho's colleague was shopping in Ikea for furniture in his apartment in Berlin and he took about 300 EUR of furniture and found out that they only took EC card and he was :mad:

Even Ikeas in Denmark accept credit cards.

In MUC we stored our bag at left luggage and we tried to use our credit card and the staff there said, 'Don't you have 3 Euros?' We didn't want to waste our cash (we probably need them somewhere) so we insisted on paying with CC and he was mumbling the whole time - 3 Euros paying with credit card. :td:

Using a debit-card system other than Maestro is a different story. However, I cannot expect that German debit-cards will work in any location of this planet - regardless of the company logo on it.

Germans don't expect to use credit cards in supermarkets, and I don't think supermarkets should be expected to make special provisions for the occasional visitor from abroad.

Even Ikea in Germany only accept EC card


You clearly set your sights too low: the whole point of a credit card that it should be usable all over the world (subject, of course, to currency regulations).

The whole point of my OP was to point out the insularity of the German banking system. Subsequent postings have done much to prove my thesis!

Even Ikeas in Denmark accept credit cards.



Even the IKEA stores in "third world" countries accept credit cards without any demur.

One can only assume that there is something in the German psyche that adores unnecessary bureaucracy and making commercial life as difficult and as frustrating as is humanly possible.

One can only assume that there is something in the German psyche that adores unnecessary bureaucracy and making commercial life as difficult and as frustrating as is humanly possible.

In my experience the vast majority of Germans are happy to use cash or debit cards. What's so bureaucratic about that?

Those that depend on tourists accept credit cards. Tourists who venture off the tourist trail (which in itself is quite laudable) just have to accept that they have to do what the locals do.

I spend about a third of my time in Germany. Not being able to use my UK credit (or Visa debit) cards does not bother me one little bit.

As the saying goes.. "When in Rome do as the Romans" (And when In Germany do as the Germans). I choose to be here. I choose to shop at Supermarkets and Mediamarkt and Saturn. Why should I grumble about something that the locals seem to be entirely happy with?

And I certainly disagree with the notion that having to use cash (or a Maestro card) is somehow more bureaucratic than using a credit card.

This is what we've just learnt about the London Olympics:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15110730

If ticket holders wish to buy food items within Olympic Park they will have to use cash, or a Visa card

So - where does this leave people from countries where credit cards are all Mastercard-branded? Where does it leave Germans with their Maestro cards?

And this is a prime tourist venue, not a supermarket frequented mostly by locals...

In my experience the vast majority of Germans are happy to use cash or debit cards. What's so bureaucratic about that?

Those that depend on tourists accept credit cards. Tourists who venture off the tourist trail (which in itself is quite laudable) just have to accept that they have to do what the locals do.

I spend about a third of my time in Germany. Not being able to use my UK credit (or Visa debit) cards does not bother me one little bit.

As the saying goes.. "When in Rome do as the Romans" (And when In Germany do as the Germans). I choose to be here. I choose to shop at Supermarkets and Mediamarkt and Saturn. Why should I grumble about something that the locals seem to be entirely happy with?

And I certainly disagree with the notion that having to use cash (or a Maestro card) is somehow more bureaucratic than using a credit card.

Thank you for your prompt response, Aviatrix.

To bring things back to where this thread started - in beautiful downtown Essen - my first attempted purchase with a Visa-issued debit card was at Lidl in the Hauptbahnhof. Result: a refusal.

Onwards and downwards to Ikea. Same procedure, same result.

Nothing daunted, I then tramped up the street to the beautiful Aalto-Theater where I tried (out of desperation and sheer devilment) to buy some tickets for a performance. EC card? Sure. Visa debit card? Get lost.

Germany likes to present itself as being a commercially aware country and an economic world leader. Visa and Maestro are both universally recognised modes of payment. As I wrote in an earlier message, it's annoying, subjective, little things like refusing a certain brand of debit card that can deter foreign investment.

Why, therefore, do German banks and merchants behave like ostriches with their heads in the sand, doughtily ignoring the fact that almost every other country will accept Visa debit cards?

So - where does this leave people from countries where credit cards are all Mastercard-branded? Where does it leave Germans with their Maestro cards?


While I do find that kind of sponsorship deals questionable, at least it's a major international card (VISA) and not an obscure domestic one (EC-Karte/Girocard, Dankort...).

Therein lies my main objection: Domestic-only schemes really have no place in today's integrated European economy. Unfortunately some countries get away with it either because they are big (Germany) or because of local legislation that favors the local card (Denmark).

While I do find that kind of sponsorship deals questionable, at least it's a major international card (VISA) and not an obscure domestic one (EC-Karte/Girocard, Dankort...).

Therein lies my main objection: Domestic-only schemes really have no place in today's integrated European economy. Unfortunately some countries get away with it either because they are big (Germany) or because of local legislation that favors the local card (Denmark).

The card that is accepted in Germany is Maestro - not some obscure national card. Maestro is generally accepted everywhere that accepts Mastercard (because it's part of the same company)

Germany is somewhat unique in that it also has a standalone processing system for Maestro cards, enabling retailers to accept Maestro payments without having to enrol in a credit card processing scheme.

I still see the problem as being with UK banks - which have stopped issuing Maestro cards in favour of Visa debit cards. If UK banks were still offering Maestro cards the OP's issue would not have arisen.

Germany likes to present itself as being a commercially aware country and an economic world leader. Visa and Maestro are both universally recognised modes of payment. As I wrote in an earlier message, it's annoying, subjective, little things like refusing a certain brand of debit card that can deter foreign investment.

Why, therefore, do German banks and merchants behave like ostriches with their heads in the sand, doughtily ignoring the fact that almost every other country will accept Visa debit cards?

Thank you for your thoughts. However, using a Mastercard affiliated Debit Card instead of a Visa affiliated Debit Card is certainly not more "ostrich like" than refusing to adopt the currency used all over Europe, than to drive on the wrong side of the road (compared to Europe), than to issue bank notes and stamps for an area as small as some continental market towns and asking for exceptions from European rules all over the place. Just a few examples :p

Every country has its peculiarities and I "grumble" all the time when taxi drivers in London will not accept my Euro notes or even worse, not accept my Jersey, Guernsey or IoM notes - absolutely unnecessary bureaucracy and making commercial life as difficult and as frustrating as is humanly possible. And when crossing a street - how bad: I always have to consider that the cars will hit me from the other side....

So every country is different and this does certainly not make my life anyhow difficult. We are all part of a big international community and adopting to the small peculiarities is not that difficult. :)

Every country has its peculiarities and I "grumble" all the time when taxi drivers in London will not accept my Euro notes or even worse, not accept my Jersey, Guernsey or IoM notes

Why should they? The specie you mentioned are not legal tender in the United Kingdom. FYI, the Channel Islands and the IoM are Crown Dependencies, and not constituent parts of the UK. How many taxi drivers in the Euro zone will accept sterling bank notes, by the way?

On the other hand the unique selling point of Visa, and other debit and credit cards, is their universal acceptance. I really do not want to carry on laboring the point, but the apparent German refusal to recognize anything other than Maestro is like a squad of soldiers, all marching in step - except Germany!

I know that I am "on a hiding to nothing" by trying to get recognition for Visa debit cards in Germany, but the debate has been interesting, to say the very least.

Why should they?

You now answered your original question yourself. Why should they? Visa debit cards are not "legal tender" in Germany. I do not complain that I cannot use my IoM currency in other places of the British Isles, however you complain that you can't use your Jersey (or UK) issued debit card abroad. :)

And by the way: Several hundred million people use the Euro. A little British Island - inter alia - refused to introduce it. Ok, this is a UK decision. However, it is "absolutely unnecessary bureaucracy and making commercial life as difficult and as frustrating as is humanly possible". And now even UK banks withdraw from the Maestro concept and introduce own Visa debit cards. This is absolutely unnecessary bureaucracy and making commercial life as difficult and as frustrating as is humanly possible.

Wouldn't it be more fair to complain with your bank instead of complaining that "German banks and merchants behave like ostriches with their heads in the sand" or even coming up with the statement that "one can only assume that there is something in the German psyche that adores unnecessary bureaucracy"?? I can use all of my US and German CCs in Germany, I can use my Maestro Card, however, I cannot use my UK issued Visa Debit card because Visa obviously does not provide the IT to use it....

This debate is now going round in circles.

The only conclusion I can draw from the discussion surrounding my original question is to stow my Visa debit card safely in my wallet when visiting Germany and to use cash.

Thanks to everybody who took part!

___________
Do not feel offended by my posts - remember, I am a simple minded international traveller.

Why the heck do you expect that a US Visa debit card works overseas?

It is in many places. I can use my US Visa debit card in almost any shop in Israel with no problem.

(In real life, however, I very rarely do so. I don't like paying forex charges, so I use my Israeli-issued Visa here, my German-issued MasterCard or Maestro in the EuroZone, and my U.S.-issued Amex everywhere else (to get HHonors points).

This, however, raises another question: I have a Gold MasterCard from Deutsche Bank. As far as I can see it has absolutely no points program. Does anyone know if any DB credit card does give points?

(I plan to spend a lot more time in the EuroZone and thus the points are starting to become important to me.)

This, however, raises another question: I have a Gold MasterCard from Deutsche Bank. As far as I can see it has absolutely no points program. Does anyone know if any DB credit card does give points?

Not that I would be aware of. Considering that you have a German Bank account it should be not a problem at all for you the apply for a Lufthansa Miles & More Credit card (which gives LH miles), a HH Credit Card (which is stingy but gives HH points) or a CC offered by Payback or one of the other loyalty programmes.

Not that I would be aware of. Considering that you have a German Bank account it should be not a problem at all for you the apply for a Lufthansa Miles & More Credit card (which gives LH miles), a HH Credit Card (which is stingy but gives HH points) or a CC offered by Payback or one of the other loyalty programmes.

Lufthansa requires a German address, not just a German bank account. I have an American HHonors card and I have to admit that I don't know what "Payback" is.

Are you sure about the German address?

From the Credit Card FAQ (http://www.miles-and-more-kreditkarte.com/service/haeufige-fragen/beantragung_kreditkarte/voraussetzungen_fuer_ausstellung.html):

Gibt es Voraussetzungen für die Ausstellung einer Miles & More Kreditkarte?

Für die Beantragung einer deutschen Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Card sind die Voraussetzungen

eine deutsche Bankverbindung und
ein Mindestalter von 18 Jahren (mit Ausnahme von Partnerkarten).

Der Wohnort ist für die Ausstellung einer deutschen Miles & More Kreditkarte ohne Bedeutung, sofern eine deutsche Bankverbindung vorhanden ist.


For the non-german speaking people:

Requirements are:
a German bank account
at least 18 years old, exception are partner cards

The residence is of no importance as long as there is a German bank account.

According to the FAQs (http://www.miles-and-more-kreditkarte.com/service/haeufige-fragen/beantragung_kreditkarte/hinweise_kartenantrag.html), the identification can be done at a German bank.

Lufthansa requires a German address, not just a German bank account. I have an American HHonors card and I have to admit that I don't know what "Payback" is.

There certainly is no German address required. This is clearly said in the FAQs:

"Der Wohnort ist für die Ausstellung einer deutschen Miles & More Kreditkarte ohne Bedeutung, sofern eine deutsche Bankverbindung vorhanden ist."

This is as clear as it can be. Payback? Google is your friend.

Are you sure about the German address?


It used to be the case but perhaps no longer is. I do not have the temporary Miles & More number I was given years ago and sent an e-mail asking for it. (It is needed for the process of applying for the credit card.)

I have a meeting in my DB branch in December. What do you mean by "the identification can be done at a German bank"?

Also, do you know if Lufthansa will do a status match for my Delta Gold?

I have a meeting in my DB branch in December. What do you mean by "the identification can be done at a German bank"?

When applying for an credit card, bank account, ... you do have to identify yourself. Since the LH credit card is not issued by your bank next door, you do have to identify yourself somewhere else. This can usually be done either at a German Post Office with a letter that has been sent to you by LH (Postident) or by going into a German bank if identification. Since you do have a meeting with your DB branch in December, I would suggest to do it at that date.

In case you talk German, just have a look at the second link I posted.

In case you talk German, just have a look at the second link I posted.

Alas, I speak just enough German to be able to order a wurst at a street stand and to ask for a Coke to go with it.

Going back to what started this thread - i.e., the German system not recognising Visa debit cards as debit cards:

As I discovered last night the German system is not the only one that is not geared up to Visa debit cards. Switzerland would appear to be the same - i.e., the system can handle Visa cards, but only by processing them as credit cards.

I booked a flight with Swiss last night, on their own web site. They charge extra for credit cards, but not for debit cards.... and the only logo listed in the "Debit cards" section is the Maestro one. Visa debit cards get treated as credit cards.

Sorry for digging up this older post, but I just wanted to add some information.

In general, there are two major competing debit card schemes in Germany: Girocard and Maestro. They are both being touted as the successors to the EC-Card, with the latter term still in general usage today.
Girocard is vastly more accepted by merchants in Germany than Maestro as the transaction fees are significantly lower. Some shops (such as Aldi-Nord, iirc) have terminals that accept both, but officially advertise only Girocard as available payment option. Most shops just plainly state "EC-Karte" (even when asked specifically if Maestro and/or Girocard) and leave it up to you to try if your Maestro card gets processed or not.

From several conversations with shopkeepers I can indeed confirm the reluctance to accept CCs and Maestro is due to the transaction costs involved for the shops, which they tend to minimize by focusing solely on Girocard, or not offering plastic payment options at all. Pretty much unpredictable, even though the rule of thumb is the pricier the store the more likely you can use your Maestro or CC there. Girocard is by all means your best bet.

PS It is true many people in Germany seem to distrust any form of money or investment that is not "physical" in nature, but ask these folks where they get their "hard" cash from and you're left with a baffling "I draw it from my bank's ATM. Why?" :rolleyes:

Anyway, just my two Cents...

It seems that also Mastercard debit cards are not accepted by some stores in Germany, like Saturn, even is Mastercard and Maestro are from the same company.
Anyway, it seems that Mastercard debit cards (embossed and with chip) are accepted in more stores than Visa Electron debit cards, which are not accepted by almost any store in Germany...

It seems that this is something particular to Germany - all debit cards and credit cards, from any country, are accepted by 95% of all stores even in countries like Romania, but I also used them successfully in Netherlands, Italy or Denmark without problem.