In Germany They Looked Stunned Each Time I Used Android Pay
Apr 7, 2018, 3:13 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
Posts: 370
I think Apple Pay is the cause for surprise. POS machines need to be specifically enabled or upgraded to be able to use Apple Pay, but it’s been around long enough for everyone to realise they they either do or don’t accept Apple Pay.
Android Pay is different as it actually emulates the contactless feature of the card rather than being an entirely different payment method, so Android Pay can be used wherever contactless payments are accepted. Therefore, you get a business owner/operator who is surprised when someone is paying with their phone when they didn’t sign up for a specific service.
Android Pay is different as it actually emulates the contactless feature of the card rather than being an entirely different payment method, so Android Pay can be used wherever contactless payments are accepted. Therefore, you get a business owner/operator who is surprised when someone is paying with their phone when they didn’t sign up for a specific service.
Apr 7, 2018, 3:14 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
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Using Apple or Android Pay is inconvenient for the great majority of people. It's only really Americans who would use it as they don't have any satisfactory alternatives .
Apr 7, 2018, 3:57 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,230
I've found that Apple Pay works 99% of the time that the contactless symbol is displayed on the terminal. (this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contac...ard_Symbol.svg)
Apr 7, 2018, 4:13 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,404
BTW Apple Pay and Google Pay can be useful in other circumstances as the limit is higher. The limit for contactless cards is quite low.
Apr 7, 2018, 5:44 pm
#21
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,053
Of all the "Western" countries I go to, Germany is the most likely not to take credit cards. Even €50 notes can be a problem.
Apr 8, 2018, 3:45 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,410
In NL, Vodafone offers their own "Vodafone Pay" which can be linked to any Visa/Mastercard or even to PayPal, as well as used with a virtual OV-chipkaart for public transport.
Also the major banks offers a wallet app which gives you a virtual debit card to use with your phone.
Even in ZA it is becoming more and more common...
Also the major banks offers a wallet app which gives you a virtual debit card to use with your phone.
Even in ZA it is becoming more and more common...
Apr 8, 2018, 8:25 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 409
Strange last sentence. When traveling I always make sure to have cash available when it is required. But as a traveler I will always use a credit card when possible for my own protection. Why should I use cash 'as much as possible'?
Apr 8, 2018, 2:42 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
No, it's the ISO ALPHA 2 designation for South Africa - so, e.g., the top level domain for South Africa is .za.
Country Codes List - ISO ALPHA-2, ISO ALPHA-3 and Numerical Country Codes - Nations Online Project
I believe it comes from the Afrikaans Zuid Afrika.
Country Codes List - ISO ALPHA-2, ISO ALPHA-3 and Numerical Country Codes - Nations Online Project
I believe it comes from the Afrikaans Zuid Afrika.
Apr 9, 2018, 4:55 am
#27
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 163
My experience with German's and their love of cash comes mainly from mail order where for local buyers the norm is that the seller ships the item before payment is made and the courier collects the payment in cash at the point of delivery - no idea where the liability sits if bank notes turn out to be fake etc.
For international deliveries cards are accepted but in all three cases they've wanted photos of driving license etc emailed across before they'll accept the card.
Does anyone know how contactless works internationally in terms of limits? So UK limit is £30 but in Australia its $100 so circa £45. Does the UK or Australian limit apply when trying to use a UK card over in Aus? The UK limit was raised without reissuing cards and so I'd be surprised if the limits are hardcoded into the cards themselves but don't know if card machines hold all international limits to be able to apply them.
For international deliveries cards are accepted but in all three cases they've wanted photos of driving license etc emailed across before they'll accept the card.
Does anyone know how contactless works internationally in terms of limits? So UK limit is £30 but in Australia its $100 so circa £45. Does the UK or Australian limit apply when trying to use a UK card over in Aus? The UK limit was raised without reissuing cards and so I'd be surprised if the limits are hardcoded into the cards themselves but don't know if card machines hold all international limits to be able to apply them.
Apr 9, 2018, 5:26 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Posts: 123
BigFlyer, regarding the limits for contactless usage, at least with my cards, for VISA and MasterCard i can swipe for every amount, but for amounts larger than 25 Euro, i have to enter the PIN (without putting the card in the reader). For AmericanExpress, it's a bit different, here i have to put the card in the reader if the amount is over 25 Euro (even if i swiped first). Apparently with some card readers it also works now the same way as VISA or MC, but they have to have the latest firmware etc.
Apr 9, 2018, 8:13 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,866
The only difference then is not having to fumble sliding the card in the slot, or 'wearing' it down.
My experience with German's and their love of cash comes mainly from mail order where for local buyers the norm is that the seller ships the item before payment is made and the courier collects the payment in cash at the point of delivery - no idea where the liability sits if bank notes turn out to be fake etc.
For international deliveries cards are accepted but in all three cases they've wanted photos of driving license etc emailed across before they'll accept the card.
For international deliveries cards are accepted but in all three cases they've wanted photos of driving license etc emailed across before they'll accept the card.
Common payment options are: credit card; immediate payment (sofortüberweisung) - which is a portal to your bank from the payment processor; and pre-payment (vorkasse).
With vorkasse one completes the check-out. Vendor sends invoice to buyer with payment details. Buyer initiates bank transfer, upon receipt of which, vendor ships out product.
Apr 9, 2018, 9:46 am
#30
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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In Germany, I have never encountered a restaurant or hotel that refuses EUR cash payment for bill settlement.