Unethical behaviors of Credit Card comapnies in Germany

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AlexInGermany
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Unethical behaviors of Credit Card comapnies in Germany

Post by AlexInGermany »

I have a few German credit cards which I use occasionally, for example abroad or even within Germany.

The difference is that some of the Non German credit cards I used previously abroad would automatically charge my checking account when the balance was due.

German credit cards seem to behave in a very unethical way; you have to manually repay the balance, and if you forget, they charge penalties. I wonder how you deal with such scenarios and why it is even allowed to operate this way. They seem to intentionally not have autopay option.

They send me app notifications only after they have applied the penalty, rather than before, so I could have covered the balance.
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Chelski
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Re: Unethical behaviors of Credit Card comapnies in Germany

Post by Chelski »

My German Mastercard is basically a charge card (like Amex/Diners etc.).

I get a statement at the end of the month, with a date when they'll take payment. Usually 5-7 days later.
That's what I signed up to.

From personal experience previously, having multiple credit cards is a road to disaster, and debt.

Why have so many?

I'm failing to understand why you have to 'manually' repay the balance? Unless that's what you signed up to?

If so, and you 'forget' it's not unethical. It's just you being a fuckwit and not managing your personal finances correctly.
AlexInGermany wrote:They seem to intentionally not have autopay option.
Now I know you're talking bollox. See my opening sentences.
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editorL
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Re: Unethical behaviors of Credit Card comapnies in Germany

Post by editorL »

AlexInGermany wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2026 4:09 pm German credit cards seem to behave in a very unethical way; you have to manually repay the balance, and if you forget, they charge penalties. I wonder how you deal with such scenarios and why it is even allowed to operate this way. They seem to intentionally not have autopay option.
Stop writing bullshit on this forum.
Frantic
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German credit card thread

Post by Frantic »

Can we reopen the thread?
Actually what Alex was writing it's not completely false or bullshit, maybe he just made a mistake stating that ALL "German" credit card work in that way.
But when I was looking for a free credit card to connect to my bank account I found some of them which were working in that way... You have manually to cover the open credit within xx days.
Of course I did not take any of them but can be useful to increase awareness about this kind of credit card that's why I am asking to reopen the thread.
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editorL
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Re: Unethical behaviors of Credit Card comapnies in Germany

Post by editorL »

This topic will stay locked.

Having a "few" credit cards, not being aware how they actually work, not having compared the differences between different cards, and then calling it "unethical behaviour"... This is too much over the edge.
Frantic wrote: Fri Mar 27, 2026 4:05 pm Actually what Alex was writing it's not completely false or bullshit
That's the old pawn broker argumentation: "How can you claim this watch is broken when it shows the correct time twice a day?"
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