hTTi

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.

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.

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.