There is something in which Germans surpass Spaniards, and it explains why they do not use credit cards as much.

COVID was the definitive boost to card payments: this way you avoided the transfer of sharing coins and bills in exchange for a convenient and hygienic gesture that implied not having to have anything, since all you have to do is bring it close to the reader. And the amount doesn’t matter: from a loaf of bread to a washing machine. The consequence is direct: it is increasingly possible to find the card payment option anywhere. Yes indeed, in Spain, because in Germany it is a different story.

According to data from the European Central Bankwhile in Spain 46% of transactions are paid by card, in Germany it falls to 19%. If we stick to cash, the Spanish state has a share of 48% compared to an overwhelming 74% in the German country. Servant usually travels frequently to Germany and I am clear about it: just as I barely handle cash here, I always take money to visit Berlin and other German cities. It is not something casual nor does it have to do with taste, but rather German citizens are very clear about why they are reluctant to pay by card.

The reason for this abysmal difference? privacy

When you come across the mythical sign ‘Card payments are not accepted’ or ‘Cash only’ in Spain, it is relatively common to think about underground economy or simply, that the business in question does not want to pay the commercial rate associated because it estimates that it does not provide income for expenses incurred by customers (for example, at a kiosk). Likewise, there is no obligation to accept card payments.

Both reasons could apply to German reluctance to use electronic means of payment. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, in the case of the hidden economy, the percentage in Germany is notably lower than in Spain. It is simply a matter of privacy.

As the Spaniard who lives in Germany Mimi Oliván states on her TikTok account, even if you go to the pharmacy and make a significant payment, you may find yourself with the unpleasant surprise that they do not accept card payments. The thing is German men and women highly value privacy. Thus, Oliván says that they do not trust much in the large financial technology companies and how they apply techniques to track where they spend money.

@mimiworkbestie

Replying to @Silviagc28 Why in Germany they only let you pay in cash and you can’t pay by card almost anywhere? It’s not for the reason you think…! #spanishingermany #liverenalemania #liverenalemania🇩🇪 #liveinberlin #spanishinberlin #spanishingermany

♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim

So, If they spend the money in cash, there is no traceability worth it. But they don’t have cards just in case: since they don’t like asking for credit too much, with a powerful culture of savings and aversion to debt, they avoid asking for them. So if you meet a German person on the street, according to this migrant, it is easy for them to have between 100 and 150 euros in cash on them because you never know.

Cover | Photo of Clay Banks in Unsplash

In Genbeta | Asking for a copy when paying by card is important, but you can save it: this way your cell phone can be the best substitute