If the German system is as the Dutch system, then the direct debit card is not one with a visa logo, you can't use it with the card and your signature, but only with the card and your PIN code. This sytem is widely accepted at every shop, and even many services delivering at home have some mobile set to do these transactions wireless using the cell phone (GSM) system. You don't have so many points where a credit card is accepted.
On Tue, 2004-03-09 at 21:49, Christian wrote: > What about my "credit card" which is really a Visa debit card? It works > like a Visa card anywhere in the world, yet the funds are pulled directly > from my checking account and I don't get a monthly statement; just my > regular bank account statement. I also use direct debit to pay monthly > bills (including my mortgage and car loans, as well as insurance bills, > phone bill, electric, etc.) directly from my bank account. > > I don't think there is anything unique about the German system. In the US > we just add the "Visa" logo on a debit card to facilitate its acceptance > with more merchants. > > Christian > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob W" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 3:40 PM > Subject: Re: OT: Germans and credit cards (was Re: What gear is on your > "lust list" ? > > > > Hi, > > > > yes, but in the UK we don't use direct debit for one-off payments such > > as toys online (which is what we were selling), or paying a restaurant > > bill. The Germans seem to use their direct debit in much the same way > > that we use debit cards like Switch. > > > > It's unfortunate that we translate the German phrase, which I can't > > remember as direct debit, because it's misleading to UK English > > speakers. Here we use DD for paying regular bills - I pay all mine > > that way. The German system is a different thing. > > > > -- > > Cheers, > > Bob -- Frits Wüthrich <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
