getting a credit card in Germany

• It is not too complicated to get a credit card in Germany.
  
  We see credit card offers in commercials (TV, magazines) and also get offers by letters.
  
  If you decide to request a credit card, you just fill out the request sheet and send it to the credit card provider (usually a bank located in Germany).
  
  The newest commercial "gag" has been recently introduced by "payback" (www.payback.de):
  They send original (!) credit cards (VISA) as commercials-by-letter to their customers, although the customer did not make any request for the card! The customer can then request payback (actually a bank standing behind payback) to switch the card "free".
  
  Generally, when you send a request for a credit card to the provider (bank), they request your "credit behaviour" from the German organization "Schufa" (www.schufa.de).
  
  Schufa has information about almost all German people, knowing e.g. what credits they have, debts etc.
  
  Schufa then tells the bank whether the requester is - in terms of money - a "good guy" or not. You are e.g. a "bad guy", when you missed to pay for something. Or when you have too many debts.
  
  If you are a "good guy", you should receive the requested credit card within some days.
  
  Some statistics from an article:
  http://www.die-bank.de/index.asp?channel=131010&art=292&issue=112003
  44% of the Germany own a credit card.
  
  Maybe, you find more information HERE:
  http://www.handbuch-deutschland.de/book/en/005_009_004.html
  

  Anonymous 29 Дек 2005, 01:37 - Report

credit card in germany