On-line credit card payments just got more complicated

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Credit cards - ©iStockphoto.com/zentiliaPaying with a credit card when buying things on-line has become a part of life on the internet.

A few years ago credit cards were not particularly popular in Germany, and many shops still do not take them.  Many people only have them for ordering goods on-line, so they do not get that much use.

One of the main reason for their popularity is probably the fact that it is considered safe, because if something goes wrong you can call the credit card company and get their help to sort it out.  This makes it better than a bank transfer, cheaper than ordering something to be delivered as “Nachnahme”, and avoids giving out bank account details for a direct debit payment.

Of course, the credit card companies have an interest in making their system safe, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Finance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Thoughts on Spanair’s downfall

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Spanair aircraft steps on the tarmac in ArrecifeIt was Saturday morning when I first learnt that Spanair had ceased operations on Friday night.  Thankfully it appears that many people who were on holiday were able to get flights home at special prices with other airlines.  One year earlier and I would have been getting pretty worried myself, or at least trying to get a refund on the flights that were already booked.

But while much of the reporting has focused on the lack of funds that Spanair had, I think it’s worth asking why they got into that situation in the first place.

Over the past four years when I have flown with them, I freely admit it was because I wanted to get from A to B and they were usually the cheapest, and sometimes the most convenient option.  I was even impressed by the fact, that in-flight refreshments were still included in the price of the flight between Frankfurt and Madrid. [Read more…]

Filed Under: General, Lanzarote Tagged With:

ZM – The Zusammenfassende Meldung

January 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

One of the lesser known parts of the German tax system is simply called the “ZM”, which stands for “Zusammenfassende Meldung”.  For anyone running a business in Germany, it is another form to fill in on a regular basis.

It all has to do with the VAT (Value Added Tax) system within the European Union.  Put quite simply, if you buy something in a shop or pay for a service, then you pay VAT.  For consumers, that’s the end of the story.  The shop owner or service provider pays the VAT on to the tax office.

But if the customer is a business as well, they usually have a way to claim that tax back again from their local tax office (although there are some exceptions). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tax Tagged With: , , , , , ,

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