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Will contactless payment ever take off in Germany?

June 6, 2018

3 min read

A shopper in a German supermarket using the “tap-and-go” payment method. Photo: DPA/obs/ALDI/ALDI SÜD Dienstleistungs GmbH
Will contactless payment ever take off in Germany?
A few of our readers recently told us that one thing which gets on their nerves about Germany is the country’s lack of contactless payment opportunities. The Local took a closer look at this payment method and whether or not it stands a chance at becoming a thing.
If you’ve ever been at a cashier in a German supermarket and, on top of feeling rushed to bag all your groceries speedily, you felt annoyed at having to sign a receipt or insert your PIN, you are not alone.

Despite enjoying life in Deutschland, one thing that grinds Jon Ruffell’s gears about living here is the lack of shops which accept contactless payment methods. While some stores do offer it, many do not. What’s more, it’s quite common nationwide for restaurants, bakeries and convenience stores to only accept cash.
Contactless payment is also known as “tap-and-go”. This is because it refers to a method by which consumers purchase goods or services via credit, debit or chip cards. To make a contactless payment, all a consumer needs to do is tap their card near a point-of-sale terminal.

Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Wallet are popular yet non-traditional examples of contactless payment in that they allow consumers to use their mobile devices in lieu of contactless cards.

Since a signature or a PIN is not necessary with contactless payment, this method is considered faster and more convenient compared, for instance, to paying via cash. Whereas the technology has taken off in other countries across the globe, by comparison Germany is trailing behind.
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