> When I complained to them, they called me a liar and refused to do anything.
Atleast in germany you have a multitude of options you can pull even without a lawyer getting involved. You can also file legal complaints easily and most fraudsters will drop the money at that point and apologize.
Added to that is that most online payment in germany works with a push system, which means you'll see the amount you'll transfer on your banks online form or whichever webservice you use (GIROdirect or SOFORT). If they charge more, don't pay.
SEPA Debit, which is a pull system has more fraud protection and vendors are very unlikely to ever do anything like fraud over Debit as the bank will go after them like some 80s slasher movie killer if they do. Plus you get the money back.
> Atleast in germany you have a multitude of options you can pull even without a lawyer getting involved. You can also file legal complaints easily and most fraudsters will drop the money at that point and apologize.
In this case, all I had to do was log into my credit card website, click "dispute transaction", explain what happened, and forget about it.
Moreover, I don't know what would have happened legally, as it is a reputable, well-established vendor in the local area, and it came down to my word versus theirs - I didn't have a receipt or anything.
> Plus you get the money back.
The money never even leaving my account is much preferable to getting it back.
The US debit system works in a similar way as you describe, but the credit system is still better for that reason.
IIRC from my current law course, if you didn't get a receipt (or other proof of transaction/contract) the vendor has no right to your money. You'll get receipts everywhere.
Fraud is rare enough here that it's not much of a hassle, the legal system being in favor of the customer helps too.
Germany has also a rather non-credit oriented mindset, people don't like taking up debts or credit, a debit card is usually prefered by everyone, seller and buyer.
Atleast in germany you have a multitude of options you can pull even without a lawyer getting involved. You can also file legal complaints easily and most fraudsters will drop the money at that point and apologize.
Added to that is that most online payment in germany works with a push system, which means you'll see the amount you'll transfer on your banks online form or whichever webservice you use (GIROdirect or SOFORT). If they charge more, don't pay.
SEPA Debit, which is a pull system has more fraud protection and vendors are very unlikely to ever do anything like fraud over Debit as the bank will go after them like some 80s slasher movie killer if they do. Plus you get the money back.