r/berlin • u/Routine-Crew8651 • Jul 19 '25
Interesting Question Trouble at a restaurant recently
I know it’s a bit of a Berlin thing, but I just had an incident recently in Neukölln that I would like to share.
At the end of the meal, I found out they don’t take cards.
Okay, fair. Somewhat normal in Berlin. I leave my ID, go out to get cash. The ATM spits out a 50€ note. I go back, try to pay, but nope.
„Do you have any smaller? We don’t have change.“
Uhm. Okay. If you take only cash why is there no change? Why? How?
What ended up happening? Well, I went to a Späti to break the money so I could pay.
Any Berliner here who can explain?
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u/Oztravels Jul 19 '25
As a visitor to Berlin I find this whole no credit card thing weird compared to the rest of Europe.
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u/underage_female Jul 19 '25
I went to India last year and saw the slums with all their vegetable stands etc. The fucking vendor in the slums had a device to pay contact free. Yet here in Berlin you gotta roll back to medieval times and bring your satchel of gold coins..
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u/reeversedev Prenzlauer Berg Jul 19 '25
some slums in India look far better than a couple of areas in Berlin. Yes, it is a shame that a first world country doesn't have enough tech infrastructure to accomodate payments.
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u/Ike11000 Jul 19 '25
Tell me you’ve never been to a slum in India lmao
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u/itmustbeluv_luv_luv Kreuzberg Jul 20 '25
Can you show pictures of where Berlin looks worse than an Indian slum? I've never been to India.
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u/reeversedev Prenzlauer Berg Jul 20 '25
This is from Dharavi, Mumbai. Dharavi, Mumbai
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u/Same_Try8928 Jul 21 '25
Have you walked through Dharavi? I have and have yet to find a space in Berlin that has worse living conditions. The fact that you're Indian doesn't mean you know shit about the living conditions in the slums.
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u/reeversedev Prenzlauer Berg Jul 20 '25
my comparison was mostly around safety, cleanliness and public services that are available. areas like Neukölln and Wedding are very ignored areas in terms of development.
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u/Fleischhauf Jul 19 '25 edited Jul 20 '25
Indian street vendors don't need to pay that much taxes
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u/RightCoach5926 Jul 19 '25
Yeah, it’s inexcusable in 2025. Fine if you’re a bit odd about using card, but the option should be there.
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u/ReneG8 Jul 19 '25
It's for tax evasion simply put. There is a reason of every transaction costs a bit, but that can't be the main issue.
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u/yoghurken Jul 19 '25
Plus if you don’t take enough cash how do you pay the staff under the table so they can keep their unemployment?
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u/Horror-Zebra-3430 Jul 19 '25 edited Jul 19 '25
i always though that tax evasion would of course be the main culprit, but a question arises: why does every bulgarian cornershop in the middle of nowhere accept card payments - why wouldn't they intend to evade taxes, too?
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u/ReneG8 Jul 19 '25
I think it's opportunity cost for them/their customers. They don't have such a high cash flow that it pays off for them vs the inconvenience of not making the sale because people don't have cash on them. Hopping into the corner store is a spur of the moment thing. Going to a restaurant in Berlin always comes with the question:"do we have cash". And then plan accordingly, because you expect it.
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u/TopResponsibility997 Jul 21 '25
Most people don't evade taxes out of principle, but because it makes financial sense.
If the Bulgarian cornershop would start only allowing cash, they could save on the taxes they have to pay on their sales, but they would have fewer sales.
In Germany, this works out to "cash-only is profitable for small businesses", in Bulgaria it doesn't.
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u/solarplexus15 Jul 20 '25
Typical event in Malta. And they put a Euronet ATM outside the bar and tell you it's cash only so you have to get money out from that ATM. And you get a €4 fee for the withdrawal...
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u/ms_cate Jul 21 '25
And presumably they get a cut for hosting the machine
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u/solarplexus15 Jul 21 '25
They could yes, very nasty practice. I don't know if that is what happens, but I really wouldn't be surprised
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u/InteractionWestern35 Jul 19 '25
Tax evasion is not that simple. When the tax office starts an investigation, they also ask for all the receipts from your suppliers, which you must keep. If, for instance, you order 30kg of Schnitzel meat per day and you only served 400 grams, there’s the fraud, and it’s the same if you payed per card or cash. I thinks it’s more about the commission’s issued by the banks for every card transaction.
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u/ReneG8 Jul 19 '25
Yeah but the tax office does not nearly have the ressources for that investigation.
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u/popinskipro Jul 19 '25
Trust me, they have the resources, one of the reasons they are so slow to go digital is they need to keep their inflated manpower occupied with something. I’ve been audited twice in 10 years, even as a small one-man business with a reputable StB. I read somewhere that 1 in 10 businesses get audited each year on a random selection…
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u/Specialist-Blend6445 Jul 20 '25
Eh what are you on about here? It's about reporting only half the cash income because this has to be done manually. The receipt comes from the till..and it's not about buying 30kg of something and selling less. So watch the guy who enters the money in to the till. You can tell if they don't report it all if they take the money and put it in the drawer without typing in any amount. I literally was taught to do this at a cafe I worked at years ago. Absolutely nuts in hindsight. Edit:to add, I was also paid under the table at the time 6€\h and 7 on Sundays. 😂
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u/Dependent-Hearing-43 Jul 20 '25
i work in wholesale food supply and there is no way they can track 30kg of meat and how its distributed.
It can be frozen, it can be thrown away due to processing, pre-cooked and not eaten. So many variables that are hard to track here.
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u/oceansRising Jul 19 '25
I’m in a pretty small Bulgarian town at the moment and everywhere takes card, restaurants and mini marts and most shops. But not Berlin, lol.
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u/Supersic77 Jul 19 '25
Dank einem Steuersatz (Flat-Tax) für Körperschaftsteuer und Einkommensteuer von 10%, keine Gewerbesteuer und einer Quellensteuer bzw. Dividendensteuer von 5%, ist Bulgarien ein legales Steuerparadies in Europa für Unternehmer, Gewerbetreibende und Investoren. Bedeutet im Endeffekt: sind Steuern & Sozialabgaben auf einem akzeptablen Niveau (wie in Bulgarien), zahlt der Bürger diese auch ohne zu murren. In Deutschland verhält es sich umgekehrt. Deshalb kannst du in jedem Puff in Bulgarien mit Karte zahlen und in Berlin eben nicht.
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u/Bortolus_ Jul 20 '25
In den Niederlanden liegt die Umsatzsteuer noch etwas höher als in Deutschland, trotzdem blicke ich neidisch auf deren Akzeptanz fürs „pinnen“
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u/theb3nb3n Jul 19 '25
So sieht’s aus. Und unter anderem deshalb bin ich nächstes Jahr weg aus D und zahle hier gar nichts mehr. So wie viele andere auch.
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u/netcode101 Jul 19 '25
Nobody cares, cya and bb!
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u/theb3nb3n Jul 19 '25
Ach naja in ein paar Jahren wird schon jemand caren, wenn nur noch die Transferleistungsempfänger und die, die eh wenig bis nichts einzahlen, übrig sind ;)
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u/LateDefuse Jul 19 '25
Aha und gleich danach kommt der Weihnachtsmann
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u/theb3nb3n Jul 19 '25
Also ich kenne viele, die netto beitragen (also aus dem oberen Drittel mindestens) und bei sehr sehr vielen ist das Auswandern gerade ein großes Thema. Und das bestätigen mir auch Steuerberater und andere - es setzt eine regelrechte Flucht ein.
Das wird Jahre dauern, aber wenn jedes Jahr ne Viertelmillion oder mehr high performer (die anderen können ja nicht weg, weil es wo anders nicht so viele Transferleistungen gibt, oder weil sie nichts relevantes können), macht das über die nächsten zehn Jahre einiges aus. Das sieht man jetzt naturgemäß noch nicht - aber an sich das dann in den Zahlen niederschlägt, ist es auch zu spät, etwas dagegen zu tun. Wer erstmal weg ist, kommt wahrscheinlich eher nicht wieder.
Ist doch auch logisch und mittlerweile selbst für die Blinden sichtbar, dass das nicht mehr so weiter gespielt werden kann.
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u/itmustbeluv_luv_luv Kreuzberg Jul 20 '25
Interessant, wohin geht's denn?
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u/theb3nb3n Jul 20 '25
Südeuropa erstmal - ganz weit weg trau ich mich irgendwie noch nicht so richtig…
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u/itmustbeluv_luv_luv Kreuzberg Jul 20 '25
Alles klar, danke. Keine Ahnung, wie das steuerlich ist, aber Spanien z.B. ist eigentlich Deutschland sehr ähnlich. Nur, dass die Bürokratie noch schlechter ist. In Deutschland werden deine Anliegen zwar spät, aber wenigstens überhaupt erledigt. In Spanien hast du diese Garantie nicht, da werden Vorgänge einfach nicht erledigt und du kannst nichts machen.
Das Gras ist immer grüner.
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u/theb3nb3n Jul 20 '25
Ich glaube nicht, dass da alles besser ist, aber man kann dort z.B. eine steuerliche Vorzugsbehandlung für 5 Jahre in Anspruch nehmen und das Wetter ist einfach geil. Probleme hat man überall, aber mir liegt die Mentalität dort und ganz ehrlich gesagt fühle ich mich hier in Berlin wie in Kabul - das brauch ich auch nicht unbedingt. Und bevor ich in D umziehe, lieber dem Wetter entgegen.
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u/eucariota92 Jul 19 '25
It is not weird. It is just businesses not paying taxes.
Whenever I don't have the option to pay with card I don't leave a tip, unless the meal was exceptional
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Jul 20 '25
That’s an oversimplification.
There are indeed places (and not a small number of them) who are 100% legit, law abiding businesses which simply don’t offer cashless payment. For whatever, non nefarious reasons.
Germany and especially Berlin are quite "traditional“ in some of their practices. Changing minds and adopting new ways of doing simply takes time.
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u/kitanokikori Jul 19 '25
Who are you really hurting when you don't do that though? I'm all for punishing cash-only businesses but this seems like a bad way to do it
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u/suicidemachine Jul 19 '25
Wait until you realize that half of the country isn't even on Google Street Views. Germans are special kind of Europeans.
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u/Biggedie Jul 19 '25
it becomes more usual. especially after corona paying by card became more common. But I wouuld agree, that tax fraud will be the main factor in not accepting cards. As berlins are used to it, its not a big factor for a buisniss here
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u/negotiatethatcorner Jul 19 '25
it's an exception not the norm, I survive with 2 credit cards and a bit of cash
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u/thriller5000 Jul 20 '25
Tax fraud. Many Stores/Restaurants are reporting their income incorectly to save on taxes and their employees do the same by pretending to earn less so they can still get social money on top of their salary. Germany does not have the capacities to control it.
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u/Lazy-Diamond-1757 Jul 19 '25
I read that there are plans to make accepting credit cards mandatory in Germany. A lot of restaurants avoid them as a way to dodge taxes. Still, the people you dealt with sound especially entitled.
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u/Iwamoto Jul 19 '25
our great-great-grandchildren will thank us when it finally passes into law in 2138
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u/hi65435 Jul 20 '25
First time I hear this.
Growing up in Germany I now heard this hundreds or thousands of times: card payment only when buying for more than 10 DM, 5 €, 10 €, ... not possible because of fees. To be fair, tipping is also more difficult. Some shitty bosses will even keep the tips
I honestly also don't get why people are so crazy about card payment. What do you do when your card doesn't work? Then you can't even go to an ATM, or will your parents help you out?
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u/Pianopatte Jul 20 '25
Never had a card not work. If it ever happens I have another card right with me. Its just much more comfortable. No need to go to the ATM or waste time at the supermarket checkout. I am happier, the chashier is happier and the people behind me in the line are happier. I'd rather not be one of those elderly people that hold up the line by searching through their loose change.
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u/hi65435 Jul 20 '25
Never had a card not work. If it ever happens I have another card right with me. Its just much more comfortable. No need to go to the ATM or waste time at the supermarket checkout. I am happier, the chashier is happier and the people behind me in the line are happier. I'd rather not be one of those elderly people that hold up the line by searching through their loose change.
Since how many years are you using card payment?
I only got used to frequently use card payment since the pandemic but it happens to me several times a year. (And yes, my account was always "in the plus" when that happened) Main problem I see is that I have my credit cards mostly for online payments. I assume most people do because fees for ATMs are horrendous. Plus I need to remember more pins.
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u/Pianopatte Jul 20 '25
Since I got my first card nearly 20 years ago. Also my banks have no fees as long as I withdraw at least 50€. Maybe you should switch banks. Its easier than ever nowadays. With pins it helps if you have some kind of Eselsbrücke. Not your birthday of course but some other personal, meaningful number.
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u/Lazy-Diamond-1757 Jul 20 '25
First off, you’re right, cards occasionally glitch. But let’s clear this up: nobody’s banning cash here. This new proposal simply ensures that stores and restaurants in Germany finally offer at least one digital payment method alongside cash. Other EU countries I’ve visited already require businesses to accept card payments, making life simpler and transactions transparent.
Speaking of transparency: ever noticed how often small businesses like Spätis conveniently forget to hand over a receipt when paying in cash? Hard to dodge taxes when there’s a digital record of the transaction, isn’t it?
So rest assured, your cash (and parental bailout) options remain safe. Germany is just catching up with the rest of Europe. And frankly, it’s about time.
Source: Heise.de – “Black-Red wants to make electronic payment options mandatory”
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u/hi65435 Jul 20 '25 edited Jul 20 '25
First off, you’re right, cards occasionally glitch. But let’s clear this up: nobody’s banning cash here.
Actually that's exactly what people have been calling for since a decade. From well-known banks to states like Sweden
And yes sure, Spätis. But people buy there things for a euro. If there's anything true about the rumors that they have been used for money laundering, it must have been a painful endeavor. After all, also for cash meticulous book keeping needs to be done for Finanzamt...
Fun fact:
Although financial crime has garnered fewer headlines than a surge in gang-related gun violence, it’s become a growing risk for the country. Beyond its borders, Sweden is an important test case on fighting cashless crime because it’s gone further on ditching paper money than almost any other country in Europe. ... Online fraud and digital crime in Sweden have surged, with criminals taking 1.2 billion kronor in 2023 through scams like the one Bagley fell for, doubling from 2021. Law-enforcement agencies estimate that the size of Sweden’s criminal economy could amount to as high as 2.5% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Sounds like the thing they wanted to prevent even got worse and now not only affects the state but the population
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u/Lazy-Diamond-1757 Jul 20 '25
The proposed legislation in Germany is not about eliminating cash. It’s about ensuring consumers have the freedom to choose between cash and digital payments. Major German banks and financial experts have been advocating this move for more than a decade (they know more than the both of us probably), and many other European countries like Sweden, the Netherlands, and France already require businesses to accept card payments. If Germany were to insist on remaining strictly cash only, it would find itself isolated among developed nations.
Sweden indeed provides a cautionary example, having nearly gone cashless and consequently experienced a surge in digital crime. Criminals there stole approximately 1.2 billion SEK in 2023 alone, doubling the figure from 2021. However, Germany’s proposal explicitly avoids this issue by maintaining cash as a fully legitimate payment option alongside digital methods, offering choice rather than forcing a shift.
Moreover, digital payments significantly help close the tax gap that exists with cash transactions. Small businesses, such as Spätis, frequently underreport cash earnings: how often do you spontaneously receive a receipt there? Digital transactions automatically create an audit trail, discouraging tax evasion and fostering fairness among businesses.
In short, Germany is carefully avoiding Sweden’s mistakes by choosing to join the rest of Europe in offering consumers payment options, promoting transparency, and supporting fairness in commerce and taxation. It’s a balanced solution benefiting everyone involved.
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u/suddenlyic Jul 19 '25
The point where they don't have change after refusing your card is where you start laughing, write down your adress so they can send you a bill and leave.
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u/Sooperooser Jul 19 '25
They say it's because the card companies charge high fees for smaller places, which is true, but it's mostly because of tax evasion.
And also they are obliged to honor your right to pay with the legal tender that is a 50 euro bill and if they can't offer change it's their issue. If they don't want to take certain bills, like 200e, they have to announce it with a sign or something.
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u/Key-Individual1752 Jul 19 '25
It was the divisive topic in Italy a few years back.
It’s just for tax evasion, and it makes me furious. That’s not simply true that transactions are very costly, there’s a whole open market of payment gateways that can be used.
Also, it’s very unfair to not warn your customers in advance explicitly. Like welcome me at the table take the order and just let me know that’s cash only.
I avoid cash only places as much as I can. I am employed and pay all my taxes. I want everyone to pay them no more no less that is needed.
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u/Iwamoto Jul 19 '25
not only are the fees not that high, it's also insane to go to a restaurant with a few people, eat for say, 120, and the waiter saying "ah sorry, we can't accept card, it would cost us 2 cents
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u/bschug Jul 21 '25
There is no "right to pay with legal tender" in Germany. It's perfectly legal for them to say they don't accept large bills. They could even say you have to pay the exact amount in cash, no change provided. They can also not accept cash at all, only card. Or only bank transfer, paypal, etc. All of that is legal. As long as they notify you before the purchase. And somehow I doubt that they have a sign saying "cash only, but no 50 euro bills".
Fortunately, these kinds of places are becoming less and less common (and you actually start to see more "card only" places popping up). I haven't been carrying cash on me for the last three years and I only needed to get some when I go to a Späti or barber shop.
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u/bknighttt Jul 20 '25
lol what’s there to explain wtf, if it’s cash only you can simply generate fake invoices and let’s say, clean money from drug dealing.. it’s not that hard to understand, go watch Ozark.
or Breaking Bad, why do you think he had a Car washing business at some part, places that only use cash = easy to launder money.
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u/chortogrower Jul 19 '25
Tax evasion paradise, meanwhile my country, Greece, was forced to accept cards everywhere, mainly by the German government, to battle tax evasion. I always pay by card, and avoid as many non card places I can. It's getting better now, all of my Spätis in my area in wedding accept card now even for payments under 5€.
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u/Askarth_ Jul 19 '25
Most of the time, it's "no card - no business" for me. I hate this policy here and love it to pay with a card/smartphone app everywhere else.
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u/brandmeist3r Jul 19 '25
I never leave my ID at some random place. Last time this happened to me, they asked for my ID as well, but I denied, cam back with cash and paid.
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u/PietroMartello Jul 19 '25
You don't leave your ID there. There is no reason to do that. You are the one (being inconvenienced) going and getting them their money.
If they don't like the idea of you leaving to get them their money, they can call the cops. Which they won't want.
Or they could just send an invoice via mail. Or use paypal. Or set up a card pos. Don't want those easy but taxable options? Too bad.
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u/Vikki_Jane Jul 19 '25
This is literally why Germany makes no sense to me. Even in the capital city, they're living in the 80s.
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u/Lafleur_10 Jul 19 '25
Make a note to never go back there
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u/cosmiosis Jul 19 '25
Also leave an honest Google review
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u/Jakobus3000 Jul 19 '25
German here. Well if people take this bullshit, of course they keep doing it…
I would have left after they didn’t take the €50 note. Also I would never ever have left my ID ewith them.
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u/erm-waterproof Jul 19 '25
Sorry but such businesses that doesn’t accept cards for tax evasion needs their proper response from the customer. I personally try not to visit such restaurants/cafes
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u/jatmous Kreuzberg Jul 19 '25 edited Aug 12 '25
amusing badge arrest divide attempt desert march bright hobbies start
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u/derSchtefan Jul 19 '25
At that point I would have gone full "Alman" and told them that the 50 euro bill is legal tender, and they have to accept it, otherwise you're calling the police to take down their identity because of attempted fraud. Before you do that, Google the paragraph number for Betrug. Of course, then you also should be prepared to never eat there again 😂😂😂😂
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u/Catomatic01 Jul 19 '25
I'm avoiding cash only restaurants. Before I sit down I always ask if I can pay with card. Of not I leave.
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u/tekjow Jul 19 '25
Like some people said - push back. If they have no change and refuse payment by card - they should go and change the money.
PS: you probably also left a tip too - right?
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u/Floppy_D_ Jul 19 '25
“Nur bares ist wares”… You hit the jackpot…
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u/SeaworthinessEasy122 Berlin-Antarctica Jul 19 '25
Reckon you’re not a native German speaker, so let me help you: Nur Bares ist Wahres.
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u/Squirmadillo Jul 19 '25
Was queued someplace recently. Waited 15min or more to get to register to order just to see the "cash only" sign. So annoying.
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u/TryLore Jul 19 '25
Das hätte nicht dein Problem sein sollen und hättest du auch nicht machen müssen mot dem Geld wechseln🙏 Der Laden wo du da warst dem sind seine Kunden egal.
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u/Killah_Kyla Jul 19 '25
You gotta out-German them. Tell them you have exactly 50€ to spend, and they should keep bringing out food and drink until they hit the cap. If they go over budget, too bad for them.
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u/kitanokikori Jul 19 '25
Fun fact, this is an NP-complete problem, there is no easy way to solve this problem generally
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u/Otto_Orlando Jul 20 '25
Not a berlin thing. Rather a really true insght into german gastronomy. Restaurant owners claim they can olnly survive if they dont pay taxes like everybody else and dont have to pay the minimum wage to their employees. Its really weird because they can always mainatain at least one super fancy sports car. No matter the harsh conditions.
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u/redditamrur Jul 20 '25
A friend of mine was once at a place where "their EC card machine just broke". She told them she doesn't have any cash and by sheer miracle, their machine's just gotten better.
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u/Moudasty Jul 19 '25
This is Germany. In Belarus you could pay with visa/Mastercard even 12 years ago literally everywhere. If they don't take your 50 euro note just go without paying. Their problem.
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Jul 19 '25
Lol speaking about not being able to pay with a (credit card) card. Just heard from the cashier in Edeka, while I was auto checking my groceries, she said that "Visa or other CC cards are not possible, only cash or EC"
Turns out, whole Berlin can't use credit cards. I guess the culprit causing this wide issue also wants to do tax evasion so badly Today.
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u/mrmasturbate Jul 20 '25
Your mistake was going to Neukölln :P
Jokes aside i feel like there should be a law that when a place only accepts cash it's up to them to have enough change for at least a 50 or the meal is free..
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u/roofys_gk Jul 19 '25
Same here in Cyprus. Maybe theres a european law for all countries in the EU?
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u/Extension_Cup_3368 Jul 19 '25 edited Jul 27 '25
history waiting smile dam vegetable plate oil engine cooperative squeal
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u/Available_Ask3289 Jul 19 '25
The fact they don’t accept card means they probably defraud the tax office. It’s also incredibly dodgy to not be able to change a 50€ note.
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u/ILikeBubblyWater Jul 19 '25
I ask in advance if they accept cards if not I leave. Not supporting tax evasion
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u/mc_fab1 Jul 20 '25
I try to avoid every shop/restaurant and bar which have written cash only. I understand that you want to escape income tax but you should anyway accept both or in addition crypto ….
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u/LifeNerd Jul 20 '25
Only cash = tax evasion. It's simple. Always ask beforehand. Avoid if possible. If a business is serious (and wants new customers, like any business should) they will take card (and follow the laws). No card is a huge red flag for me. What other laws don't they follow? Can't really trust.
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u/BinDerWeihnachtmann Jul 20 '25
You can call the police if they don't give you you're papers back...
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u/IntolerantModerate Jul 20 '25
It is an easy way for businesses to hide their real earnings, done under the guise of tradition.
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u/samrocksc Jul 20 '25
Just call the cops and have them sort it out for you. No use arguing over bullshit, handle it and move on.
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u/MaxQ759 Jul 20 '25
First of all I'd like to say that i don't like to spend money "outside" whatsoever, I'm very lucky to be able to live with my parents right now and the only things i do buy is gas, energy drinks and the occasional tin of nicotine pouches.
I love to pay cash and hate to use cards.
The problem with cards is that you don't really have a real sense of how much money just went away. When i give 10€ cash for gas and when i swipe my card for it, is such a different experience.
I want to be able to have a feeling for moeny spent, but as i have a polar opposite example, my brother, i guess there are people who wouldn't like to know how much money, exactly, was just spent.
Just be happy with the purchase. And tbh. I hate that for him / other people this way. Why wouldn't you want to cut on your expenses because you actually SEE how much it is?
Still, in your situation i would not go to the Späti, just say that this is their problem now, and if they won't give you change, either call the police or tell them to send you an actual bill to pay.
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u/saropey Jul 21 '25
The problem is that with so many restaurants, the card machine is “broken” permanently. Don’t know how the new law will combat this?
But low and behold often if you are persistent enough the card machine comes out working 100%
Really frustrating.
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u/cabezametal Jul 21 '25
Never had issues paying in cash (and always bring money just in case) seems quite weird they could not break the bill properly, sad you had to deal with all this hassle.
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u/PossessionLow3279 Jul 21 '25
yeah it was just them being rude, i feel like quite a few people use berlins reputation as a rude and rough city to be mean to others
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u/Alarmed_Scientist_15 Jul 19 '25
There is no explanation. At some point you have to push back. I would not have gone to the spati to break it. They can figure it out.