Edeka at the OEZ - Shopping with your EC card

Slight rant and heads up. Yesterday I went shopping at the big Edeka in the OEZ. They wouldn't let me pay with my EC card because I couldn't provide proof of an actual German address.

Here's how it went:

I never shopped there before, but its a big place and I filled up my cart with necessities: chocolate and bier to take home to the folks, supplies which either promise to make my house sparkly or myself look ten years younger, and some other random stuff for me. etc. etc.

I get to the check out counter, I whip out my handy little EC card. The little old lady asks me for my ID. I dont know about you guys, but I am rarely asked for ID (cause I got the face of an angel I bet). I don't carry my passport with me though I do have my US drivers license. She looks at me, matches up the photo and name on the EC card, and says its not good enough, she needs a German ID.

Honestly if I had been by myself I would've assumed I didnt understand her correctly or adequately, and any old passport would've sufficed since thats the most official form of identification. But, I got a local mate and fellow TTer with me. He asks her for an explanation. According to the clerk, they're required to have a German ID for the EC card. She has to have proof of residency and must document the German address.

Anyhoo he whips out his EC card and ID, and sure enough she accepts it and writes down his name and local address to attach to the her register bill. She did apologise and said that it was company policy and she was just doing her job.

If I would've had my passport with my residence permit and some bills from my home address, maybe she would've accepted my EC card. But in hindsight, I really should've just not bought anything and left because really, I think thats a shitty policy.

Auslander out,
jml

I have been asked for ID when using my EC card before as well. It's standard practice in those places where they don't have the pin-code machine and all they ask for is a signature. They were always pretty liberal about what they'd accept as ID though. I've shown variously my company ID, my Meldebescheinigung, and my German drivers licence.
I'm sure it was annoying, but I wouldn't get too upset about it. It's for your own protection. If you lose your card you'll be glad if the thief can't just forge your signature to use it.

I get that, and yes Im 100% happy to show ID. I didn't get the part about actually needing to document a german address.

I just personally do not have German identification. And, according to her explanation, not even my passport would've sufficed because it does not show proof of a "german address". Which is more than just making sure the EC card belonged to me. Its making sure my card is mine AND i'm not some random foreigner, say an expat or a tourist even. My mate flat out asked her "what if your not German", she basically said, sorry its company policy.

Anyhoo, I'm going to assume it was a one-off thing as Ive never had problems before, though I dont generally shop at the Edeka. And Im not likely to again if that policy is accurate. My mate sent a mail to Edeka asking for clarification.

For future shopping fun though, I might bring along my passport and my business card, the latter doesn't have my photo on it but I'm pretty good at drawing stick figures, I might just pencil myself in

I don't think you're right about it being standard practise - I've never been asked for ID here, and I have been using my EC card whenever I pay for anything over the last year, I would say the majority of time signing rather than pinning.

Having said that I wouldn't mind them asking for photo id -- but a German address? How ridiculous.

Ben

This happened to me at the Edeka here in Garmisch once. They accepted my US driver's license as ID but can't remember if they asked for my address. Anyway, they eventually let me pay.

Yeah normally on the rare occasions Im asked for ID my US license works just fine. I think I just got unlucky at the checkout counter. Damn I knew I should've gone to the gal on the left. It will be interesting to see what, if any, clarification from Edeka comes back.

When paying with EC card, I get asked all the time for proof of ID...at Minimal, H&M, and various other shops. I usually just use my German license and they seem happy with that. But proof of address...never. Nothing has your address on it. Not on license, not in passport, not on Aufentshaltserlaubnis. The only thing that has it is the Anmeldung...and who carries that around?! Or maybe a handy SWM Rechnung

And what if you have an EC card from another country...so you can't shop there if you don't live in Germany?! Makes no sense considering it is the shop of choice at the Flughafen.

Bizarre. I too would take it as a one of. Company policy my ass mullet.

Doesn't it work similarly in the US though? E.g. in Boston I could only pay by cheque in conjunction with a valid MA driving license, which I recall was not accepted in a store in the state of Maine.

Although in general terms of course, you are completely right, when it comes to any form of electronic cash, Germans are some 100 years behind the US and even the UK and currently show no intention of catching up anytime soon. The only thing that is guaranteed to work without hassle in this country is cash.

In your case, why they insisted on proof of a German address is beyond me. If you have an EC card and a valid ID that proves you are the legitimate owner of that EC card, what does your address/residence have to do with it? Does this mean a Brit or a Frog can't use his EC card here? Please.

BTW, I always shop groceries at HIT (Motorama/Rosenheimer Platz), and perhpas they've sparked a revolution: you can pay with your Visa/Mastercard there, and they don't even frown at you.

We Mainers (Mainiacs) don't much care for ya folk from the South (Boston).

I always shop at MiniMal, and never have to show ID. They have me sign the paper there. They have never asked for ID. Maybe its an Edeka thing. I have never had to use ID. As technically I don't have German ID- I have residency stamped in my passport, but there is no address on that, the German DL has a photo but no address, my anmeldungscheine is a piece of paper- which after years of living here, would not be readable anyways.
I have used EC the last 2 weeks at Toom, MediaMarkt, MiniMal, DM, and Kaufhof, and not asked for ID.

I would check with Edeka to see if its such a policy in Germany, and how to avoid that situation again. But rightfully so, in getting pissed off!

I get asked in MiniMal all the time. It depends on the store. Some ask; some don't. If you have several in your neighbourhood (which I do) you get to know which ones ask and then you come prepared. I have started carrying my residence permit and driver's license in my wallet anyway...I never know when the shopping bug is going to bite.

Oh yeah...I remembered another shop that asks...Deichmann.

What the... it's not up to Edeka to decide if you're allowed an EC card, that's up to the bank which supplied you with it. Asking for some kind of ID, fair enough (I also use my GB driver's license in H&M or New Yorker when they ask), but what should they care where you live?!
I'm not usually paranoid in this area, but that sounded to me like racism. I've paid with EC in Edeka too (once at OEZ, maybe 3 times at the airport), and I don't think they even asked for ID, let alone an address.

C'mon Oli, have you ever tried to do a wired credit transfer in the US? Yeah, credit card works anywhere, but when it comes to administering your bank account via online banking, the US is still in the stone age.

And concering ID, in Boston I've to show my passport whenever entering a bar, restaurant or nightclub to prove I'm above 21 (I'm 29 and don't think I look much younger than that). It's the law, and only US-government issued ID (which I don't have) or passport is accepted.
I've to admit though that harming my liver without being allowed to is a much more severe offence than paying with a credit card that is not my own one...

Of all the places I have used my EC card at over the last 10 years, I have only been asked for ID ONCE, and that when I hurt my had and my signature wasn't close enough to the one on the back of the card..

It's one thing to have to sho ID, but check/writing down your address is unacceptable, and I'm sure it's against some data protection law...

I'd refuse to give my address, and shop elseware... (Or give a fake one)

OTHH: The German ID Card has (Should have) your address on it.. Yet another reason for them to issue them to EVERYBODY who is registered & working here...
If they want to limit the # issued, then allow people with the unlimited permits to get them...

Ah, Onni's back on TT. Where've you been the last couple of months? Welcome back anyway


I was not referring to wiring/transferring money, more about cash-free payments in shops/stores. Nonetheless, I've often wired money to/within the US. Hassle free. Banking just works a bit differently in the US and it does take some time to comprehend/adapt to their way of doing it. It took me over a year to not automatically say to myself 'these people are crazy' every time I entered a bank in the US.

Perhaps though you ought to change your bank? IMHO online banking is the same in the US if not easier/better, esp. when it comes to credit card maintenance (have CitiBank accounts in Germany/US).

Not sure what proof of age in the US has to do with showing ID/proof of address when using your EC card over here

I got "carded" at MiniMal in Norbad both times I've shopped there. Never at the one on Georgenstrasse. I also got carded when I bought a TV at Hertie (it was a LOT cheaper than the same model at Saturn, if you're wondering what the hell). They only looked at the name and picture though.

I keep a xerox copy of my passport picture page as well as my permit in my wallet. Usually suffices. Don't know what the German address nonsense is either. Maybe she misunderstood the policy.

Online banking for my US account (Wellsfargo) is way easier than the onlne services for my Commerzbank account, but never tried transfering/wiring between the two either. (yet. US account dangerously low due to overzealous outlet shopping on my last trip... )

edit: face of an angel my ass.

The address part is indeed weird. I've never been asked for that except when returning something.

Seems pretty clear that you must look "dodgy" to them jml.

Face of an angel? more like face of a tramp by the sound of things.

bollox, beaten to the post

P

I shop at that Edeka pretty often, and I've never been asked for ID when using EC. Probably the cashier did decide you looked suspicious. But asking for proof of your address? Absurd.

Thanks peoples at least I know the german address business actually was out of line. Again chalking it up to a one-off for whatever reason. Though I guess I should've changed out of my work shirt. Those blue button downs with the french cuffs do look dodgy. Its the cufflinks innit.

PS: All of yous doubting my angelic appearance can bite my ass mullet. Later though, cause right now I'm off to polish me halo.