> Maestro is compatible with MasterCard though so should work anywhere a credit card does? Maestro is MasterCard. [1] But in my experience you cannot use a Ma

> Maestro is compatible with MasterCard though so should work anywhere a credit card does? Maestro is MasterCard. [1] But in my experience you cannot use a Maestro everywhere you can use a MasterCard. Most online stores in Germany will use SOFORT or giroPay instead of Maestro. Sixt doesn't permit car rentals with a debit card. > No idea why Germany et al can't get it together so people don't have to build these ridiculous integrations. Several reasons I can think of: 1. You need to be an adult and pass SCHUFA to get a credit card. Minors can pay online with Lastschrift or SOFORT/giroPay from their account. 2. Germans are very debt averse, and when you can buy things online with SOFORT/giroPay or Lastschrift, there are very few things you really need a credit card for (e.g. certain rental car companies like Sixt) 3. Only ~35% of Germans have a credit card, so a business would be foolhardy to exclude 2/3rds of the market by only accepting credit cards. [2] [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_(debit_card) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_(debit_card) [2] https://qz.com/262595/why-germans-pay-cash-for-almost-everything/ https://qz.com/262595/why-germans-pay-cash-for-almost-everyt...