The ID Card, the Sparkasse, and the Miles That Never Arrive

A satirical bar-table scene: rustic pub, beer in front of everyone, the group laughing about everyday annoyances.

You: Hans, the other day I went to the local authority to apply for my new ID card. All done, signature on the form—just needed to pay. I pull out my credit card… and then comes the surprise!

Hans: Oh, let me guess… EC card only?

You: Exactly! The woman looks at me like I placed a gold bar on the counter: “Credit card? No, we don’t accept that here!” I said: “But it’s 2025—I can pay with my phone at the bakery but not at the town hall?”

Barkeep: The town hall probably turned into a Sparkasse branch, huh?

You: That’s exactly what I told her! She laughed, but the rule stands: only EC card or cash.

Hans: That reminds me of the city pharmacy. I wanted to pay with a credit card—she says: “Credit card? Nope, only EC.” I thought, seriously? Not even Visa, MasterCard or AMEX?

You: And then?

Hans: I went to another pharmacy around the corner that accepts credit cards. And they were thrilled! They basically welcomed me as their future customer—because they “stole” me from the competition.

Barkeep: You see, that’s the point: the town hall doesn’t care about your reward points—pharmacies cheer for you!

You: Exactly. And miles or cashback? Forget it. If you’re lucky, you might get a smile from the clerk.

Hans: And that’s not even all. Last week at the butcher I tried to pay with a credit card—the machine didn’t accept it. The lady says: “Ah, the system only accepts EC.” I thought, fine, cash then. The guy behind me chuckled: “Welcome to Germany.”

You: Haha, yeah! In Germany you can fly to the moon with Visa, MasterCard or AMEX—just not pay for your ID card or your sausage.

Barkeep: And the Sparkasse watches, nodding proudly: “How efficiently we keep them in the system.”

Hans: It’s like an adventure game! Every station: EC card or nothing. Credit card? Dead end!

You: Exactly! And the funny thing: if you’re lucky and a pharmacy does accept credit cards, they treat you like a VIP. They practically cheer you on: “Finally someone who brings us revenue!”

Barkeep: Cheers! To the eternal EC-Card Republic!

All: Cheers!

You: Conclusion: If you want to collect miles, better go to a pharmacy, supermarket or any shop that loves credit cards. Not the citizens’ office, not the town hall—they just see you as an EC-card provider.

Hans: We citizens pay for everything—yet never get the benefits.

All: Everyone laughs, clinks beer glasses. The end.