![](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/56162a32f33f01f4c872c5bcf522fe17-3.png\")
<\/a>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\nJust landed in Germany, or about to make the move and are wondering what lies in wait for you when you get there?<\/p>\n
We’ve put together 9 things which are common frustrations of moving to Germany<\/strong> for newcomers who have recently arrived in the country.<\/p>\n Now, before we start, there are loads of things about Germany that are GREAT. In fact, we’ve covered 15 of our favourites here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Life isn’t all roses though, and some things in Germany are done differently to your home country.<\/p>\n Being prepared for these means you’re less likely to be overwhelmed or bewildered, and your path to establishing your new life in Germany should contain a few less nasty surprises!<\/p>\n Check out our FREE E-BOOK<\/a> for a more practical list of things you’ll need to cover or consider when relocating to Germany.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”1. Banks close for lunch” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I know, crazy isn’t it?<\/p>\n In the year 2020, most correspondence you will have with your health insurance, employer, utilities provider, other insurance companies, local municipality, your apartment block’s management company (Hausverwaltung)<\/em> and many more will still be via the traditional letter, sent in the post.<\/p>\n While disruptive startups are making inroads into digitising a number of these, notably banking and insurance, most of the others remain resolutely old school.<\/p>\n Now, there is certainly more opportunity to perform certain tasks via email or online these days than there was when I moved to Germany back in 2006, but nonetheless, you should still expect to receive a LOT of letters.<\/p>\n Having an address you can receive post at is absolutely vital if you’re going to be living in temporary accommodation for the first couple of months.<\/p>\n Also, ensure that sure your name is clearly visible on your letterbox when you move into your first apartment.<\/p>\n Check out these articles for everything about different types of housing<\/a> and tips for your apartment search<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”2. Cash is King” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Germany has been very slow to embrace payment by debit and credit card<\/a>.<\/p>\n One lasting change of the Covid-19 pandemic is that this has started to accelerate the change. Nonetheless, a LOT of small businesses in Germany are still cash only, especially in the gastronomy sector.<\/p>\n Large businesses such as supermarkets, department stores, DIY stores and Deutsche Bahn now all accept major credit cards. Some of them were notable however in not doing so just 5 years ago.<\/p>\n If you’ve spent time in Scandinavia where cash is hardly used at all, it can seem very backwards if you’re out for dinner in Berlin and find yourself having to walk 10 blocks to find a cash machine when you realise it’s cash only.<\/p>\n There are 2 issues here: Firstly, Germany’s banking system was developed using different technology and didn’t run off the international standard (Belgium and The Netherlands also developed their own too). Secondly, Germans are generally slower to embrace change and are usually not considered to be early adopters of new technology.<\/p>\n Again, this is starting to change with the increasing popularity of fintech app-based banks such as N26<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more information on how to open a bank account in Germany<\/a>, as well as what the best bank accounts are for expats<\/a>, we cover this in our banking section.<\/p>\n If you’re looking to get some background on why Germans are so stubbornly resistant to moving away from reliance on cash, we cover this in our article about German frugality and cash culture<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/image007.png” url=”https:\/\/www.worldwidemoving.co.uk\/?so=a&ca=19186″ url_new_window=”on” align=”center” admin_label=”Ad Sirelo” _builder_version=”4.4.2″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”3. Pedestrians and Cars have Green” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Germans are generally very organised people and like to plan both their professional and social lives.\u00a0Spontaneity isn’t really a thing.<\/p>\n Adapt and get used to it. You’ll find it frustrating at first though, for sure!<\/p>\n This can manifest itself in a number of different frustrations:<\/p>\n Punctuality is also another trait where the Germans are resolute and they consider lateness to be disrespectful.<\/p>\n Both of these are covered in more detail in our article about planning and punctuality<\/a>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”4. Home Internet takes weeks” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It took me about 4\u00a0weeks after moving to Germany and signing up for an ISP to actually get connected. My colleagues and peers who had lived here for a while were astonished at how quick I had been connected!<\/p>\n This kind of goes back to the point of poor service being much more readily tolerated by German customers. It is here also influenced by Deutsche Telekom (the former state telecommunications monopoly) still owning and operating the phone network.<\/p>\n What this means in practical terms is that any third party provider has to arrange, i.e. rent, a landline connection through Deutsche Telekom before they can connect your broadband.<\/p>\n Your phone provider will bill you all of this on one invoice, so you will not have to transact with Telekom.<\/p>\n Germans and foreigners alike often bemoan the speed of home internet connections too. It’s certainly true that Germany tends to lag behind other European nations, and developed countries in general, with their home broadband speeds.<\/p>\n Luckily though, mobile internet prices have dropped considerably in Germany in recent years. They’re now at similar prices to the rest of Europe. Before, they used to be considerably more expensive.<\/p>\n We’ve got you covered on the different German SIM and data packages<\/a> here, so you can be up and running online without having to wait for a home broadband connection.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″][et_pb_code admin_label=”Ad winSIM” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ text_orientation=”center”] <\/p>\n Germany has one of the best health systems in the world.<\/p>\n The downside for newcomers moving to Germany is that the system is highly confusing, and has a baffling array of choices.<\/p>\n Health insurance in Germany is essentially an insurance-based system which is backed by the government, ensuring that everybody is entitled to coverage at a reasonable cost.<\/p>\n To add to the complexity, individuals may opt out and take\u00a0private healthcare<\/a> if they earn above \u20ac62,550 per year gross (in 2020). Freelancers and the self-employed are also able to do so.<\/a><\/p>\n I remember on my first day in my new job when I moved to Germany, my HR department asked me if I had already sorted out my health insurance. “What?”, I said. “Don’t you just deduct it from my salary?”.<\/p>\n Apparently not.<\/p>\n I\u00a0then received a list of around 20 possible public insurance companies which I could choose from.<\/p>\n The frustrating thing is, your employer can’t pay you until you have health insurance because the way the system works, the employer and employee both contribute to the cost.<\/p>\n Practically speaking, what this means is that from your first day at work, you have about 2-3 weeks to get this sorted before your company HR process your first month’s payslip<\/a>. When you don’t have the faintest clue how the system works, this can be more than a bit daunting!<\/p>\n We recommend you read up on how the German healthcare system works<\/a> before moving, so as you’re somewhat prepared.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”6. Landlords Deposit” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You may get away with 2 or 2.5 months, but in most cases your landlord will want you to stump up 3 months’ rent as a deposit, making life painful for newcomers at the very beginning.<\/p>\n Not only that, but you will almost certainly need to save some money to buy light fittings, curtain rails and white goods too. Unfurnished apartments in Germany literally mean exactly that.<\/p>\n Including the KITCHEN!<\/p>\n Although this is usually negotiable for smaller apartments and can often be purchased from the previous tenant.<\/p>\n In major cities and university towns, it is becoming more common to find apartments with existing kitchens because landlords know they are usually easier to rent.<\/p>\n Our article on tips for apartment search<\/a> covers a whole raft of other considerations to have in mind when moving to Germany and considering how to approach your search for housing, especially in larger cities where compromise is the word.<\/p>\n There are also financial products (loans) available specifically designed to help cover this deposit to the landlord. However, with no credit history in Germany, as a newcomer these unfortunately won’t be available to you.<\/p>\n Forewarned is forearmed!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”7. Your first winter” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’ve relocated to Germany just before the onset of winter, it will feel especially tough.<\/p>\n Life in Germany is wonderful in the summer. The whole place comes to life and there is literally a festival every weekend in some or other town in your vicinity. Winter is harsh though. People just seem to hibernate and come out again at the end of March.<\/p>\n If you happen to find yourself as a newcomer in Germany arriving in the depths of winter, it’s important to meet people and make friends<\/a>, to get socialising during the dark winter months.<\/p>\n Spring will be along soon enough. Get down to the Alps and learn to ski or snowboard to keep yourself sane!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.2.2″][et_pb_code admin_label=”AD_N26 728×90″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″ text_orientation=”center”] <\/p>\n Most things are closed in Germany on Sundays. That includes supermarkets<\/a>, banks, DIY stores, car showrooms and most other shops.<\/p>\n Highly annoying when you realise you’ve got no milk for your tea or coffee when you wake up and stumble out of bed on Sunday morning and go to make your hot beverage of choice!<\/p>\n Cafes, bars, restaurants, bakeries, petrol stations and small kiosks are allowed to open.<\/p>\n Also, shopping facilities in train stations are exempt from this law. There is rarely anything resembling a well-stocked supermarket though, with one or two exceptions (Leipzig has a large mall directly inside the train station).<\/p>\n This law does have its positives\u00a0and I can see why it is there to encourage people to “do something” with their Sunday instead of\u00a0walking around shops.<\/p>\n I can’t help thinking though that by allowing\u00a0just supermarkets…not the whole city centre or shopping mall…to open for 3 or 4 hours on a Sunday morning would boost the economy whilst not inconveniencing any employees who wants to spend Sunday with their family.<\/p>\n Interestingly, most Germans seem to support this law and be in favour of maintaining the status quo. Sunday closing also leads nicely on to the laws around quiet time<\/a>, which can also be baffling to newbie expats.<\/p>\n You could always just go to the pub….which is open.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”10. Contracts” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Service contracts in Germany<\/a> automatically renew, unless you proactively write to them and cancel it.<\/p>\n Worse still, often in the small print you are bound by legalese which only allows you to terminate the contract once per year!\u00a0It is extremely rare\u00a0for the\u00a0customer to have the right to terminate at any time for convenience.<\/p>\n This is a concept which is completely alien to most English speaking countries but is perfectly normal in Germany. At first I thought it was a scam – my first experience of it was with a small gym in the city where I lived.<\/p>\n Then I noticed it on my car insurance, Bahn Card, mobile phone contract and so on.<\/p>\n There is one easy way around this.\u00a0When you receive your confirmation of the contract you have just signed, immediately\u00a0send them a termination notice.<\/p>\n Make sure you also receive an acknowledgement email or letter confirming the non-renewal, otherwise you could be on the hook for automatic renewal, despite having sent a cancellation.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Conclusion” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you’re moving to Germany, some things will initially bug you. We hope now that they are not such an unpleasant surprise.<\/p>\n This is completely normal and to be expected when moving to a new country.<\/p>\n Some things are better, some things will irritate you. That’s life.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that Germany is great in so many other ways. Despite these hassles and frustrations, you’ll soon feel settled in your new home.<\/p>\n Over time, these things will become a minor annoyance rather than a serious frustration….except perhaps for the shops being closed on Sunday!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.7″ saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”46139″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”AFFILIATE LINKS” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_font=”|300|||||||” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false”]<\/p>\n Disclosure: Some of the links contained in this article are affiliate links, meaning we receive a small commission for any sales resulting from these clicks. This has no bearing on the price of the product or service. Thank you for supporting us – we appreciate it!<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f8f8f8″ width=”80%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”2vw||2vw||false|false” border_radii=”on|15px|15px|15px|15px” border_width_all=”1px” global_module=”47539″ saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”1vw||0vw||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ width=”100%” custom_margin=”1vw||2vw||false|false” 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border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_color__hover=”rgba(251,219,71,0.5)” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”RESIDENCE PERMITS” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/visas-residence-permits\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/visas-and-residence-permits.png” alt=”visas and residence permits” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Visas” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/visas-residence-permits\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”rgba(251,219,71,0.5)”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”%22HOW TO%22 GUIDES” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/how-to-guides\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/how-to-articles.png” alt=”how to articles” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”How to Articles” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” 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image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/life-in-germany.png” alt=”life in germany” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Life in Germany” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/life-in-germany\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”rgba(251,219,71,0.5)”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”HEALTHCARE” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/healthcare\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/healthcare.png” alt=”health insurance in Germany” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Healthcare” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/healthcare\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”rgba(251,219,71,0.5)”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.26.3″ custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false”][et_pb_blurb title=”HOUSING” url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/housing\/” image=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/housing.png” alt=”apartments in Germany” image_max_width=”50%” image_max_width_tablet=”50%” image_max_width_phone=”60%” image_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” admin_label=”Housing” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ header_font_size=”16px” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|10px||10px|false|true” custom_margin_tablet=”||5vw||false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|10px|7vw|10px|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5px|10px|5px|10px|true|true” link_option_url=”https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/blog\/housing\/” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#4d4d4d” background_enable_color__hover=”on” background__hover_enabled=”on|hover” background_color__hover=”rgba(251,219,71,0.5)”][\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Just landed in Germany, or about to make the move and are wondering what lies in wait for you when you get there? We’ve put together 9 things which are common frustrations of moving to Germany for newcomers who have recently arrived in the country. Now, before we start, there are loads of things about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\u00a0\r\nMoving to Germany: 9 Frustrating Experiences for Newcomers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. The love of “snail mail”<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Cash Culture<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Planning and Rigidity<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
4. Home Internet speeds are slow and connection takes weeks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/209ce3120a8be61eeceea86201f14083-3.gif\")
<\/a> [\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”5. health insurance” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n5. Health insurance: You need it immediately and it’s VERY confusing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Landlords Demand\u00a03 Months’ Rent As Deposit<\/strong><\/h3>\n
7. Your first winter will be tough<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/26515a60cafd70ab06e84b3f80bc9797-1.gif\")
<\/a>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”8. Sunday closing” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n8. Sunday closing<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9. Automatic renewal of contracts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Looking for helpful content on another topic?<\/h4>\n
10 Frustrating Aspects of Life in Germany for Newcomers<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nFor those of you who have just landed or are perhaps considering a move, we put together 10 things which are common frustrations of life in Germany for newcomers. If you don't want to read through all of these, why not watch the video instead?!\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h7sWlUSEowA&t=1s\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
1. Banks\u00a0Close For Lunch<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nI know, crazy isn't it? How does anyone other than the unemployed, old age pensioners and stay-at-home parents get anything done?! It does make me wonder how normal working Germans dealt with their banks before the age of internet banking. This sadly is a general theme of life in Germany for newcomers to get used to<\/strong>. The customer is not king. Also think again if you're planning to pop into the bank on a Saturday morning. It will be closed. On the positive side, there are lots of extremely competent German internet banking sites. Another plus is that their customer service if you need to call them is actually located in Germany and is usually extremely helpful and competent.\r\n\r\nFor those searching for the best options of German bank accounts<\/a>, we've got you covered!\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
2. Cash Is Still (Usually) King<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nOnly VERY RECENTLY did major supermarkets Aldi and Lidl start accepting credit cards<\/a>. The vast majority of restaurants don't. Ticket machines for local public transport in most cities don't.\r\n\r\nEncouragingly, there are, slowly but surely, some restaurants and specialist shops who understand that giving a customer the option\u00a0<\/strong>will increase the chances of him returning. It costs around 2-3% to accept credit cards, depending on merchant and provider. Why would any establishment knowingly and deliberately refuse to offer the option? Especially multinational corporations. What are their Chief Marketing Officers thinking? It is completely beyond the grasp of the way a savvy business or commerce person should think. If a business owner had, say, a moral issue with\u00a0the credit card company\u00a0charges being subsidised by non-CC paying customers, then charge a 1\u20ac surcharge or % fee and be transparent about it. Give your customer choice and you will increase your revenue. Easy.\r\n\r\nAnyway, rant over. The reason for this is that debt and credit are still dirty words here, which can make life in\u00a0Germany for newcomers somewhat of a challenge. From the experiences of hyperinflation during the Weimar Republic of the early 1920s, living within your means is deeply ingrained into German society. A credit card is still seen as a debt vehicle rather than a convenient way of paying for stuff. In fact, most credit cards issued by German banks are just glorified debit cards which are automatically paid off at the end of each calendar month.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
3. Pedestrians And Road Traffic Both Simultaneously Have Green<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThis was a completely alien concept to me and almost resulted in me running over some poor, unsuspecting pedestrians. Now, whereas numbers 1 and 2 are completely incomprehensible to me, this one is really just an inconvenience that takes a bit of getting used to! So you're a motorist about to turn right. The lights have just turned to green and you proceed, completely unaware that the pedestrian crossing in the street you are just about to turn right into also has green, and thus, the pedestrians crossing the street have right of way over you as the driver of a vehicle. In the UK, if pedestrians have green, then no traffic also has green simultaneously. On the positive side, this means the red cycle is shorter and you won't get stuck as long at red lights, whether as a pedestrian or a motorist. The downside is that it definitely takes a while to get used to this, especially for us Brits who are at the same time also mastering changing gear with the \"wrong hand\" and driving on the other side of the road.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
4. Home Internet Connection Often\u00a0Takes Several Weeks<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nIt took me about 4\u00a0weeks. My colleagues and peers who had lived here for a while were astonished at how quick I had been connected. This kind of goes back to the point of poor service being much more readily tolerated by German customers. It is here also influenced by Deutsche Telekom still owning and operating the phone network. Deutsche Telekom is the former state telecommunications monopoly. What this means in practical terms is that any third party provider has to arrange, i.e. rent, a landline connection through Deutsche Telekom before they can connect your broadband. Your phone provider will bill you all of this on one invoice, so you will not have to transact with Telekom. On the plus side, depending on where you have come from and where in Germany you are living, the Internet connection here will probably be considerably\u00a0quicker than back home. Fibre-optic broadband is available\u00a0in most major urban areas.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
5.\u00a0No\u00a0Health Insurance, No Payslip!<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nGermany has a public health insurance system which everyone is entitled to join. However, this is not a universal provider like the NHS is in the UK. There are several \"public\" insurance companies (Gesetzliche Krankenkassen), each slightly different in their offerings, which you have to formally join. I remember on my first day in my new job when I moved to Germany, my HR department asked me if I had already sorted out my health insurance. \"What?\", I said. \"Don't you just deduct it from my salary?\". Apparently not. I\u00a0then received a list of around 20 possible public insurance companies which I could choose from. There is also the option of private insurance if you earn over \u20ac54,900 gross per year (2015). \u00a0We cover the pros and cons of public vs. private insurance<\/a> and recommend you do your research.\r\n\r\nFor anyone who wishes to get a detailed, FREE consultation on private healthcare options in Germany, we are happy to recommens KL For Expats<\/a><\/strong>. Based in Cologne but offering appointments both in person and nationwide via Skype.\r\n\r\nThe frustrating thing is, your employer can't pay you until you have health insurance because the way the system works, the employer and employee both contribute to the cost. Practically speaking, what this means is that from your first day, you have about 2-3 weeks to get this sorted before your company HR process your first month's payslip. Which, when you don't have the faintest clue how the system works, can be more than a bit daunting!\u00a0This topic will be explained in more detail in my upcoming e-book.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
6. Landlords Demand\u00a03 Months' Rent As Deposit<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nYes, that's right folks. If you're lucky you may get away with 2 or 2.5 but in most cases your landlord will want you to stump up 3 months' rent as a deposit, making life in Germany for newcomers an expensive prospect at the very beginning. Not only that, but you will almost certainly have to buy light fittings, curtain rails and white goods too. Unfurnished literally means that. Including the KITCHEN!\u00a0Although this is usually negotiable for smaller apartments and can often be purchased from the previous tenant for convenience. Let's face it: How many tenants would want to take their existing kitchen to a new apartment, knowing that it probably won't fit? In major cities and university towns, it is much more common to find apartments<\/a><\/strong> with existing kitchens because landlords know they are usually easier to rent and can command a small premium for the convenience.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
7. Your First Winter Will Be Tough<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThis may sound obvious but if you have moved to Germany just before the onset of Winter, it will feel especially tough. Life in Germany is wonderful in the Summer. The whole place comes to life and there is literally a festival every weekend in some or other town in your vicinity. Winter is harsh though. People just seem to hibernate and come out again at the end of March. It's dark when you leave to commute to work and it's dark when you get home. If you haven't made many contacts yet, don't despair. Spring will be along soon enough. Get down to the Alps and learn to ski to keep yourself busy!\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
8. Everything is Closed on Sundays<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nApart from cafes, bars, restaurants, bakeries, petrol stations and small kiosks.\u00a0So, if\u00a0you actually need to buy something useful, for example the\u00a0carton\u00a0of milk you forgot was empty and now are facing the start of a day with no cup of tea....you're going to have to wait until Monday morning until the supermarket opens. Any shopping facilities in train stations are exempt from this law but there is rarely anything resembling a well-stocked supermarket, with one or two exceptions (Leipzig has a shopping mall directly in the main station).\r\n\r\nThis law does have its positives\u00a0and I can see why it is there to encourage people to \"do something\" with their Sunday instead of\u00a0walking around shops. I can't help thinking though that by allowing\u00a0just supermarkets...not the whole city centre or shopping mall...to open for 3 or 4 hours on a Sunday morning would boost the economy whilst not inconveniencing anybody who wants to spend Sunday with their family. Until this utopian moment when common sense triumphs over big government, you'll have to spend that nice sunny Saturday doing your shopping, safe in the knowledge that rain is forecast the next day when you planned to go hiking\u00a0or on a bike tour. Or\u00a0you could just go to the pub....which is open.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
9.\u00a0Tradesmen\u00a0Are Not As Flexible<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nCertainly my experience has been that skilled tradesmen are pretty difficult to get hold of and it will probably take a couple of weeks before you can get an appointment. It's probably a lot different out in the countryside and in smaller towns but in large, metropolitan areas there seems to be more work than there are tradesmen. In practical terms, this means higher prices and longer waits to get things done, especially if you just want something simple fixed. The \"I'll just pop round tomorrow after lunch mate and do that quickly before my next job\" kind of attitude doesn't really exist. Perhaps it's because there are fewer \"one man with a van type\" businesses. Just don't expect that light fitting, intercom, thermostat and the like to be installed within a couple of days. Oh, and you'll probably have a heart attack when you receive the invoice!\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n
10. Evergreen Contracts Are The Norm<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nWhat is an Evergreen Contract, I hear you ask? It's a contract which automatically renews unless you cancel it and thus is firmly in the vendor's favour. Worse still, often in the small print you are bound by legalese which only allows you to terminate the contract once per year!\u00a0It is extremely rare\u00a0for the\u00a0customer to have the right to terminate at any time for convenience. This is a concept which is completely alien to most English speaking countries but is perfectly normal in Germany (and Austria & Switzerland). At first I thought it was a scam because my first experience of it was with a small gym in the city where I live. Then I noticed it on my car insurance, Bahn Card, mobile phone contract and so on. There is one easy way around this (other than crossing it out of the contract before you sign, which may work with a smallish business but almost certainly won't with Deutsche Bahn or Vodafone!). When you receive your confirmation of the contract you have just signed, immediately\u00a0send them a termination notice. Legally they\u00a0then can't debit you for a contract renewal the following year that you unsuspectingly signed up for. Make sure you also receive an acknowledgement email or letter confirming the non-renewal.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nIf you have lived in Germany for a while, or have recently arrived and have experienced other challenges to your new life over here which didn't make my Top 10, I would love to know what they are. Please comment and share your experiences!","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[31,106,38],"class_list":["post-45","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-in-germany","tag-life-in-germany","tag-life-in-germany-for-newcomers","tag-moving-to-germany"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48714,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions\/48714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/liveworkgermany.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”8. Sunday closing” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]<\/p>\n