German · Real conversations
Payments: German conversation practice
Clarify a payment, a receipt, or a refund. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
A2 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A customer discussing a payment at a service counter.
Goal: Clarify a payment, a receipt, or a refund.
Read the conversation
Partner
Bitte versuchen Sie es mit Ihrer Karte am Terminal.
Show English translation
Please try your card at the terminal.
You
Die Karte wurde abgelehnt.
Show English translation
The card was declined.
Partner
Wir können eine andere Karte versuchen. Diesmal hat die Zahlung funktioniert.
Show English translation
We can try another card. The payment went through this time.
You
Könnte ich einen Beleg bekommen?
Show English translation
Could I have a receipt?
Partner
Gern. Ich kann Ihnen auch Ihre frühere Rückerstattung erklären.
Show English translation
Certainly. I can also explain your earlier refund.
You
Wann bekomme ich die Rückerstattung?
Show English translation
When will the refund arrive?
Partner
Es sollte nächste Woche ankommen. Möchten Sie heute noch etwas kaufen?
Show English translation
It should arrive next week. Are you making another purchase today?
You
Kann ich in Raten zahlen?
Show English translation
Can I pay in installments?
Partner
Das ist vielleicht möglich. Die Bedingungen hängen vom Zahlungsplan ab.
Show English translation
That may be possible. The terms depend on the payment plan.
You
Gibt es eine zusätzliche Gebühr?
Show English translation
Is there an extra charge?
Try your part first
Partner says: Please try your card at the terminal. Your goal: The card was declined.
Reveal a sample reply
Die Karte wurde abgelehnt.
The card was declined.
Partner says: We can try another card. The payment went through this time. Your goal: Could I have a receipt?
Reveal a sample reply
Könnte ich einen Beleg bekommen?
Could I have a receipt?
Partner says: Certainly. I can also explain your earlier refund. Your goal: When will the refund arrive?
Reveal a sample reply
Wann bekomme ich die Rückerstattung?
When will the refund arrive?
Partner says: It should arrive next week. Are you making another purchase today? Your goal: Can I pay in installments?
Reveal a sample reply
Kann ich in Raten zahlen?
Can I pay in installments?
Partner says: That may be possible. The terms depend on the payment plan. Your goal: Is there an extra charge?
Reveal a sample reply
Gibt es eine zusätzliche Gebühr?
Is there an extra charge?
Make it your own
- Use another card.
- Ask for a printed receipt.
- Check the refund date again.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
