I currently work at BMW through a Zeitarbeitsfirma, been there since June.

Today my girlfriend is extremely sick, probably covid or something. She has a fever, sore throat, and is so exhausted she can barely get out of bed. There’s nobody else to take care of her.

I contacted my agency to ask for a day off using my Arbeitszeitkonto, where I have around 100 hours saved up. They said yes but BMW had to approve it first.

My Vorarbeiter then called me and refused, making an unrelated and pretty misogynistic comment along the lines of “if everyone had to take care of their wife every month, then nobody would work”. He also literally told me that if I don’t come to work today, then I shouldn’t come back at all.

I even asked my agency if I could take unpaid leave instead, but they said BMW wouldn’t approve that either.

At that point I told my girlfriend I wasn’t going back to work after being treated like that. But even though she was so sick, she was basically begging me to go because she was extremely stressed about me losing my job. So I swallowed my pride and went to work anyway, mainly for her sake.

But honestly, is this normal in Germany? I have 100 hours saved up and was asking for literally one day. Can a supervisor actually threaten me like that?

First time visiting Germany. While in Hamburg, I did a quick half day trip to Lüneburg. Walked around the old city, had a coffee or two and went up the water tower. I wish I had time for a beer and some food.

Hey guys, I'm not sure which wire is which in Germany. What color should be connected to whatbother color?
Thankbyou in advance

It was purchased in Germany around 1990. It's my wife's and I'm trying to find an image of it in better condition or if there were similar animals made by the same company

Question: why is it that the maximum speed on the autobahn changes so often. Just had in 5km: no limit, 120, 80, 120, 80, 100, no limit, 100. Then why not just do 80 or 100??

All those changes are bad for the environment, it does not help the flow of the traffic, is there a logic behind this?

Hows this itinerary?

Land in Frankfurt

Train to Heidelberg. 2 nights downtown. Things to do: castle ruins, cable car?, wine?

Train to Oberwesel. 2 nights at the castle hotel Burghotel Auf Schönburg Oberwesel. Things to do: Liebfrauenkirche, Oberwesel church, Günderodehaus restaurant.

Train to Mainz. 2 nights downtown. Things to do: Rheingoldhalle, Mainz Cathedral, Gutenberg Museum, St. Stephens, Citadel, the "dome"

Wake up early and train back to Frankfurt.

First time in Europe. Germany was always my first pick.

Open to changes or suggestions. Thanks!

I went to a restaurant in the Quadrat, Mannheim today. In the soup, I found glass/plastic shards. I went to tell them and expected them to be surprised and apologetic. The moment i showed the shards, the person took it and threw it away. Explanation was "It's from the packaging of the food. Sometime it happens. What can we do." Just very surprised at their reaction like this is a common thing that happens time to time. They didn't charge me for the soup but I paid for everything else.

Just awful experience. Anything I can do?

Edit: I am just looking to rant and maybe for more suggestions on handling such a situation better.

Hi!

I am looking for a room in Berlin right now. Some people suggested that I make a post on WG-Gesucht and similar websites explaining who I am and what I am looking for, instead of just actively looking for rooms on my own.

The post worked well, and several people contacted me. Yesterday, I visited my first apartment. My first impression was great: the flatmate seems like a cool and chill guy, the apartment is clean, and I like the location. It's in Kreuzberg and fits my budget (a little over €650 warm). He seemed to like me too, and I am likely to get the room.

So far, so good. But everything seemed so easy that I started to feel a bit suspicious, so I began Googling possible signs of rental scams.

There are some green flags: the flatmate seems to actually live there (the apartment is furnished with his own stuff, including some expensive items), and nobody has asked me to pay anything in advance. I also looked for this room in some pages like AirBnb to check if they were renting it for a fake-contract scam, but I didn't see this room anywhere.

However, there is one potential red flag: apparently, the landlord is currently outside Germany, which I've read can be a common excuse in rental scams.

I haven't received any information about the landlord or seen the rental contract yet. I plan to ask for the relevant documents and verify both the landlord's and the flatmate's identities before moving forward.

I'm not saying this is necessarily a scam, but I want to make sure everything is legitimate before signing anything or paying money.

My question is: how can I verify that everything is legal when renting a room in Berlin? How can I check that the landlord actually owns the apartment or is legally allowed to rent it out? Are there any documents I should ask for, and how can I make sure they're genuine? Could I still get scammed even if I sign a contract and receive the keys?

I'd really appreciate any practical advice, especially from people who have rented in Berlin. Thanks!

Update:

Okay definitely this is a scam. Consequently, I pumped the brakes hard.

One day after the visit, the guy told me to send him half of the deposit in order to make a reservation. He said that it is a guarantee that I would move in. I told him that no way I am paying for such a thing in advance and he got kinda mad.

Stay safe out there!

Hey everyone, I’m dealing with a messy Rundfunkbeitrag situation after moving out of an old flat and could use some clarity on how my roommates and I can clean up our records.

​The Old Flat Issue: We received warning letters (Mahnungen) for our old apartment because it turns out the landlord/flat account wasn't properly managed or paid during our time there.

​What I Did: To avoid bureaucracy and trouble, I went ahead and paid the debt using my given Beitragsnummer. My personal balance for that old flat is now successfully at 0,00 €.

​The Problem for Roommates: Because nobody was paying under a single main account back then, the Beitragsservice flagged everyone individually and sent my roommates letters/warning notices with their own separate Beitragsnummern for that exact same flat.

​The Phone Confusion: When my friends tried calling the Beitragsservice hotline to sort it out, they kept getting completely different answers: some agents told them to file an Abmeldung online, while other agents just asked for my account number and promised to take care of it manually.

​My questions:

​Should I wait for my next letter for my new address? I registered at my new flat last month, where my roommate is already paying. Since I haven't received the new inquiry letter with the 10-digit Aktenzeichen yet, is waiting the right move?

​Since my balance is already at 0,00 € under my Beitragsnummer, how can my roommates officially link their individual accounts to my payment online so their balances drop to 0,00 € too?

​Should my roommates trust the hotline agents who said they would "take care of it," or is it safer to submit online forms anyway?

​Is there a specific online form or wording we should use so the Beitragsservice stops chasing us for the old landlord/flat setup mess?

Hi everyone!

While I'm looking for a working student job, I'm planning to find part time job through Zenjob, just so at least I get money until I find working student position. Before applying for jobs in Zenjob, they'll ask 'How many days have I worked in Germany this Calendar year (2026)?'

From 1st of January till 31st of August 2026, I worked 8 hours every Tuesday and Thursday, and 2 hours every Wednesday and Friday = 20 hours per week.

I'm not sure if Vacation days are also counted here, but I spent 22 days from March till August (since the vacation days is renewed every march)

Does anyone know then how can I count how many das I've worked??

And if I suddenly get the working student position this year, does it mean then I have to pay attention so it doesn't exceed 140 days? Since I already used some for my zenjob's job?

Any help would be thankful🙏🙏

Hello everyone, I’m a student from China studying German since one year ago.
I’m wondering in today’s German entertainment industry, who are the most popular actors, singers and other kinds of artists?
Of course some sports stars also count, like famous football players Thomas Müller. But I have little knowledge about German entertainment, the only German singer I ‘m familiar with is Helene Fischer. So I’m looking forward to your kind help! Vielen Dank!

I signed a rental contract with Leaze / Germany Living 2 about three months ago for the Gref Völsing Straße 15 in Frankfurt. In September, I received an email informing me that the landlord would be changing to Hochstraße Liegenschaftsverwaltung GmbH.

Since then, I haven't received any information about the key handover or move-in logistics. I've contacted Hochstraße Liegenschaftsverwaltung GmbH directly, and they told me that Germany Living / Leaze hasn't handed over any keys, contracts, or deposit information — not just for me, but for all the other tenants as well. They also said they're struggling to get in touch with Germany Living themselves.

Some tenants are supposed to move in as early as tomorrow, while I have to move in in about two weeks. I've submitted around 10 support tickets through Leaze's help center, but I haven't received a single response.

How is this acceptable? People are making plans to move into their homes, and nobody seems to know what's going on.

Is anyone else in the same situation? Has anyone managed to contact Germany Living or received information about the key handover?

I have an international flight leaving FRA at 830am on Christmas morning. I'll be arriving in Frankfurt the day before. I heard most things will be closed early on the 24th and I am assuming buses will be on modified schedules on the 25th. I'm wondering if it's smarter to pay the premium and stay by the airport or if it's fine to stay in the city center. My only worry is how easy it will be to catch a bus early on Christmas morning.

Thanks everyone

Hi, posting here to see what people generally do in such situation in GERMANY; I rent an apartment and my apartment has some defect on the floor and due to that the company who manages it is asking me to relocate to a new places.

What are my rights here?

Can I ask for relocation costs?

Can I ask for a new tenancy contract for this temporary shift?

Should I deserve any compensation?

Hi, I have already a post about this and I recieved many good advice but I need some more specific answers that are bit important for me, if someone has gone through this whole process please share as much info as possible because I know i will not take any action untill i know every step of this process.
1. up to 500 euro is fine for me so where should i start, few people mentioned doctlib but what kind of doctor i should contact with, in the previous posts i mentioned I am not aware of which kind of doctor can legally Diagnose or give treatment

1. I want this whole process take place online, because I live in Ilmenau and it would be hard for me travel a lot to big cities, one meeting in the clinic is fine but i do not want every interaction require me to travel for hours.

2. can someone recommment some doctor, I am very much afraid that after spending money if it turns out doctor does not do anything useful to help me then i am 🪛 Because I have enough extra savings for one try only

3. is there any other route that i should take to get help quickly, because I have been trying for almost 10 months and I dont think I am going to get any luck with this system with public health insurance.

4. From my home country two physchtriasts told me about adhd, and only one actually prescribe something which was sertaline in march because i was feeling very sad or depressed because of not being able to deal with things, that medicine I think did not helped a lot and even made few things worse. then 1 months ago he prescribed fluoxetine 20mg but that also is not working for me because when i take that medicine then after 4-6 days I start to get negative thoughts a lot. He told me that the medicine he will prescribe for adhd is not possible for me to get here in germany, that is why I think it would be better to start the process here.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for an affordable way to transport a few furniture items, mainly like mattress, table, and chair, from one location to another within same city.

Does anyone know any cheap transport services, people with vans who offer small moves, or other affordable options?

I'd appreciate any recommendations, especially if you've used a service yourself.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I recently had interviews with large German companies like DHL and Deutsche Telekom, and I’m curious about their hiring process.
Neither company asked about my salary expectations during the application process or in the first interview, which was mainly technical.
They mentioned that the next interview would be in person at their office.
At what stage do large German companies usually discuss salary expectations? Is it normal to reach the second interview without discussing salary at all?
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has gone through a similar hiring process, especially at DHL or Deutsche Telekom.
Thanks!

Hi everyone!

Has anyone recently applied for and received their Aufenthaltskarte in Germany as a non-EU family member of an EU citizen?

I’ve searched Reddit and the relevant subreddits but haven’t found much substantial information based on recent, firsthand experiences.

We’ve heard that Berlin may have relatively short processing times for the Aufenthaltskarte. Is that actually true based on anyone’s recent experience, or are there other cities where the process is faster?

I’d really appreciate insights on the following:

* Appointment: How did you get your appointment? Did you book online, submit an application first and wait for an invitation, or contact the Ausländerbehörde directly? How long did you wait?

* Required documents: What documents did they ask you to provide? For example, passports, marriage certificate, Anmeldung, proof of health insurance, employment documents, or anything else?

* Processing time: How long did it take from submitting your application to receiving the physical card?

* Temporary documentation: Did you receive a Fiktionsbescheinigung or another document while waiting?

* City comparison: If you applied in Berlin or another German city, how long did the entire process take, from getting an appointment to receiving the card?

* Delays and practical tips: Was the process straightforward, or did you encounter significant delays?

I’m particularly interested in recent experiences from 2025–2026, as procedures and waiting times can vary considerably between cities.

Any firsthand experiences or practical advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

My financial advisor is suggesting that I switch from public to private health insurance especially with the next year hike in the public health insurance prices!

I never been privately insured before.
What is your experience/advice on this? Should I take it?
What are the pros and cons?
Could it turn into a nightmare (as in the US model) where I could be only left with taking credit to pay for some surgery or an emergency?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,
I recently entered Germany with a valid national work visa, but unfortunately lost my passport shortly after arriving.
I reported the loss to the police and applied for a replacement passport through my country’s consulate. I still have my national ID card, the police loss certificate, and photos of my lost passport and visa.
I’m worried about what happens to my visa now. Since it was issued in my old passport, will it still be valid once I receive my new passport, or will I need to apply for a new visa or have it transferred?
Can the German authorities verify my visa through their electronic records? And what happens if I need to deal with the immigration office or start working before my replacement passport arrives?
I also haven’t been able to complete my Anmeldung because I no longer have my original passport. Could this affect my immigration status or cause problems with my work visa?
Has anyone experienced something similar in Germany? I’d really appreciate advice from people who have dealt with this situation or know the relevant regulations.
Thank you!

Hello,
I have just gotten that letter stating my bank is closing my American bank account as I live in Germany. I was advised older accounts would be grandfathered in but I guess that’s not the case. The only thing I have left in the USA are 401ks and I don’t know how I’ll access that money in the future. What should I do? I assume not everyone does wire transfers and most institutions in the USA prefer ACH. Anyone have any advice or signposting?

I’m planning to travel this winter to Germany with the Ferienjob Germany company, does anyone have a reference for this company? Previous experiences. They are taking so long to give me the information of the direct employer and exact start date that I am already a little bit worry

Hello guys, I’m pretty new to Germany and I need some advice because I honestly don’t know what to do in this situation.
I wanted to get a SIM card and a phone contract, so I searched online for Vodafone because I’d heard good things about them. I checked Google Maps, found a store nearby, and went there.
Turns out it was actually an otelo shop, but I had no idea what otelo was at the time.
I used Google Translate to explain to the lady that I wanted to make a Vodafone contract. She told me to wait, and after a while, some guy came out of an office wearing a Vodafone shirt. The lady told me to go with him, so obviously I assumed he worked for Vodafone.
I explained that I wanted a contract with a device if possible. Since I have a Polish bank account, I wasn’t sure if that would work, but he told me it should be fine.
He started writing down different offers on a piece of paper. I originally wanted an iPhone, but the upfront payment was too expensive. Then he showed me an offer with an Apple Watch for just €1 upfront, and the whole thing would cost around €60 a month with the SIM card. I thought that sounded okay, so I went ahead and signed.
They took my Polish IBAN and address, and when they asked if I wanted the SIM card immediately or together with the device, I said I’d take everything together.
I went home and kept looking at Vodafone offers online, and that’s when I started wondering why their offers were so much better than the one I’d just signed up for.
Then I received an email from otelo.
I was like… WTF is otelo?
The next day, I went back to the shop and asked the lady what otelo was and whether I could get the Vodafone offer instead.
That’s when she explained that otelo is a smaller company under Vodafone and that I’d actually signed a contract with them, not Vodafone.
Okay, fair enough, maybe I should’ve checked everything more carefully before signing. But I asked if I could cancel the contract, and she told me NO, unless I paid her €80 in cash.
I asked her where it said that in the contract, and she literally told me it wasn’t written in the contract, but if I wanted to cancel, I had to pay her €80.
At that point, I was getting suspicious, so I just left.
I called otelo customer service to ask about the situation, and holy shit, the first guy was one of the rudest people I’ve ever spoken to. I asked if anyone spoke English, and he basically yelled at me that this is Germany and I should speak German. 💀

I called again later and got a much nicer guy who explained that I needed to deal with the shop and that they couldn’t really help me.
The thing is, I haven’t even received anything yet. No SIM card, no Apple Watch, nothing.
Now I’m wondering what happens if I simply refuse to pay that €80, especially since the lady couldn’t even show me where this fee was mentioned in the contract.

I also gave them my Polish IBAN, so I’m not entirely sure how payments would work if they tried to charge me.
I know I should’ve been more careful before signing, and I’m not pretending I did everything right here. I’m just new to the country and genuinely thought I was dealing with Vodafone.
So, has anyone dealt with something similar in Germany?
Can they actually demand €80 in cash to cancel a contract when the fee isn’t mentioned in the contract? And what would you do in my situation?

Any advice would be appreciated!

i am gonna apply to rhine waal uni of applied science. my overactive bladder issue is giving me anxiety. years back i heard there are less facilities in kleve, but now can anyone tell me about the public toilets is it found in trains buses and station. have the number of public toilets increase now ? are they in good condition to use ?