23rd January 2008
In the event of a car being stolen it falls to the comprehensive or first party cover (Vollkkasko) to rescue the situation. The extent and type of recompense on offer is dependent on the small print of the policy in question but typically the Autoversiche...
22nd January 2008
A major centre for the research into bio-diesel has been set up in the former East Germany. Chief partners in the project are Shell and the local firm Choren. The centre has created over 150 jobs in an economically depressed region and VW and Daimler Chry...
22nd January 2008
A traffic accident is always unexpected and always leaves those involved with insufficient time to react. In Germany whoever is responsible for causing the accident should notify their Autoversicherung provider in writing within a week. This is important ...
20th January 2008
Is the Riester-Rente set to disappoint Germany’s low earners who had hoped to supplement their meagre state pensions? The truth of the matter is that banks and insurance providers are often silent on the fact that carefully accumulated riester fund save...
19th January 2008
Should anybody saving with the Riester-Rente (the German contributory pension scheme) intend to have a house built, or to buy a new property, he may soon be able to invest state pension subsidies and savings to finance this. Indeed this may turn out to be...
19th January 2008
Fundamentally the Riester-Renteis intended solely for the provision of the saver’s own pension. The important exception in the event of the saver’s death, is his partner with whom he was married up until the time of his death. When other relatives inh...
19th January 2008
Changing providers of the German state supported contributory pension scheme (Riester-Rente) is a major decision that needs to be thought through carefully. The reason for doing would be to reduce the amount of the payments. Of course every member of the ...
18th January 2008
Low mortgage rates mean that buying a house in Germany is currently a viable option for expats with a long term intention of staying in the country. Experts anticipate that prices will remain stable for the foreseeable future in most areas, although there...
18th January 2008
The burden on the German health care system has increased, and is set to increase still more in decades to come due to an aging population and plunging birth rate. Long accustomed to affordable health care of a high standard Germans are facing something o...
18th January 2008
As an alternative to the state supported healthcare system expats in Germany have the option of signing up to a private health care plan. The prerequisite is a salary over 47,700 Euros. Those working in Germany on an independent basis (i.e. self employed)...
07th January 2008
A study from the veterans and pensioners charity VdK has painted a bleak picture with regard to the declining living standard of living faced by Germany’s pensioners. A typical pensioner has typically 130 Euro less each month compared to the results of ...
06th January 2008
Statistics indicate that 1 in 4 German workers will be unable to go to work on a long term basis at some point in their lives. Indeed the risk of having to give up one’s job before the planned retirement age is in fact much higher than many would expect...
