Invoice purchase with a 14 or 50 day payment term (Rechnungskauf) is popular with students, because you receive the goods first and pay later. In the background sits an EU directive on consumer credit, whose implementation in Germany was promulgated in 2026. What that means for your payment term depends on the exact wording.
Short answer: According to KPMG, the act implementing the EU consumer credit directive was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt) on 18 May 2026. Its rules are generally due to take effect on 20 November 2026, with transition periods of up to twelve months. Whether a fee-free invoice purchase falls within the new rules cannot be determined with certainty from the published information. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points
- With invoice purchase, you receive the goods before you pay and pay within a set period.
- According to KPMG, the implementing act was promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette on 18 May 2026.
- Its rules are generally due to take effect on 20 November 2026.
- Whether a fee-free invoice purchase with 14 or 50 days falls under the new rules cannot be determined with certainty from the published information.
- The terms the merchant shows you before ordering apply to your purchase. Ask before every order.
What exactly is an invoice purchase?
With an invoice purchase, the merchant delivers the goods and issues an invoice with a payment term. You pay within the period, for example 14 or 50 days after delivery. If you pay on time and no fee is charged, you do not pay anything extra. This differs from an instalment purchase, where you pay the total in several parts and interest or fees may apply.
Invoice purchase is not one uniform product. Each provider sets its own conditions, and they vary from merchant to merchant. The details in the ordering process and the payment terms matter more than the name of the payment method.
What did the implementing act regulate?
According to KPMG’s report on the promulgation of the act in the Federal Law Gazette (in German), the act is titled Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2023/2225 über Verbraucherkreditverträge und zur Regelung der Förderung klimaneutraler Mobilität. The promulgation date is given as 18 May 2026. The citation shown there reads as Part I, year 2026, number 139, although the source does not make clear whether 139 is the number or the page.
On entry into force, the report states that the rules take effect in principle on 20 November 2026, with transition periods of up to twelve months. The IHK Cologne also names 20 November 2026 as the date for new rules on instalment payment, deferred payment and instalment delivery. The same report does not contain a specific statement on instalment purchases and deferred payment with 14 or 50 days. For you, this means the date is documented, but the exact reach for your case is not.
| Point | Status according to the report | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette | 18 May 2026 (according to KPMG) | The act has been promulgated |
| Entry into force | in principle 20 November 2026 | Check whether the provider uses the transition period |
| Transition periods | up to twelve months | Conditions may stay the same for longer |
| Invoice purchase without a fee | not explicitly addressed in the report | Ask the provider directly |
Does invoice purchase stay free of charge?
This question cannot be answered with certainty at the moment. Whether a payment term without a fee falls under the new rules depends on the wording of the act in the Federal Law Gazette. The payment terms of the merchant show you which fees currently apply.
Assumption: you order goods worth 120 euros with a 14 day payment term and pay on time. Then you pay 120 euros. If the provider instead charges a fee of 5 euros, the total is 125 euros. Know this difference before you order.
What to watch with payment terms
A payment term is only as good as your planning. Enter the due date in your calendar and transfer the money in time, so that no reminder fees arise. Students often forget dates during exam periods, and a missed payment term can become expensive.
- Note the due date directly after the purchase.
- Check the payment terms, especially fees and the period.
- Pay in time, ideally a few days before the deadline.
- Keep the invoice and the proof of payment.
Comparing payment terms
It pays to compare before you order. The table below lists the points to check in the provider’s terms. Each provider states its own fees and periods on its website, so we refer you to that place rather than quoting figures.
| Check | What to look for | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Payment period | Number of days from the invoice date or delivery | Payment terms or order confirmation |
| Fees | Whether the payment term carries a surcharge | Provider website, price details in the basket |
| Payment method | Transfer, direct debit or a payment service | Selection in the ordering process |
| Contact | Who answers questions about billing | Legal notice and contact page of the provider |
Save the terms before you submit the order. If the provider later refers to different conditions, you can rely on the state at the time of ordering.
Why this topic matters for students
Students often buy with little money and an eye on the next month. A payment term looks attractive because it creates liquidity. At the same time, the situation changes quickly when payment dates fall into exam periods or income from a side job arrives irregularly. Anyone who then fails to settle an invoice on time quickly pays reminder fees or loses track of open items.
The EU directive that the act implements concerns consumer credit agreements. The title of the act names Directive (EU) 2023/2225 on credit agreements for consumers. For you as a consumer, the key question is therefore less the label invoice purchase and more whether your specific payment model counts as credit under the act. That can only be checked case by case and against the wording.
Frequently asked questions
Does the new rule apply to every online purchase?
The available information does not settle this with certainty. What counts is the wording of the act and its scope. If in doubt, ask the provider which payment method you are using and which conditions apply.
Do I have to pay differently after 20 November 2026?
The rules are generally due to apply from this date, subject to transition periods. The information does not show any obligation for you to change how you pay. Keep existing orders in view until payment anyway.
Is a credit check carried out before an invoice purchase?
Whether a provider checks your ability to pay before an invoice purchase is the provider’s decision. The provider sets the conditions, and you can view them before ordering. If anything is unclear, a short question to the provider is worthwhile.
Is an instalment purchase cheaper than an invoice purchase?
That depends on the conditions. Instalment purchases can carry interest or fees, while invoice purchase without a fee does not. Compare the total sum at the end, not the monthly rate.
What happens if I miss the payment deadline?
If you miss the deadline, the provider can send reminders. Whether reminder fees apply, and how high they are, depends on the conditions you accepted when ordering. React immediately if you see the date getting close. A short message to the provider often clarifies more than a reminder already sitting in your inbox.
How to proceed now
- Check the payment terms and fees on every order.
- Ask the provider whether invoice purchase stays unchanged after 20 November 2026.
- Plan payment dates in your calendar and pay in time.
- If in doubt, skip the payment term and pay directly.
Related guides
- Founding a business alongside your studies
- Writing a reminder to clients: template for freelancers (in German)
- Delivery work as a student
- Small business regulation 2025
Sources: KPMG, report on the promulgation of the act implementing the consumer credit directive in the Federal Law Gazette, 2026 (in German), IHK Cologne, new rules for instalment payment, deferred payment and instalment delivery from 20 November 2026 (German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
