There is no legal definition of the term “payment card”. A payment card is a payment instrument issued in the form of a card. Payment cards are usually made of plastic but this is not a mandatory requirement. The definition of what constitutes a “payment card” is relevant with regard to the prohibition of surcharges according to Section 270a of the German Civil Code (BGB). However, the term “payment card” is used incorrectly in Section 270a BGB as the correct term would have been “payment instrument”.