Gesamtzahlungsbetrag

Gesamtzahlungsbetrag, or total payment amount, is a term used in German commercial practice to denote the total sum a buyer or borrower must pay under an agreement. In a purchase, it is the final price the customer owes, including the base price plus value-added tax, shipping, insurance, and any additional mandatory charges. It may also include handling fees and other costs that the contract treats as payable by the buyer, but it excludes potential future adjustments such as refunds or rebates unless the contract states otherwise.

In the context of credit and financing, the Gesamtzahlungsbetrag refers to the sum of all payments due over the life of a loan or financing arrangement. This typically includes the principal, interest, loan origination fees, insurance, and other mandatory charges. It provides a basis for comparing offers, although it can vary with interest rate changes or optional services.

Calculation and examples: For a cash purchase of a product priced Nettopreis 200 EUR with VAT 19% (38 EUR) and shipping 15 EUR, the Gesamtzahlungsbetrag would be 253 EUR. For a loan, if a 1000 EUR loan is repaid in 12 fixed monthly payments of 90 EUR, the Gesamtzahlungsbetrag would be 1080 EUR (assuming no additional fees).

Relation to other terms: The Gesamtzahlungsbetrag is distinct from the Nettobetrag (net amount before taxes and charges) and from the Gesamtpreis in some contexts where legal disclosure requires listing all components. It is often contrasted with the APR or nominal interest rate, which describe the cost of credit rather than the total paid under the contract.