A payment method (BV) executed by a communication facility (1, 2, 8, N) and at least one data carrier (11, 12, K) for debiting a payment value unit (BW) from the data carrier (11, 12, K), in order to pay for a performed service, wherein the following steps are executed: debit from a memory value unit (SW) stored in the data carrier (11, 12, K), of a debit value unit (AW) sufficient for payment for the maximum service to be performed, wherein a repayment limit (RL) stored in the data carrier (11, 12, K) is set to the value in essence of the debited debit value unit (AW); calculation of a credit value unit (AWE) to be credited back, wherein the payment value unit (BW) to be paid for the actually performed service is subtracted from the debited debit value unit (AWE); check by the data carrier (11, 12, K), that the credit value unit (AWE) to be credited does not exceed the stored repayment limit (RL), wherein only in this case is the credit value unit (AWE) credited to the memory value unit (SW) stored in the data carrier (11, 12, K).