Amazing how little the Average Joe and Jane know about National Insurance. None of this is taught in school and people are left to find out by chance.

I'd go along with that. I was clueless way back when at the start of time. It's only by my own effort that I have some understanding at all.
FWIW I think it is something that should be explained , along with taxation, as part of life skills.

What surprises me is that many see the NI conts. as some sort of private fund which it is not.

Obviously I am not in Germany, I am in New Zealand ( which UK state pension is frozen if and when taken) however it's something of interest to me as I need to consider whether to boost my husband's contributions in the event we choose to return to the UK/Europe.

I hope you manage to sort it all out BerryBridge.

Actually we at my School Sec.Mod. had NI instruction,(1960s) but now with the EU
member Mandate and swift changes, plus possibilties when living in other
EU countries, might confuse and over tax the most clever of teachers today.

Plus, I was and am not the most intelligent of people, but forged and worked myself
around the world, the 1st people I use to contact was The NI and tax offices,Brit and
Local.
I have said before, its your own responsibility to look after your own finances,
past , present, future.One was clever and wanted to make the move, where ever,
It must of followed some thought on financial or condidered life improvement.
Even coincidence of laying down new roots.
I've never understood for normal earners or even good earners trying to beat the system, for the sake of a few thousand over a working life.There is many legal ways
to prevent but not avoid high tax contributions, many govt.offices reccommend and sometimes have their own NI(equivelant) ,Tax, social, private pension consultants.
Plus to gather info yourself fom UK, there is always the citizens advice Buro.
The NI info office itself is a good source.
For the ones who want to try and beat or get on terms within any system is first get
to know the correct and required govt requiements, but like I said why bother, let the
Rich do their own worrying.

If people never thought of enquirying over NI tax..etc before or during their foreign
Experience gathering, its beyond my logic, the same I suppose when people read
my English..

I know a bit but only because I was responsible in a past life for explaining benefit entitlement. When working in the Middle East I had around 100 colleagues, mainly British. They were all totally clueless about NI, although some took my advice and paid to make up their NI Cont Recortd.

I am reaping my rich reward of a full NI State Retirement pension now. About £110 a week ! It is not surprising that through the Scottish Pensioners' Forum I agitate for a better deal !

Very true, they expect you to tell them when you get an increase, however small.

So what, one choses to go to country-A or B to live work and possibly retire.
Uk has the NI and the National Health, totally dis organised and of late a shambolic organised and misused and treated, by small minded politicians.
A great idea and organisation ballsed up by pure incompetence, maybe even on purpose
From power corrupted politicians.
All countries within EU will have their various work/retirement health/pension plans,
I find the German system pretty decent.

Going off tangent a little, but relevant to NI, Pension, health, systems and funds:-

Not forgetting in all countries, non EU immigrants and benifit applicants, are allowed, access too early to unearned funds giving them access to luxury household goods well over the low-earners wage.
Including where the ordinary working citizens have to earn over 20-30 years, before they begin to enjoy their well earned benifits of hard working life, new sofas, fitted kitchens, Luxuries like modern tvs, sterios, PCs.
plus receiving immediate medical support in unnecessary, considered non essential operations/treatment , where the citizen who has lived or spent nearly all their of that country will be denied immediate access, even to life changing treatment.