woensdag 25 september 2024

Expensive cheap ticket

The German Railroads DB Navigator app is very useful (just like the Dutch Railroads NS app for planning door-to-door journeys, booking tickets and subscriptions), but sometimes also very complicated, partly because of all those different tickets and fares. Last week I spent hours comparing prices and trying to link a discount card to the app, which just didn't work. Suddenly the app booked a train journey for €149.99 for a trip that I had not planned at all. When I was trying to figure out how the app works, I must have accidentally pressed a button that debited the amount from my bank account. I had not given any order or permission for this, but my account number is linked to my Deutschlandticket, a cheap subscription for travelling with local and regional transport throughout the country. 

Even if I wanted to, I could not use the accidentally booked ticket, because I had entered a non-existent name for this puzzle (Justin Kees, like Just in case) and when checked by staff, the name on the ticket must match the ID. If I were caught on the train with this expensive ticket, I would be thrown off the train and have to pay a fine, because the ticket is not in my name.

Nevertheless, Deutsche Bahn does not want to refund the amount of €149.99, it is a 'cheap ticket' for a specific train that cannot be cancelled. I immediately had the amount refunded by my bank (Deutsche Kreditbank DKB) and if needed I will have to enter into a legal battle with the Germans. After all, there was no intention to buy, I cannot travel with the ticket and DB refuses to provide a service for this amount, because it is not in my name. But be warned.

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