How to pay a German train fine

martin129

My son mislaid his ticket while travelling on a DB train in Germany and received a 7 Euro fine which has been sent to our UK address. I don't mind paying the fine but they enclosed what appeared to be a German bank giro transfer form. I would imagine this will not work from a UK bank account and don't know how I can pay the fine. I tried sending them cash with a covering letter but they have not accepted this and sent another demand with the fine doubled to 14 Euros. They send demands in German and I reply in English and it is all becoming a little tiresome for a relatively small amount. Any ideas anyone! Sorry if this has been asked before but I could not find anything with the search.

benjus

There's a thread on it here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056201572 - with some discussion of whether, and how, to pay it.

If you know anyone with a Euro account they should be able to send it as a SEPA payment for you; otherwise you'll have to set it up as an international transfer. I doubt any FX brokers would touch such a small amount, so you'll probably end up using your bank and paying £10-£20 for the privilege. You will need to make sure that the fine number is provided as a reference with the payment so that they can match the payment to the fine.

martin129

Thanks Benjus I didn't realise you could use any Euro account - I thought it had to be a German account. It is still very awkward from the UK but I do have relations in Portugal I could ask.

Bob_the_Saver

Nobjocki wrote: »

Why allow yourself to get stressed out - just tell the Krauts you've made one attempt to pay the fine already and if they don't like it they can shove the speeding ticket where the sun don't shine.
You might also ask whether they've paid all their parking fines from when their tanks occupied much of Europe.
A mention of 1966 might be in order as well.

Hi Nobjocki,

Did you ever hear back about your application to join the diplomatic service?

Only asking

benjus

Nobjocki wrote: »

[...] they can shove the speeding ticket where the sun don't shine

Blimey... was he driving the train? Does everyone get a turn in the driving seat on DB? I'm off there now...

sillygoose

benjus wrote: »

Blimey... was he driving the train? Does everyone get a turn in the driving seat on DB? I'm off there now...

Its true, just make sure you drive on the RIGHT.

Gloomendoom

sillygoose wrote: »

Its true, just make sure you drive on the RIGHT.

As far as I remember, their trains do actually run on the right. Not that the driver has much to do with it... obviously.

Nobjocki

benjus wrote: »

Blimey... was he driving the train? Does everyone get a turn in the driving seat on DB? I'm off there now...

My mistake - got a speeding ticket on the brain at the moment on account of the missus racking up three points and a fine while driving me home from the pub and then trying to blame me until I produced the photographic evidence.

That'll teach her !

martin129

Nobjocki (how did you get away with that name) I considered ignoring it but my son is studying German which includes a year in Germany and I dont want to risk any aggro when he tries to enter Germany or use the trains for the sake of a relatively trivial amount. It is the fact that they are so inflexible for such a trivial amount. Germans!!!!!!!!

Voyager2002

martin129 wrote: »

Nobjocki (how did you get away with that name) I considered ignoring it but my son is studying German which includes a year in Germany and I dont want to risk any aggro when he tries to enter Germany or use the trains for the sake of a relatively trivial amount. It is the fact that they are so inflexible for such a trivial amount. Germans!!!!!!!!

If you think the Germans are bad... try the Swiss! Or the Belgians!!

Nobjocki

martin129 wrote: »

Nobjocki (how did you get away with that name) I considered ignoring it but my son is studying German which includes a year in Germany and I dont want to risk any aggro when he tries to enter Germany or use the trains for the sake of a relatively trivial amount. It is the fact that they are so inflexible for such a trivial amount. Germans!!!!!!!!

Do you honestly think a country the size of Germany is going to waste its time putting such trivial offences on a database that will catch your son out trying to enter the country or use a train ?

Get a grip of yourself.

We've become a nation of worriers cowed into obedience by a nanny state warning of dangers and punishment for the slightest indiscretion.

You made one attempt to pay the fine and they rejected this and doubled it. Tell them to get lost.