DB Bahn: purchasing tickets online - is Visa Debit ok?

Munro_Bagger

Hello!

I'd like to purchase and print a Lander-Ticket using the DB Bahn website in advance of my trip to Germany, but am worried that my UK Visa Debit card would not be considered acceptable ID for proof of purchase.

DB Bahn list the following as acceptable;

Bahn Card, Bahn.bonus card, credit card, ec-karte (maestro) and a recognised national Identity Card.

Could my Visa Debit card be considered a credit card in this instance?

I'd really appreciate some advice as to whether others have used their debit cards with no issues, as I would like to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation on the train! The alternative would be have the ticket sent to me by post, at an additional EUR3.50 cost, or to purchase on the day in Germany.

Many thanks

Delree

I've done this in the past and remember printing off an e-ticket.
Anyway, your passport (which I assume you will have on your person) will surely satisfy any jobsworths.

dzug1

Your passport IS a recognised national identity card

martindow

dzug1 wrote: »

Your passport IS a recognised national identity card

Aren't they asking for a credit card and an identity card - not one or the other?

agrinnall

That's how I read it too. I'm sure this has come up before so a search of the board may find more information.

Munro_Bagger

Many thanks for your replies.

My apologies for the confusion - I should have listed the acceptable forms of ID as Bahn Card, Bahn.bonus card, credit card, ec-karte (maestro) OR a recognised national Identity Card.

When you click on the national Identity Card option for payment (https://fahrkarten.bahn.de/privatkunde/bahnbuchen/buchenwunsch.post;jsessionid=8nnwRgSGP2smn025PwD8dYWjG22p9NML1SQFB5c9TcQd931h9CVp!1797455717?shopId=96233b&lang=en&country=DEU) the UK is not listed, since we do not have a recognised national ID card like say, Austria or France. Unfortunately, there is no option to enter a passport, which would have been ideal.

So, my only option online is to pay using the credit card option. Has anyone used their VISA debit card as a credit card here, and been successful? Many thanks

Obviously_the_best

Don't mean to sound stupid here, but could you not just pay by credit card?

jjblondie

I have always taken a credit card with me as the ID. However, with Laender tickets you will not be saving any money by buying in advance, so I would just go to the ticket machine on arrival with card or cash.

Munro_Bagger

Obviously the best - I appreciate your advice, but I don't have (and never have had) a credit card.

jjblondie - thanks - if there is no money saving benefit to be had by purchasing online in advance, then I'll buy on the day at the station in Euros.

Thanks to all that responded.;)

callum9999

Munro_Bagger wrote: »

Obviously the best - I appreciate your advice, but I don't have (and never have had) a credit card.

jjblondie - thanks - if there is no money saving benefit to be had by purchasing online in advance, then I'll buy on the day at the station in Euros.

Thanks to all that responded.;)

I used a credit card for my 4-leg trip in Germany and I don't recall them actually asking to see it. If they did ask, I really can't imagine why they would have any issues with it being a debit card - a lot of foreign places will just generically translate debit and credit cards to "credit cards". If the payment goes through then it should be fine - a credit card is no better than a debit card in proving identity.

Backbiter

I purchased DB tickets online in advance to get a great price - around 70 euros for 4 passengers from Stuttgart to Munich. I used a credit card and they did require the card I paid with to be shown on the train and entered into their machine, so it's not just a form of ID they want, but the actual card you paid with.