Berlin S Bahn fine

[Doppelganger]

Not sensible as you could be arrested on return. It is not a civil debt, it has legal basis.

Depends on what details were taken and what ID was recorded.

Usually a non-German would be made to pay on the spot wouldn't they?

 

[wsxsafc]

Depends on what details were taken and what ID was recorded.

Usually a non-German would be made to pay on the spot wouldn't they?

Yeah I don’t think I can avoid it, they took my address details and my passport details as was on my way back to the airport.

 

[duesselmartin]

They would attempt to get the money on the spot but if you say you don't have it, you will be billed.
You would certainly not be arrested on return for a once off not paid fine. Legal proceedings would only be opened if you do it systematically. So no prob if it was a mistake.
I still recommend you pay your fines though.
Credit Scores in Germany were discussed in the €49 discussion in this forum.

 

[wsxsafc]

Just to keep anyone who was wondering up to date, I received this email earlier confirming they have withdrawn the €60 fine. Needless to say I’m pleased common sense has prevailed but will make sure I won’t be rushing to get on any S Bahn services in future

 

[ainsworth74]

Just to keep anyone who was wondering up to date, I received this email earlier confirming they have withdrawn the €60 fine. Needless to say I’m pleased common sense has prevailed but will make sure I won’t be rushing to get on any S Bahn services in future

A sensible result!

I can see why they try and make sure that people don't activate tickets only when they spot inspectors but it still seems a little weird they can't differentiate between a ticket bought for immediate travel and one bought for future use. But surely the inspectors should just, like in the UK, check the time the ticket was bought and/or activated and then it will quickly become obvious if it was done because the of the grip!

 

[duesselmartin]

good to know, often if the right (polite) tone is used and the facts explain one does get satisfactory results.
As said the inspectors are often sub-contractors who get paid on a "sucess" rate.

 

[shredder1]

Ive just returned from Portugal and bought a few 24 hour tickets, local trains, trams and buses, and you have to validate your ticket for each journey even if you change trams apparently, I must confess I did forget a few times.

 

[duesselmartin]

Same in Italy but not in Germany.
Not sure what it actually does to the Italian pass.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Good news re the Berlin S-Bahn, but I noticed that when using the SBB app the other day a similar thing happening: the validity of a Zonal ticket only began 3 mins and 10 seconds AFTER the time of purchase (which was the actual clock time). So no more using the app just before boarding.... Perhaps this has become an international phenomenon?

 

[island]

My Deutschland-Ticket which I bought last month displayed "seconds since ticket purchase: > 200" on the screen. I assume this would have counted upwards for the first 200 seconds upon purchase.

 

[rheingold103]

Just to keep anyone who was wondering up to date, I received this email earlier confirming they have withdrawn the €60 fine. Needless to say I’m pleased common sense has prevailed but will make sure I won’t be rushing to get on any S Bahn services in future

Good to hear the penalty has been withdrawn, however I can't reconcile their message to you saying withdrawn 'as a gesture of goodwill' with your e-ticket showing 'valid immediately'.
Should the latter be reworded to say 'valid immediately when the barcode shows clearly'?

 

[slowjoe]

with your e-ticket showing 'valid immediately'

"Valid immediately" is shown on the ticket choice screen to contrast it with e.g. the 4 ticket bundle, where you buy the tickets for later use.
They could maybe mention the 60 second delay here, but it would make the screen pretty cramped.