For buying online, the following payment methods are available:

Invoice:

Monthly invoicing (except GA Travelcard, vouchers, international tickets and seat reservations).

Credit cards.

• Mastercard (e.g. Swiss Bankers Travel, Swiss Bankers Life etc.).
• Visa.
• American Express Switzerland.
• Diners Club.

Debit cards.

• Debit Mastercard.
• Visa Debit.
• Reka Card.

Debit cards from other providers are not accepted.

Prepaid cards.

• Mastercard.
• Visa.

Prepaid cards from other providers are not accepted.

Other payment methods.

• Voucher.
• Twint.
• PostFinance Pay.
• Half Fare Travelcard PLUS.
• Prepaid Card for public transport.

For buying online, the following payment methods are available:

Invoice:

Monthly invoicing.

For buying online, the following payment methods are available:

Invoice:

Monthly invoicing.

Credit cards.

• Mastercard (e.g. Swiss Bankers Travel, Swiss Bankers Life etc.).
• Visa.
• American Express Switzerland.
• Diners Club.

Debit cards.

• Debit Mastercard.
• Visa Debit.
• Reka Card.

Debit cards from other providers are not accepted.

Prepaid cards.

• Mastercard.
• Visa.

Prepaid cards from other providers are not accepted.

Other payment methods and wallets.

• Twint.
  
• PostFinance Pay.
• Apple Pay.
• Google Pay.
• Half Fare Travelcard PLUS.
• Voucher.
• Prepaid Card for public transport.

If you do not receive an e-mail with a download link following your purchase on SBB.ch or via the app, and if the ticket you purchased is not available under ‘Orders’ in your profile on SBB.ch or in the ‘Trips and Tickets’ tile in the app, it means the booking was not completed and your payment method was not charged.

Please note that some card issuers will pre-authorise each time a payment is attempted, even if the purchase has been cancelled. This pre-authorisation will appear in your online account as a charge. However, the amount is only reserved by the card issuer and is not actually transferred to the companies. How long the pre-authorisation remains on your account varies and depends on the card issuer’s procedure. Most card issuers release the reserved amount within a few working days if the purchase is cancelled.

If you have any questions about your payment method, please contact the customer support for your card issuer (card center, customer service). The telephone number can usually be found on the back of your card. 

If you still see an amount from a cancelled purchase on your monthly statement, you can claim this amount from your invoice issuer (bank). Contact details can usually be found on your monthly statement. 

We cannot give any information on the exact reasons for your means of payment being refused. The easiest solution we recommend is to use an alternative payment method. If this is also not accepted or you do not have an alternative payment method, the following information may be helpful.

Possible causes and solutions.

1. Lack of 3D Secure verification.

The most common reason why payment cards are declined (not authorised) is a lack of ‘3D secure verification,’ which is required as an additional layer of security for online transactions on SBB.ch or in the SBB Mobile app.

Possible steps to solve the problem:

• Activate 3D Secure.
  Make sure that 3D Secure is activated on your card. This step is required for every new card, including a replacement card.
  If you have any questions about your payment method, please contact the customer support for your card issuer (card center, customer service). The telephone number can usually be found on the back of your card.
• Repeat the 3D Secure process.
  You may need to enter a unique code sent to you via text message or e-mail, or use an app.
  If you have any questions about the process, please contact customer support for your card issuer (card center, customer service). The telephone number can usually be found on the back of your card.

2. Declined by the bank or card issuer.

If your card is declined, please contact the customer support for your card issuer (card center, customer service). The telephone number can usually be found on the back of your card.

Only they can explain to you why your card has been declined and how to proceed. SBB cannot help you with this, as only your bank or card issuer has access to your data.

3. Incorrect entry.

In some cases, minor errors when entering your card number, expiry date or security number (CVC, 3 to 4 digits) may result in your card being declined. Check these details carefully and enter them again, as even a small mistake can lead to your card being declined.

4. Expired card.

Check the expiry date and make sure your card is valid. If your card has expired, use another card that is still valid.

5. Credit balance / spending limit exceeded.

If you do not have enough credit on your card to pay for your purchases, or your daily/monthly spending limit has been reached, you can load more money onto your card, increase the limit or use another card. If you have any questions about credit balances and limits, please contact your bank.

6. Authorisation expired.

If a payment method you have already saved, in particular Twint, no longer works, the authorisation may have expired. Delete the payment method from your profile and enter it again.

The following payment methods are available at the ticket machine:

• CHF coins.
• CHF notes.
• EUR notes.
• Reka.
• Maestro.
  
• PostFinance Pay.
• V Pay.
• Credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners and JCB).
• Apple Pay.
• Google Pay.
• Samsung Pay.
  
• Twint.
• SBB Gift Card.
• Public transport vouchers (only voucher card).

Please note:

• All change is given in Swiss francs.
  
• The new machines will give change up to max. 100 francs in notes and coins.
  
• The older machines will only give change in coins up to max. 20 francs.
  
• No more than 35 coins, 15 notes or 19 Reka cheques may be used in a single transaction.
  
• Bitcoins, Western Union transactions, Prepaid top ups (Pay as you go credit, Phone cards, Paysafecard) are not possible with credit cards and Reka cheques.

Please check the information displayed on the machine.

No, registration is not mandatory. You can purchase most offers as a guest (without a login). However, there are exceptions, for example, monthly or annual travelcards (GA Travelcard, Half Fare Travelcard, Half Fare Travelcard PLUS etc.) and group journeys can only be purchased with a login. (These offers are only available on SBB.ch.)

However, we do recommend that you register. Registration offers you the following advantages:

• Your data (address and payment method)  is stored and does not need to be entered the next time you make a purchase online.
• You can store your payment method and set it as your default payment method for added convenience. This method is then used every time you make a purchase at SBB.ch or using the SBB Mobile app.
• You can also use your login in the SBB Mobile app and buy tickets there.
• You can have tickets for Switzerland refunded directly online, in some cases without fees.

If you only make occasional online purchases at SBB, you can select the “Buy without logging in” option once you have chosen your ticket. However, if you choose this option, you will need to enter your address and payment details again each time you buy a ticket.

At SBB.ch.

• On SBB.ch, you can redeem public transport vouchers on the payment screen just before you finalise your purchase. Select the ‘Voucher’ payment method and enter the voucher number.
• You can also save the voucher for future payments via the ‘Payment methods’ tab.
• When redeeming online, you must have sufficient credit for the entire amount in your online shopping basket. If this is not the case, you can top up the voucher with the difference.
• Vouchers cannot currently be redeemed in the SBB Mobile app.

In the SBB Mobile / Preview apps.

Purchase with login.

In principle, every purchase made using a public transport voucher is checked to see whether the voucher has sufficient balance available for the purchase. Splitting the total with different payment method is not possible.

• Select your desired connection and click on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’.
• A list of the payment methods already stored will now appear.
• If you would now like to enter a voucher for public transport, click on ‘Enter new payment method’ and select ‘Public transport voucher’. 
• Then enter the voucher number and the CVV code.
• Now you can select the ticket you would like.
• As the voucher is now stored in the system, click again on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’. 
• Then confirm the purchase by clicking on the ‘Confirm purchase’ button (purchases over CHF 40 must always be confirmed, purchases under CHF 40 depending on the setting).

Purchase “as a guest” (without login).

• Select your desired connection and click on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’.
• Enter your details (first name, surname, date of birth and e-mail address) and click on ‘Select payment method’.
• Select ‘Public transport voucher’. 
• Enter the card number and the CVV code. 
• The system checks whether the voucher is valid and has sufficient credit. If everything is OK, the voucher will be redeemed and you will receive the ticket.

On SBB.ch.

• On SBB.ch, you can redeem your Prepaid Card for public transport on the payment screen just before you finalise your purchase. Select the ‘Voucher/Prepaid Card’ payment method and enter the Prepaid Card number.
• You can also save the Prepaid Card for future payments via the ‘Payment methods’ tab.
• When redeeming online, you must have sufficient credit for the entire amount in your online shopping basket. If this is not the case, you can top up the Prepaid Card with the difference.

In the SBB Mobile / Preview apps.

Purchase with login.

Every time you make a purchase using a Prepaid Card for public transport, we check whether the Prepaid Card has sufficient balance available for the purchase. Splitting a purchase between different payment methods is not possible.

• Select your desired connection and click on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’.
• A list of the payment methods already stored will now appear.
• If you would like to store a Prepaid Card for public transport, click on ‘Enter new payment method’ and select ‘Voucher / Prepaid Card’.
• Then enter the Prepaid Card number and the CVV code.
• Now you can select the ticket you would like.
• As the Prepaid Card is now stored in the system, click again on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’.
• Then confirm the purchase by clicking on the ‘Confirm purchase’ button (purchases over CHF 40 must always be confirmed, purchases under CHF 40 depending on the setting).

Purchase as guest (without login).

• Select your desired connection and click on ‘Purchase ticket for CHF XX’.
• Enter your details (first name, surname, date of birth and e-mail address) and click on ‘Select payment method’.
• Select ‘Voucher / Prepaid Card’.
• Enter the card number and the CVV code.
• The system checks whether the Prepaid Card is valid and whether sufficient credit is available. If both these conditions are met, the Prepaid Card is charged and you receive the ticket.

On SBB.ch:

You can view your ticket under ‘Orders’ in your profile on SBB.ch. If the ticket is listed there, the purchase was completed successfully. If the ticket you have just bought is not displayed, select ‘Search orders’ (amending the date if necessary). If you have not received a confirmation e-mail and the ticket you bought is not displayed, your purchase could not be completed and your payment method was not charged.

Please note that if you bought your ticket without a login, it is not possible to check it in your profile. If you have not received a confirmation e-mail due to an incorrectly entered e-mail address, please get in touch with the contacts listed below.

On SBB Mobile:

You can see the tickets you have bought in the app in the ‘Tickets & SwissPass’ tile. If the ticket is listed there, the purchase was completed successfully. If the ticket you have just bought is not listed, refresh the page by pulling the page down with your finger. If you have not received a confirmation e-mail and the ticket you bought is not displayed, your purchase could not be completed and your payment method was not charged.

On SBB.ch:

Enter the coupon code in the ‘Coupon’ field during the payment process and then click on ‘Redeem’.

Please check that the value of your coupon code was deducted before you commit to making the purchase. After your purchase is made, you can no longer use your coupon code towards it.

Please note that some coupon codes can only be redeemed against certain offers.

In the SBB Mobile app:

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the ‘Ticket options’ field before making your payment and enter the code under ‘Redeem promotional code’. Follow the steps in the instructions given.

Please check that the value of your coupon code was deducted before you commit to making the purchase. After your purchase is made, you can no longer use your coupon code towards it.

Please note that some coupon codes can only be redeemed against certain offers.