DB Bahn train delay and refund
 

Took a train on DB Bahn for the first time from Amsterdam to Berlin and was delayed for 3 hours. The attendant gave me a form to fill out for a partial refund. The form requires IBAN and BIC code for wire transfer, which according to my bank are not used here (North America). I m curious if anyone know how to handle this? I called DB Bahn but they just keep telling me to provide IBAN and BIC codes.

I believe that refunds by bank transfer are only available within the consolidated EU banking system (although this clearly violates the EU regulations on train delays). I think that there are two options you might consider:

• Get a voucher for your next trip on DB Bahn (which will be mailed to you via snail-mail - if they refuse to send it to you, insist or complain to the "Schlichtungsstelle Fahrgastrechte": https://soep-online.de/ [unfortunately, german only])
• If you happen to be in Europe in the next few weeks, hand in the form (as long as the conductor placed a stamp on it) at a DB Reisezentrum (ticket office) and you should have no trouble to be refunded in cash

I have already visited a service center and was told that because it is an international ride, it needs to go thru the mailing process. A voucher is not useful to me as I have no plan to be back in Europe for the next 1-2 years.

Do you know anyone in Europe? Maybe you can use his/her bank account for receiving the refund and after that getting the money via paypal or others. The name of the account owner is not checked at money transfer.

Someone at DB will know how to transfer the money to a non-EU bank account, they probably even have a procedure for it somewhere buried away. You just need to push to get it escalated to the person who does.

Don't know anyone in Europe unfortunately. I am going to provide the necessary info to DB for an international transfer via mail. Let see what happen.