Payment Issues with Deutsche Bahn
Oct 28, 2025 | 1:52 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Antonio, USA
Programs: UA 1K and 1 MM, HHonors LTD
Posts: 737
Payment Issues with Deutsche Bahn
Is there an issue with buying train tickets on bahn.de (specifically on int.bahn.de)? I've tried multiple credit cards, web and app, and logged in and as guest, and it does not accept the credit card. Message is "Means of payment was refused". There's no activity on my credit card, so it's not even getting to that point.
Just curious if anyone has dealt with this and has a solution. I've contacted DB, and awaiting a response.
Just curious if anyone has dealt with this and has a solution. I've contacted DB, and awaiting a response.
Oct 29, 2025 | 6:17 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Antonio, USA
Programs: UA 1K and 1 MM, HHonors LTD
Posts: 737
I'll see about the multi-factor authentication issue with Chase, although I've used the card widely across Europe without issue. I tried in app and web, logged in and as a guest, and two different cards. Even tried Apple Pay route on app. Same message every time.
Given the timing and logistics for this particular part of the trip, I may wind up just renting a car - about the same time and cost - and I can actually complete that transaction.
Given the timing and logistics for this particular part of the trip, I may wind up just renting a car - about the same time and cost - and I can actually complete that transaction.
Oct 29, 2025 | 4:00 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Silver; Accor Silver
Posts: 4,230
Inherently, US banks have been slow to adopt the MFA standards for various financial reasons.....you see the result in the high bank card fraud rates prevelant in the US versus other countries with strong authentification.
Oct 30, 2025 | 10:29 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS Plat, AA EP, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 21,472
When I first got my CSR (Chase Sapphire Reserve), it consistently failed with Bahn.de. Nowadays it works reliably, but my newer Ink Preferred (acquired as a possible CSR replacement for 3X all travel) seems to sometimes have issues now.
Assuming you have/create an account, it really shouldn’t matter where/how you buy the ticket as the phone will load it from the account.
I do recall having problems buying a ticket recently one way but not the other, but unfortunately I don’t recall which one eventually worked.
Bahn is such a mess.
Assuming you have/create an account, it really shouldn’t matter where/how you buy the ticket as the phone will load it from the account.
I do recall having problems buying a ticket recently one way but not the other, but unfortunately I don’t recall which one eventually worked.
Bahn is such a mess.