I am trying to buy tickets from Budapest to Vienna through the Austrian website.
Everytime I try to buy them I get an error that they were not able to verify my 3D pin.
I don't know what that is or how to set it.
Has anyone experience the same problem?
If so, were you able to purchase the tickets a different way?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Yes, others have had the problem this year. Many European Web sites use "3D Security" for credit card approval, also called Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. That requires you to set up an extra password with your card issuer, and not all of them offer it, but you can ask. See also:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/using-a-us-issed-mastercard-or-visa-in-austria
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/oebb-tickets-online-with-amex-card
Since your train starts in Hungary, you can also try buying from their site: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en. Expect to pick them up in the station.
Posted by
OP
Virginia
597 posts
Thanks Laura. Glad to know I'm not the only one. I tried using the Hungary site but it did not give me any trains. Maybe I'm too early.
Posted by
1895 posts
... to verify my 3D pin.
The 3D-Secure feature is not a PIN (i.e. a number) but a password you had to choose when activating this feature. Contact your credit card issuer to have this done.
Although credit cards were invented in the US, nowadays US credit cards are years behind European ones regarding security. :-(
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4140 posts
Booking on Hungarian Rail opens 60 days ahead
Posted by
OP
Virginia
597 posts
Thanks Steven and WMT1
Posted by
62 posts
Hi Nestor,
I'm not sure if you resolved your problem, but I wanted to let you know that I was able to book on the obb website. I did speak to my CC company Chase and they were pretty confused, they provided me with a link that would help me set up a verified by visa password. I did it about 4-5 times, kept getting errors. I called Chase back and had them stay on the line, while I paid for the tickets. The transaction went through, it didn't ask for any 3D secure password.
Still clueless about what happened, but I was able to print my tickets. The only other thing that I did was a travel notification with Chase to let them know that I will be making several transactions this week, and gave them a list of countries.
Anyway, hope this helps!
Nira
Posted by
OP
Virginia
597 posts
Thanks Nira. I think I will buy the tickets when I get to Budapest. Other posters have suggested that the trip might not be a sold out.