I am in dire need of help! I have been waiting and checking it twice a day every day waiting for the tickets I need to become available. The tickets I want to finally became available on the TGV, Avignon-Paris. I have now tried 5 times to book the desired train, class and seat. Every single time I do it a red sign comes up saying that basically my bank has denied the transaction. I had been on the phone for 45 minutes with visa regarding this. They say they have received nothing from SNCF so there is nothing to deny. So then I tried creating an account and paying with my registered card. Same exact thing happened. So then I tried to find a way to pay with PayPal. I click the pay the alternative method and PayPal was not 1 of my choices. Just various credit cards. I know that time is of the essence here and I am at a complete loss. Does someone have experience with this? I sure do need some help!
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
I assume you are on the SNCF site as this is a common refrain on this board. Try another browser or clearing your cache. If you are on a mobile device go to a laptop or vice versa. Trainline https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/france has worked for me as has Raileurope but you will likely pay more. https://www.raileurope.com/.
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
Yep. You have to use either
https://www.thetrainline.com/?redirected=true
or
Or it may work on the mobile ap for phones tablets
https://en.oui.sncf/en/mobile
Try those options and let us know
Posted by
OP
Berkeley, California, US
655 posts
Thank you, Alan and Chicago! I went back again and thrashed and thrashed and thrashed! Turns out they did not like my premium Chase business card. I just figured, even though it made no sense whatsoever, that I would try my Chase Sapphire card instead. And bingo! It worked! No idea whatsoever why! Earlier in my thrashing I finally found a way to sign up and then somehow got to a place where it said use PayPal but then was redirected to rail Europe.com (what a surprise). Of course, it was more money but we were at our wit's end and just about ready to press the "make it so" button but hesitated because we could not choose our car or deck or seat which we could at the SNCF site if only they would take our money. So we gave it one last shot with the different credit card and voilà! I love traveling in Europe but I'm not especially fond of all this helpful modern technology. Anyway, again, many many thanks! I feel reassured just knowing you're out there.
Posted by
Folsom
2734 posts
Great outcome! Safe travels!
Posted by
Temora, NSW, Australia
337 posts
Hi
You should have no problem using the SNCF site if you have chip and pin credit card.
I have both a visa and mastercard and both work.
There are more and more security requirements, usually from your bank, which may require a
security code that gets text to your phone, to complete the transaction.
i'd also recommend the SNCF phone app (apple) , having your trips withe easy access.
best of luck and happy travels
I know for this site US banks a reluctant to adopt these card, but the lack of them
does cause problems
Posted by
OP
Berkeley, California, US
655 posts
To Jazz+Travels: my apologies, I was doing this too quickly and I noted your name as Chicago. Thank you very much for your assistance on both this post and my earlier post.
To Gerard: as far as I know, the credit card they accepted was not a genuine chip and pin. Although they have recently upgraded the Chase Sapphire Preferred which, they tell me, now will work as a contactless card. Could this be why this card worked and my other premium Chase card did not? As far as I can figure out, this is the only difference. A security code was never sent to my phone and a number to call verified by visa also never appeared. When I called my bank, Chase, they said they had never received the request for this purchase so they could do nothing about it. And yes, I very much agree US banks are very reluctant to adopt the real pin and chip cards but it would certainly make my life easier as well as the lives of many others if they would do so. I will try putting the SNCF phone app on my phone. Couldn't hurt (famous last words!).