I am trying to book for June 24. I have been trying for 24 hours now, at first one section of the trip didn't have times for the second part of it, so I figured that was why when I got past the put in your cc info & pressed the purchase button, I was getting an error. Then, at midnight Central US time, the times were up for section 2, I got thru the whole thing again, and then it said (roughly) "I am sorry, your tickets cannot be purchased because of a problem with your bank. Please contact them." Which I did, and they said they had not declined anything--in fact, they could see the transaction as hanging in limbo--but they had not refused anything. I then gave them a heads up that I will be making travel arrangements for the next month or so, and he noted it in my file so I hopefully wouldn't have any problems. I have tried 3 or 4 more times to make our train reservation today, and get the same stinking message at the end! Any ideas? So frustrating!!!
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
321 posts
It sounds like you may be too early- wait a few days and try again...
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You might call their customer service number during business hours - since your bank can see the incomplete transaction, bahn.de should be able to pull it up and complete it.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
For what routes are you attempting to buy tickets?
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, United States
45 posts
It may be too early. I just booked ours for the end of May and it wasn't until this week that I had been able to.
Best of luck and happy travels!
Maria
Posted by
2081 posts
Jen,
Ive bought tickets on Dbahn before and will be doing so this year once the 3 month or so window comes into view.
if youre too far out, its not going to happen.
happy trails.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Every half year, about the first weekend in December and in June, the European Rail companies adjust their schedules. Some like the Bahn, start displaying the new schedule up to two month in advance. Others like Italian Rail, don't even post them until after the fact. But on the Bahn website, before they post the new schedules, the calendar won't let you pick those dates. They're grayed out. That doesn't sound like what happened to you.
For dates more than 92 days out, the times are shown, but it doesn't display the "purchase" box, instead telling you that you have to wait until a certain date.
I've seen the Bahn, when there is a problem at their end, say 'your transaction cannot be handled at this time', but not blame the bank.
But if the Bahn said that your tickets cannot be purchase because of a problem with your bank, and the bank denied it, it was probably a problem with the CC company, which actually handles the transaction, not your bank.
Posted by
OP
Land of 10,000 lakes
84 posts
I did call Capital One. By now there are probably 12 transactions hanging there in limbo. I guess I should call Capital One again. And then try to call overseas to Germany & dbBahn. I don't even know if my phone will call Germany! Again...ugh.
Thanks for the thoughts, though.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
I bought tickets on bahn.de today for June 26 so it's not that the date is too far out. My purchase went through without a hitch so it must be your cc company that is hanging it up.
Posted by
OP
Land of 10,000 lakes
84 posts
Well 40 euro lesson learned...
...,make sure your credit card expiration date is correct.
(hangs her head in shame) :0( ugh. Not dbBahn that was ugh...it was ME!!!! I am so embarassed. I figured it out when DH got home from a business trip tonight & I thought, "hey, let's try using HIS Cap One card" then I had to go back in & change the cc info & noticed the cc expiration was off. I am meticulous about details (can I tell you about my spreadsheets????) and I entered the exp year wrong??? Apparently I am only 90% meticulous. I was sure I had checked and rechecked every livin' thing!
And the 40 euro lesson learned was that by this time the tickets had gone up 10 euro each!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Jen, at least your mistake was online and didn't put you on a train going in the wrong direction, or any number of other in-person scenarios that cause travel grief!
Posted by
Carrollton, Georgia, USA
242 posts
DB's site has never been user-friendly for me. Since my trips were relatively short, I just waited till I got over there to book. Admittedly that was 5 years ago. I tend to agree with some of the responses you've received to wait a few more days and i wish you luck and a pleasant trip.
Bill