Automatic renewal of half fare card

pollen7890 · 2023-11-19T09:15:58+00:00

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pollen7890

I had bought half fare card last year and was under the assumption that the card will be renewed automatically and we will receive invoice. But that didn’t happen and now when i am trying to renew the card its showing me the price of new card instead of the the loyalty price ? who should i reach out to ? P.S. i bought this card at the station instead of buying of online. I hope this is not the reason for not getting the loyalty bonus . Can anybody help or guide me here..

RolandP

Hello pollen7890

Provided you are talking about the Half Fare Card, and not the Swiss Half Fare Card:

The automatic renewal of the Half Fare Card is only applied if you are a Swiss resident or a resident of any neighbouring country, being DE, FR, IT, LI, or AT.

Please call the SBB Contact Center at +41 51 225 78 56 (24 / 7) if you want to renew your Half Fare Card.

Best regards,
Roland

SelinaRoskam

I have the same problem. I’m from The Netherlands. I bought a new Half Fare card for 185 SFr, just two days after my old one was expired. I was wondering if there is an option to refund the 20 SFR.

I read that I should get a link to renew my card, but I didn’t.

If it isn’t possible for travellers outside Switzerland or the neighbors countries, than that should be much better described on the website. And I think it’s a kind of discrimination.

RolandP

Hello SelinaRoskam

Please call the SBB Contact Center to clarify the refund question: +41 51 225 78 56 (24/7).

The GA Travel Card and Half Fare Card are automatically renewed for people in neighbouring countries, as the vast majority are commuters living near the Swiss border and using the GA or Half Fare Card for work.

The GA Travel Card and Half Fare Card is not renewed for other residents of other countries because the majority would not want an automated renewal. Furthermore, the administrative effort would be tremendous by sending invoices, collecting money as well as the whole dunning process in case of non-payment. Most people from other countries use the Swiss Half Fare Card anyway, and not the subscription.

As evident, the rationale is of an administrative nature. It doesn’t have anything to do with discrimination; you shouldn’t use this word so lightly.

Kind regards,
Roland

pollen7890

Thanks for the reply Roland. Just to need to understand one thing, the terminology used or considered by SBB when you say resident, does it mean that you have swiss nationality or its related to your residency ? Because i am a resident not a national and like Selina, i didn’t receive the link for the automatic renewal or the invoice. Do you know how they consider it ? if its about nationality , then i agree the huge admin effort isn’t worthwhile.