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Payments method SBB restaurant Eurocity

Anjo

I’m in Eurocity From Munich back to Switzerland. While still in German territory I ordered a drink at SBB Restaurant. I gave my PostFinance Maestro card, which he says it does not work to pay in Euros. I cannot use a foreign card to pay in Euros (not even a postfinance EUR card!).
So I had to pay the CHF price to be able to pay with my card, even though I’m in German territory.

Is this normal? What is the reason and legislation supporting this?

Thanks
Miguel Anjo

Danhiel

Hello Anjo

The last time I took this train, a VAT of 20% was applied, this is the rate of Austria, but I think that I was already in Germany. It is not false, because I mainly ate between St. Margrethen and Lindau. The VAT rate in Germany is 19%, in Switzerland only 8,1%.

You can/must pay in CHF or EUR. This is not illegal, there is no law setting the price of drinks in dining cars.

I think that the price you paid in CHF is converted to EUR at the current exchange rate and the VAT of 19% is due in Germany. You can verify this on your receipt.

Kind Regards
Danhiel

SBBInternational

Anjo
Hi Anjo,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the payment methods in our onboard restaurants.
When traveling abroad, only Mastercard and Visa are accepted in our onboard restaurants. Since not all Postfinance cards have a Mastercard function, Postfinance cards can only be used within Switzerland for simplicity. It is not allowed to accept a Postfinance card in Germany and process the transaction in CHF to bypass the credit card verification.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Best regards,
Serafina

SBBInternational

Danhiel
Hi Danhiel
According to EU legislation on VAT, only one VAT rate is applied to a train journey that passes through multiple EU countries. This rate is determined by the first EU country entered on the journey.
In this case, the train departs from Switzerland, travels through Austria, and ends in Germany. Swiss VAT is charged for the portion of the journey within Switzerland. From the point of entry into Austria until the destination station in Germany, Austrian VAT is applied, not German VAT.
Best wishes,
Serafina

RedBaron

SBBInternational Since not all Postfinance cards have a Mastercard function, Postfinance cards can only be used within Switzerland for simplicity.

This statement appears to relate to the older pre-2022 generations of PostFinance cards (aka “PostCard” in former years).
Since 2022 the latest PostFinance Card generation is also a Debit Mastercard ™. Mine was also replaced that year, although the old one wasn’t expired yet.

Your statement conflicts notably with the following quotes from the PostFinance link above:

- your debit card for your everyday purchases – in stores and online shops, in Switzerland and worldwide

- Global acceptance: use your card wherever Mastercard is accepted

Anjo

SBBInternational thanks for your reply. As stated by other participant, all PostFinance cards have now Mastercard function, so I believe the CFF have to change this rule.

Danhiel

During my last journey, my Debit Mastercard (not Postfinance) was not accepted and I had to pay in cash. The reason was the poor mobile network coverage on this line, it was not possible to check the validity of my card.