Elderly individuals express frustration over the elimination of discounted rail fares for plastic card holders.
In the heart of Germany, Wilhelm Kling, an 81-year-old frequent railway user and member of the Munich City Senior Council, continues to hold onto his analogue Bahncard. Unlike most companies that require a customer account for their discount schemes, the Bahncard is a subscription with a minimum duration of one year, used for communication and protection from misuse.
Recently, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt ruled that the railway may not make Sparpreis tickets dependent on customers providing an email address or a mobile number. This decision seems to have little impact on Kling, who prefers to keep his Bahncard in its traditional, paper form.
Kling's persistence in maintaining his paper Bahncard stems from his concerns about mobile phone security and online banking risks. The railway aims to operate its subscription model as digitally as possible, without a plastic card, only on mobile phones. However, Kling is not willing to accept the smartphone model, citing issues of mobile phone security and the risks associated with online banking.
The railway allows customers to receive tickets in travel centers as a paper printout without requiring an email address. This option seems to be more suitable for Kling, who finds the comparison between the Bahncard and other companies lame due to the railway's monopoly. He believes that the railway should not exploit its position to impose digital compulsion on its customers, a sentiment shared by several social associations.
Despite his ongoing discussions with the railway CEO about the digital Bahncard, the article does not provide updates on these discussions. Kling, a fighter for the participation of people who are not digitally active, has previously written to the CEO expressing his concerns. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, as he recently received a printout of his Bahncard after his letter.
The position of the train station regarding the application of customer matters for acquiring a BahnCard subscription is that customers are generally not obligated to provide an email address or mobile phone number. However, a customer account is required, which necessitates an email address. This requirement has caused problems for several readers, particularly when they encounter issues during checks without mobile data.
In some cases, a screenshot of the ticket does not help avoid the black rider's fine, and a processing fee may be required. This issue highlights the importance of having a reliable and accessible alternative like Kling's paper Bahncard.
As the debate on digital compulsion continues, Kling's analogue Bahncard stands as a testament to the need for options that cater to all users, regardless of their digital proficiency. His story serves as a reminder that while the digital world offers many conveniences, it should not come at the expense of those who prefer the traditional methods.
