The Bahncard in the lower categories will soon no longer be a card, but will gradually become a discount in digital form. Consumer advocates criticize this.
Bahncards 25 and 50 will no longer be available as plastic cards from June 9th. From this day on, the two subscription variants will only be available in digital form, as stated in customer information from Deutsche Bahn, which the group is sending out these days. In order to use the subscription digitally, customers need a profile in the Bahn app or on the bahn.de platform.
If you don’t have a smartphone, you can print out a replacement document. “Valid BahnCard 25/50 plastic cards can continue to be used until the expiry date printed on them,” it continues. Holders of Bahncard variants 25 and 50 receive a 25 and 50 percent discount per trip, respectively. The plastic card remains for Bahncard subscription 100.
The railway announced the end of plastic cards for the Bahncard 25 and 50 variants last year. The Federal Association of Consumer Organizations (vzbv) criticized the move. It is “annoying” that the company is excluding customers without digital access from the tariff advantages. The Bahncard must be available to everyone. “The valid alternative paper printout must also be accessible to people without a digital customer account, for example by being handed out in the travel center. Free of charge, of course,” demanded vzbv boss Ramona Pop.
Source: Stern
