Am I entitled to compensation if my booked train ticket was invalid?
April 16, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Schlittmaier
Dear lawyer,
My name is Christine Freudenberger and I recently booked a train ticket for a journey from Munich to Hamburg. Unfortunately, I found out that the ticket was deemed invalid during the train inspection and I had to pay a fine. I then contacted the company where I purchased the ticket, but was not offered a satisfactory solution.
I am very upset about this situation, as it not only resulted in additional costs for me, but also unnecessarily extended my travel time. I am wondering if I have a right to compensation, as the company clearly issued a faulty ticket. Are there any legal options to get my money back and possibly receive compensation for the inconvenience caused?
I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist me in this matter and provide me with information regarding my rights as a customer in this case. I would like to know what steps I can take to enforce my rights and receive appropriate compensation.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Christine Freudenberger
Dear Mrs. Freudenberger,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the incident with your train ticket from Munich to Hamburg. I am sorry to hear that you have been put in such an unpleasant situation and had to incur additional costs and inconvenience due to the invalid classification of your ticket.
In your case, it seems that the company from which you purchased the ticket has provided a faulty service by issuing you an invalid ticket. In such cases, consumers generally have the right to adequate compensation for the damages incurred.
To enforce your rights and receive compensation, there are various legal steps you can take. First of all, you should contact the company again and make it clear that you are not satisfied with the current solution. It is important to gather all relevant information and documents that support the incident, such as the invalid ticket, the fine you had to pay, and your communication with the company.
If the company still does not offer a satisfactory solution, you may consider taking legal action. You could file a complaint with the arbitration board for public transportation or directly contact a lawyer specializing in travel law to assert your claims. A lawyer can assist you in negotiating adequate compensation or, if necessary, filing a lawsuit against the company.
It is important to emphasize that each case should be considered individually and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of compensation. Therefore, I strongly advise you to seek legal advice to best represent your rights in this matter.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schlittmaier
Travel Law Attorney
