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Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

ketzu.net

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Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#11

Post by InfinityByTen »

Oh yeah, I've had one of those several years ago. It was a Bahn25 and I got a new one in 2 months and got sent a bill for it. Then, I called them because I couldn't cancel and I tried to tell them about this. At least at that time, the customer support knew about this sneaky practice, and would, on request, allow you to cancel it manually.

I did get a debt collectors post about my unpaid bill and I had to send around emails to them as well that I was pardoned and I didn't use the card at all. I don't remember if I got a confirmation about it and that's why I still have it on my records. After like 7 (8?) years, who knows when they would go under and then come up to me that I owe them like half a million in unpaid debt.

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#12

Post by ketzu »

brummm wrote: post #8

It's not fully state owned, it's semi-privatized. You get the worst of both worlds, so to speak.

It is privatized, but it is fully state owned. The country of germany owns 100% of the stock.

> Sie [DB AG] befindet sich zu 100 Prozent im Eigentum des Bundes

https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardar...

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#13

Post by tombardier »

ketzu wrote: post #4
johndoe0815 wrote: post #2

“Deutsche Bahn, the fully state owned railway company, is a well liked company”. Eh, nope. It’s a horribly mismanaged entity with permanent delays, bad service and outrageous pricing…

Sorry, I have a hard time holding back my sarcasm when writing while being annoyed, I thought the link to the 1.2 trust pilot rating gave it away. As this was mostly written as anger management, the writing is pretty poor. :)

All is clear; I enjoyed that bit :)

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#14

Post by sva_ »

InfinityByTen wrote: post #11

Oh yeah, I've had one of those several years ago. It was a Bahn25 and I got a new one in 2 months and got sent a bill for it. Then, I called them because I couldn't cancel and I tried to tell them about this. At least at that time, the customer support knew about this sneaky practice, and would, on request, allow you to cancel it manually. I did get a debt collectors post about my unpaid bill and I had to send around…

I think after 3 years it is "verjährt."

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#15

Post by sixtyj »

InfinityByTen wrote: post #11

Oh yeah, I've had one of those several years ago. It was a Bahn25 and I got a new one in 2 months and got sent a bill for it. Then, I called them because I couldn't cancel and I tried to tell them about this. At least at that time, the customer support knew about this sneaky practice, and would, on request, allow you to cancel it manually. I did get a debt collectors post about my unpaid bill and I had to send around…

Every cent counts.

What is wrong is that this behaviour is being perpetrated by an organisation that one would not expect to see it.

Edit: Every 500 euros count…

“ Today is about dark patterns that cost me 500€ for nothing.”

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#16

Post by juliangmp »

mlinhares wrote: post #9
juliangmp wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, the folks here that have made experience with the state operated railway (Deutsche Bundesbahn) back when it existed (until 1993) say mostly positive things, especially compared to today. The modern German railway is a combination of both the state and a private company. So we get a for-profit monopoly that's ripping you off but also gets subsidized by the state. The worst of both worlds. This model of kin…

Same reason journalists are defending fascism, they stand to make a profit (or think they do). You can always follow the money to find out why people are making decisions that are seemingly stupid.

Oh there's definetly people profiting from it but I think there's also plenty of cases where Hanlon's Razor applies.

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#17

Post by mr_mitm »

sixtyj wrote: post #15
InfinityByTen wrote: post #11

Oh yeah, I've had one of those several years ago. It was a Bahn25 and I got a new one in 2 months and got sent a bill for it. Then, I called them because I couldn't cancel and I tried to tell them about this. At least at that time, the customer support knew about this sneaky practice, and would, on request, allow you to cancel it manually. I did get a debt collectors post about my unpaid bill and I had to send around…

Every cent counts. What is wrong is that this behaviour is being perpetrated by an organisation that one would not expect to see it. Edit: Every 500 euros count… “ Today is about dark patterns that cost me 500€ for nothing.”

When they owe you money, they refuse to pay up if it's less than 4€: https://preview.redd.it/danke-db-es-geht-mir-nicht-um-die-3-...

However, if I try to explain to them I cannot purchase tickets costing less than 4€ for reasons I simply keep to myself like they do, they hit me with a 60€ fee.

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#18

Post by Hackbraten »

sammy2255 wrote: post #10
johndoe0815 wrote: post #2

“Deutsche Bahn, the fully state owned railway company, is a well liked company”. Eh, nope. It’s a horribly mismanaged entity with permanent delays, bad service and outrageous pricing…

I recall I was once on a Deutsche Bahn train, it was delayed more than an hour (not that I cared I wasn't in a rush). One worker came around handing out envelopes, since everyone was entitled to a partial refund, I had to sign it, and then mail it back to them? What the fuck? Not even Hitler would've allowed this

This was fixed just a couple of years ago. (Not the delays, but at least the refund process was streamlined.)

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#19

Post by sneak »

So many subscription-based things in Germany are outright scams that would be criminal elsewhere.

Mobile phone contracts, internet service contracts principally among them. Two year contracts that auto renew and can only be cancelled in small windows a long time before auto-renew.

Re: Dark patterns: Buying a Bahncard at Deutsche Bahn

#20

Post by sneak »

ketzu wrote: post #4
johndoe0815 wrote: post #2

“Deutsche Bahn, the fully state owned railway company, is a well liked company”. Eh, nope. It’s a horribly mismanaged entity with permanent delays, bad service and outrageous pricing…

Sorry, I have a hard time holding back my sarcasm when writing while being annoyed, I thought the link to the 1.2 trust pilot rating gave it away. As this was mostly written as anger management, the writing is pretty poor. :)

It wasn’t you, the sarcasm was obvious.

Germans generally don’t understand sarcasm, written or spoken.

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