The Germany ticket has been a highly successful model, with millions of sales, despite some politicians from the CDU and CSU threatening to abolish it. However, a recent report by Heise.de has revealed that some owners of the popular ticket have been sold invalid tickets. These tickets were allegedly falsified with the intention of fraud, and the provider, D-Ticket, has been accused of selling them.
The tickets in question were purchased from D-Ticket, a company with a website carrying the top-level domain .SU, which stands for the Soviet Union. The company’s headquarters is listed as being in London, but according to Heise.de, this is merely a mailbox company, and all contact is made via email or an online form on the website. One of the advantages of buying a Germany ticket from D-Ticket was that customers could save money, as they only had to pay for the remaining days of the month. However, this is not a legitimate offer, as the Germany ticket has always cost 58 euros since the price increase in early 2025.
As it turns out, the Germany tickets sold by D-Ticket were recognized as valid during controls by the end of January 2025. However, the crypto key used for these tickets has since been revoked, rendering them invalid. This means that customers who purchased tickets from D-Ticket are now traveling without a valid ticket and risk being fined 60 euros if caught. The German railway company Metronom has explicitly warned against D-Ticket, labeling it a fake shop that sells false Germany tickets. Other websites to watch out for include www.de-ticket.com/de, www.d-ticket.su, and www.deutschlandTicket.website.
Consequences for affected customers
On Trustpilot, numerous complaints have been filed against D-Ticket in the past few hours, with customers reporting that their Germany tickets are no longer valid. Some have even published emails from the alleged customer support of D-Ticket. However, it appears that D-Ticket has attempted to counter these negative reviews with fake positive assessments. One such review, clearly meant ironically, sums up the situation: “Simply respect for the dealer who with a domain from the Soviet Union, a mailbox company from England, and money gifts in the form of ‘In the middle of the month, we give you 30 €’ actually manages to find enough good faith… Incredible!”
What affected customers can do
If you have purchased a Germany ticket from D-Ticket, you will not be able to get your money back, as the company’s policy states that cancellation or reimbursement of the purchase price is excluded once the purchase contract is concluded and the ticket is ordered. However, you can try to contact your bank or payment service provider to see if they can assist you in recovering your funds. It is also essential to keep a close eye on your account movements and credit card statements to avoid any further unauthorized transactions.
Obtaining valid Germany tickets
To avoid falling victim to scams like D-Ticket, it is crucial to purchase Germany tickets from reputable providers. All local transport companies sell the Germany ticket, and you can find valid tickets on their websites. For example, the Munich MVG and Deutsche Bahn offer the Germany ticket on their websites, with the price always being identical. Always be cautious when purchasing tickets online and ensure that you are buying from a legitimate source to avoid any issues with invalid tickets.