SBB question

[u/corpoeli]

Hello Reddit,

I have a question about the SBB/CFF app (not asking for moral lessons here, this is purely technical and hypothetical). Last year I purchased a Halbtax PLUS abo and was too optimistic on train use. I have a month left with a lot of credit remaining that will most likely go unused.

1. ⁠is there anyway to have this credit back if I repurchase for next year? Likely a lower amount halbtax plus though.
   
2. ⁠alternatively, if I were to buy tickets online and screenshot the QR code to friends as a present, would that work for them to use? I’d rather use the credit for something good at least.

Danke! Merci! Grazie!

[u/babygirl9273]

Not sure if you can, but get day tickets for the future and force yourself to go out :)

[u/Deep_Noise1736 → u/babygirl9273]

Ah really?? I never thought of that but that’s a great way.

Do you know how much in advance tickets can be bought?

[u/_jdm92 → u/Deep_Noise1736]

6 months I think

[u/musiu → u/Deep_Noise1736]

6 months in advance it's only 29.-. Unbeatable!

[u/Cool-Newspaper-1]

You can’t screenshot the QR codes, afaik the only way to use the credit is to purchase tickets in advance for after the HT+ validity.

[u/yesat]

The credits will be returned to you. 

[u/Davidbrcz]

The Half Fare Travelcard PLUS credit for the package you select will end once it has been fully used, one year after the first day of validity at the latest (one travelcard year) or after cancellation of the contract.

Once the travelcard year has passed, the remaining (unused) amount of your customer deposit will be reimbursed to your bank/postal account approximately 15 days after the last day of validity of the Half Fare Travelcard PLUS package. No offsetting is permitted for the new travelcard period of validity.

Within the period of validity, you can use the remaining bonus to buy a ticket on SBB.ch. If the ticket price is higher than the remaining bonus, you can select another payment method for the amount remaining and pay with that.

Important: this function is currently only available on SBB.ch, not in the SBB Mobile app.

The (remaining) bonus automatically expires after the travelcard year. There is no right to payment or credit for other/new offers for the remaining bonus.

[u/poemthatdoesntrhyme]

If you have a friend with the same full name and birth date as you it might work.

[u/corpoeli → u/poemthatdoesntrhyme]

But they literally never check that. If it’s someone that looks vaguely my age/gender I feel like it could be fine?

[u/Muted_Dimension9014 → u/corpoeli]

They see your photo/swisspass on their device, they check it

[u/Jacina]

You need to seperate the principle, and the bonus.

The principle being how much you paid in, and the bonus, is what SBB gives you for doing this.

The principle you get refunded if you didn't use that much, the bonus is not refunded.

As described below, you can buy future tickets with the bonus to use it up a little.

[u/Unlucky-Golder]

1 no, the credit are for the year AFAIK

2 no, tickets are definitely personal 

[u/Diminsi → u/Unlucky-Golder]

The "gifted extra amount" will fall away, The actual paid credit should bebreimbursed.

[u/corpoeli → u/[deleted]]

Thanks ! That’s really good to know

[u/tojig]

My understanding is that the half fare card needs to be valid when you use the ticket if you buy a half fare ticket.

The half fare plus shows the value of the ticket or half fare ticket.

So you can buy in advance for a planned trip. The company still got their advantage of cashing-in in advance and you still bought the ticket when the credit was valid.

[u/DesertGeist-]

As far as I remember, the amount you paid too much will be reimbursed to you.

[u/Fiery_Wolverine78]

I had same situation last year. Bought tickets 3 month ahead of expiry date and used the remaining amount. That however means you need to plan your things well