Not long after the train doors close, the Ubahn controllers whip out their small terminals and go like Fahrkarte Kontrolle, bitte einmal die Fahrausweis bitte. For some reason, you panic for a millisecond even when I have my ticket. If you don’t then a fine awaits you.
This can go several ways. Either you decided to risk riding the metro without a ticket or you lost it. Sometimes you just forgot it at home. Whatever the case is, you have to do the momentary walk of shame out of the train. You get out at the next station and your ticket is handed to you on the platform. You are officially a Schwarzfahrer (literally means black driver).
It does not have to happen to you. Here is how much it costs to ride the BVG network.
What do you do when you get handed a BVG ticket?
A BVG fine is 60 Euros. If you forgot your ticket or can prove that you had a ticket, you pay 7 Euros instead. To prove that you had a ticket, fill this online form 7 days after receiving your fine.
You could hypothetically bring your friend’s transferable ticket as proof. The BVG also thought of this too. If the ticket is transferable and not in your name, you, unfortunately, have to pay the full fine.
How to pay your fine
You can pay your fine in 4 ways. There is no one best way. Just pay however is most convenient for you.
Pay on the spot – Sofort
You can pay your fines on the spot. There have been a few rumors of people impersonating controllers. If you sense something is fishy with the situation, ask for identification. You should under no circumstance be asked to pay more or less than the 60 Euros. Neither should you pay with cash. Always ask for a receipt and keep it
Alternatively just grab your fine and pay at a later time.
Pay at a BVG customer service center.
You can pay at these BVG customer service centers
- Alexanderplatz
- Friedrichstraße
- Gesundbrunnen
- Hauptbahnhof
- Lichtenberg
- Ostbahnhof
- Potsdam Hauptbahnhof
- Spandau
Pay via bank transfer
You can also pay via a bank transfer. If you live in Berlin, Germany, or in the European Union, a SEPA transfer should be free. This is the bank account details as at now according to the BVG at the time of writing this article. Check again to make sure it has not changed before transferring money
Empfänger: Paigo GmbH, Gütersloher Str. 123, 33415 Verl
Geldinstitut: Postbank Karlsruhe
IBAN: DE36 6601 0075 0025 4037 55
S.W.I.F.T.-BIC: PBNKDE FF XXX
Deutsche Postbank AG (Anschrift: Theodor-Heuss-Allee 72, 60486 Frankfurt/Main)
Pay online on the BVG portal
Probably the easiest way for most people will be to pay directly online. Every fine has a reference number on the receipt. You enter it in the provided field and you will be guided through the steps to complete your payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have 14 days from the day you receive your fine to pay. If you are doing a bank transfer, the money should show up in the BVG account with the 14 days.
Should you lose your fine, contact the BVG support an email with details at info@bvg.de.
This should include:
1. Your name
2. Your address
3. Date of birth
4. When you were fined
5. Where you received your fine
People have gone to jail for repeatedly not paying fines. Chances are the BVG may not pursue legal action immediately. After a few reminders, you may end up paying more than the original fine.
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