Anyone successfully contest a ZVV control?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
I know its a long shot!

I accidently bought a short trip ticket on ZVV app for a few minutes in the future, was immediately controlled and fined for not having a valid ticket. My ticket literally became valid three minutes after I was controlled. Yes, I know very bad luck...

Has anyone successfully contested something like this? I realize I don't have much of a chance. I'm very much a rule follower and am totally pissed at myself.

2
Did you happen to buy the ticket *AFTER* you got on the tram, bus or train ?

If so, too bad. It's clearly stated that you *MUST* purchase the ticket before you get on....and the app is set up so that it buys the *next* connection.... unless you specifically 'push' the ticket back to the transport you are on....if you are using the app then you have to look very carefully.

This should not happen if you bought the ticket from the ticket machine....

I believe it's set up this was *specifically* to stop people from being able to 'grab' a ticket on their phone if they see the inspector coming.

3
would it worked to have stalled them by turning off your phone? "oh. hold on. let me see. it look's like it is frozen. *push push*.... oh, it looks like it is off. let's turn it on again.. *an eternity for bootup*. here you go.

4
Once, I came across an interesting article in the newspaper mentioning how SBB faced a significant issue after implementing their ticketing app. There was a surge of passengers who would buy their tickets only when they spotted a ticket collector on the train. To address this problem, SBB upgraded their software to recognize such instances.As a result, the likelihood of successfully contesting such a situation is now relatively small.

HOWEVER If you have the energy and time, it doesn't hurt to give it a shot. Make a written contest and explain what happened. In some cases, particularly if it's your first time, you might be granted some grace. I've tried this strategy in some similar situations and was successfull.

5
How does it work with the easyride function? It's pretty easy to just swipe in when you see a controller coming isnt' it?

6
The controller would see that you’d only just swiped and that it was in between stations.

7
Absolutely true. I witnessed it firsthand. A lady next to me hurriedly boarded the train just before it departed, only to realize that she had forgotten to buy a ticket (I could hear her frustrated muttering to herself). In a rush, she purchased one on the spot.

A ticket controller appeared at the next stop, and unfortunately, she received a fine. I attempted to defend her, but the ticket controller simply responded with the classic phrase "Ordnung muss sein", and as we all know, you can't really argue with that in Switzerland

8
The time at the stamp machine at our train station was 7 min ahead the real time. I informed the lady at the SBB counter (which was 10 m away from that machine) and it took them several weeks to fix it.

9
They bought a ticket on the SBB app for a future connection, but boarded an earlier train, bus, tram ...

This happens unfortunately too often as the app assumes you cannot make the earlier connection, and thus it is no longer shown. One can scroll back to see the earlier connection and buy a ticket for those. Ticket will be valid from time of purchase. You should (*) have a valid ticket when you board the vehicle, sometimes the purchase takes a few minute until you have a valid QR code.

The ZVV/SBB has usually no mercy and you will have to pay the CHF 100 fee for travelling w/o a valid ticket (legally it is not a fine, but just an extra fee).

*) Actual rules.

e-tickets and mobile tickets: You must have valid ticket when the vehicle departs. To be on the safe side, only board once you have a valid ticket. Thus it is 100% guaranteed that the purchase was successful when the course departs. If the purchase is finalized only after the vehicle departed you travelled with an invalid ticket and can be [s]fined[\s] charged a fee.

Fairtiq/EasyRide: You MUST have successfully activated the function BEFORE you board the vehicle. Activation needs a good GPS signal and mobile connection. If you activate Fairtiq/EasyRide after you boarded, but before the course leaves you still can be [s]fined[\s] charged a fee.

Possible options to avoid it: Only board connections for which you have bought the ticket or later ones, but never ever earlier ones! Specifically purchase the ticket for an earlier connection Purchase a ticket at the ticket machine Purchase your ZVV ticket in the SBB app using the Kiosk icon Purchase your ticket in the ZVV app (similar, even more options, then the SBB app Kiosk) Use Fairtiq or Easyride. Must be successfully activated before you board the vehicle!

10
better still walk or ride a bike instead

11
I feel for you, happened to me also and I was so nagry and annoyed at the stupid system since I clearly had a ticket....

I gave up fighting it as knew I have little chance, the sting passes after a little bit and you forget about it.

Be kind to yourself

12
Sorry if this is going off piste...

I have never been fined (out of luck more than anything) but I have, like most of us apparently, bought a ticket shortly after boarding a train - either because I forgot to buy beforehand or just didn't plan enough time before the train left.

So, is it actually pointless to buy a ticket at all in these circumstances? If there will ultimately be a fine anyway considering the purchase time is after the train's departure time, is there any benefit to buying the ticket even if late?

13
In my case the fine was then for wrong ticket vs not having a ticket so I believ slightly better in the list of horrible crimes you can commit in CH.

14
on appeal the fine might be mitigated if you have a ticket. i believe there was such a policy for SBB at one time (IIRC also via a legal ruling), not sure if still in force and/or applies to SBB.

15
Is there any written rule about these mitigating factors by any chance? I haven't found any but if course I would welcome any better-informed inputs.

One thing I have done (rightly or wrongly - don't shoot me!) is to buy a ticket on the mobile app that is valid from the next stop on the train, in the hope the conductor doesn't come in that interim period. I know it's not ideal or morally right but any other suggestions are welcome!

16
No you will get a fine for having the wrong ticket except in your case they may think you were trying to fool all along and simly directly report you to the police.... which otherwise is done if you are a repeat offered (3 times within 2 yrs)

How much are you saving anyway? Is it even worth the excitement?

17
For me, it's not about any cost-saving or excitement-maximisation...just curious if buying a ticket was a complete waste or not

18
Pay the fine and forget it. Learn from your mistakes.

19
With Fairtiq it is definitely worth buying a ticket late as it seems to default to the nearest geographical stop, just on the moving train you may or may not get it to work.

20
i don't remember where i saw this but was discussed on EF and was on SBB/news sites. try google or searching EF