I agree with you to some extent that the fine is high and that the rules are confusing for newbies. One thing I've learned here is that the Swiss have a very high regard for rules and regulations. When I was growing up I was raised to always question the rules, but I think that comes from the fact that in the US we don't trust our politicians and lawmakers while here they do (I'm making vast generalizations, obviously).
When I first moved here I was having paperwork issues (I actually had to be sent back to the US for two months for it) and whenever I asked if there was "some other way", I was always told "these are the rules, you must follow the rules". It was infuriating. Once, the woman at the Swiss consulate actually hung up on me. It took a lot of frustration and quite a long time to adjust to the Swiss way, but now that we are living here it is something that we have to accept.
maybe you just didn't handle it right. when a similar thing happened to me, i just glared at the SBB man and bellowed "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM???" that quickly resolved the situation in my favour.
AdrianLondon: lol. thanks for jumping to conclusions and having a good old rant. I try at all times to treat others fairly, with respect and decency. And I expect to be treated in the same way, whether I am interacting with a waiter, a passerby, a ticket conductor, or whoever. During my interaction with the ZVV conductor, I (and the conductor) behaved very civilly. Switzerland is competing in a global marketplace for tourists, as with any other product on the market. In my experience, the product was wanting, so I moved my custom to a destination where I felt fairly treated. Of course, I realise that my experience may be unique to me and that others may have had different encounters with conductors. But the bottom line is that I do not desire the possibility of a repeat to my Swiss experience, so I have not returned.
I am not wealthy. I happen to earn a living wage and am frugal. My employer has generous holiday allowances and I spend most of my disposable income on European outdoor holidays, which explains my holiday expenditure levels.
Caviarchips: I appear to have a couple of decades of holidays left in me, so roughly 15K x 40 years = 600K.
I think the Zurich zone system is fair and fairly priced, but there is a massive problem with signage and communication of the complex rules. I think though, at the end of the day, it is the user's fault when there is an infraction.
I used to work in a town, reachable on a regular S-bahn that was 1 stop outside of Zurich Canton. When you purchase a ticket in Zurich canton that goes accross zones, you are allowed to use all modes of travel within those zones. I didn't realize that when the tickets are purchased to go over Cantonal lines (even just one shot stop) this no longer applies. I had been riding the tram to/from the train station for weeks before I was stopped, fined and told otherwise. I seriously had no idea that my stop was even outside of the Canton, and I took it as a learning experience, and it's my suggestion that you do the same.
I understand the frustration and share in it. My husband and I recently got 100 CHF each on a bus for tickets that had just expired. It was my fault and I didn't argue with the man who ticketed us. I simply apologized for my baby brain and accepted the ticket.
Once the two payslips arrived approximately a week later, I emailed the address listed. I explained my error and commented that it seemed to be a very high fine for our first offense. They sent a very courteous email back and cancelled one of the tickets.
It was more than I expected and it's definitely a lesson learned for me to be extra diligent in keeping track of the time!
That's the longest couple of decades I've ever seen.
Recently Mrs Mainwaring got the train back from Zurich to Basel, and realised her rtn ticket was expired by 3 days (been away on business). She went and found the conductor, explained, and was let off, not even a rebuke.
according to google, GDP of switzerland is $527.92 billion. i've asked google on your behalf to update their numbers and decrease the GDP figure accordingly.
Specifically to try and appear as though they are actually honest and to divert attention. Your case is probably legitimate however look at from their perspective, they get every story in the book and the best criminals are the ones that try to be nice and get you through pretence
You’re absolutely right that I wouldn’t make a dent in Switzerland’s GDP. It takes someone like Hannibal Gaddafi’s pappy to threaten a withdrawal of funds to make an impact. It would be fascinating to know what effect the Arab Spring, including Assad’s recent purchases of weaponry and Harry Potter DVDs, has had on the Swiss GDP. I wonder what happens to Mubarak et al’s Swiss accounts - perhaps something similar to what happened the Holocaust victims' accounts?