s bahn fine.. now emails from collectors? Help!!!

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsWestern EuropeGermany
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
1.3k
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
malaysiangirl
malaysiangirl

Hi,

I was in Berlin towards the end of July as part of my summer travels and while there, i bought the discounted ticket for the S-Bahn thinking that students would qualify for the discount. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a childs ticket and the ticket collector fined me 40 EUR, but since I had no cash at that time, i took a ticket from him.

Soon after that, i lost the ticket somewhere in one of the hostels and came home to where i live in the UK. Since then, ive never heard from them until today when I received two separate emails!

Email 1:

Sehr geehrte/r ,

WICHTIGE DATEN ZU IHRER RECHNUNG.

Der automatischeAbzug von Ihrem Bankkonto für die Bestellung vom 13.082013 konnte nicht durchgeführt werden. Es wurden alle Geldeingänge bis zum 24.09.2013 berücksichtigt.

Weitere Einzelheiten der PayPal Abrechnung und die Bankdaten sind im angehängten Ordner.

Der Betrag der Bestellung inklusive der Versandkosten beläuft sich auf 291,53 Euro. Unsere Anwaltskanzlei wurde berechtigt das Geld für Ihre Bestellung einzufordern. Zusätzlich wird Ihnen eine Mahngebühr von 22,00 Euro berechnet und die Kosten unserer Beauftragung von 53,15 Euro.
Falls Sie die Zahlung verweigern müssen Sie mit weiteren Strafen rechnen. Wir geben Ihnen bis zum 29.09.2013 die letzte Möglichkeit das Geld zu zahlen.

Mit besten Grüßen

Nils Pirkenheimer

and a few hours later, email 2:

Sehr geehrte/,

Wichtige Abzüge zur Ihrer Rechnung.

Die Summe für Ihre Bestellung konnte nicht von Ihrem Konto gebucht werden. Es wurden alle Geldeingänge bis einschließlich 24.09.2013 berücksichtigt.

Die Lieferdaten Ihrer Bestellung und die Bankdaten sind im Anhang.

Die Summer der Bestellung inklusive der Versandkosten ist 263,79 Euro. Unser Anwaltsbüro wurde beauftragt des ausstehenden Betrag für Ihre Bestellung einzufordern. Zuzüglich wird Ihnen eine Mahngebühr von 13,00 Euro in Rechnung gestellt und die Kosten unserer Tätigkeit von 15,15 Euro.
Falls Sie die Zahlung weigern sehen wir und gezwungen ein Gerichtsverfahren gegen Sie anzustreben. Wir geben Ihnen bis zum 29.09.2013 die letzte Möglichkeit die gesamte Summe zu zahlen.

Mit verbindlichen Grüßen

Daniel Krämer

I don't understand German, but using google translate, it seems like both the emails are saying the same thing?? but ask for different amounts of money??

The attached zip files in both the emails couldn't be opened. Any advise on what I should do? Any body has any experience with this? Also, should I find it odd that both emails make no mention of S bahn, or any specific reference to the incident?

Thank you!!

Edited by: malaysiangirl

View last reply
Report
1
wrightone
wrightone

I can't help thinking these mails are a scam. They don't read like a fine collection. A 40 euro fine is not likely to have risen to 291 Euros without you having been contacted. They seem to claim you have bought something (including postage) and not paid for it. Who exactly is the sender? Check it on google to see if it is a known scammer. You can contact me directly if you want more help.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
wrightone
wrightone

By the way, don't try to open those zip files - they are bound to be virus infected. It's a common trick! (And even more proof to me that this is a scam)

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
malaysiangirl
malaysiangirl

it is scam! just got sent this from another forum https://www.facebook.com/anti.spam.info/posts/586795304693287

Silly old me! i guess its my vague guilty conscience rearing its head and obscuring my spam detection abilities.

Thanks for responding :)

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
blandineforberg
blandineforberg

These mails are phishing scams and have nothing to do with that S-Bahn fine. Do not open the attachment. Delete them, and any similar mails you may receive in the future.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
tempelton
tempelton

Follow Blandines advice!!! I got those too, but I certainly deleted them without trying to open the attachment, let your virus scanner run now even if you couldn't open them.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
abalada
abalada

From a legal point of view what you received is not a fine like you get for a parking offense. In German it's called "erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt" what could be translated as "augmented transportation charge". It's basically an offer to you by the transportation company: "You have done something illegal (fare dodging). But if you give us EUR 40 we won't bring this before court."
Which means
- you can always refuse to agree on this deal. But than have to live with the fact it may go before court (and will get much more expensive for you).
- if the transportation company will bring this before court or not is not that predictable. If you are not a resident mostly not as this will only cost the transportation company in first place. But it is not impossible. Like it is not impossible to enforce you to pay even when living abroad. This is however no good business, even if the sum you would have to pay in the end is in the range of the sum mentioned in this email (albeit only by accident). Thus with such sums normally not done.
Unpaid fines ruled by a court can be however a problem for tourists which need a Schengen visa to Europe.
- this with "we won't bring this before court" is not binding. If you're a frequent fare dodger and the transportation company knows this they can still go before court.

But in any case if there will be any further proceedings they will send you a normal letter. E.g. from the court/state prosecutor. Not an e-mail.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner