Where can a gift card be redeemed?

Initials Transport company Counter Ticket machine
AAGS Auto AG Schwyz  x x
AB Appenzeller Bahnen  x
AeS Aegerisee Schifffahrt  x
AFA Autoverkehr Frutigen-Adelboden  x x
ASM Aare Seeland mobil  x x
BBWAG Bergbahnen Wildhaus x
BDWM BDWM Transport  x x
Bernmobil Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Bern  x x
BGU Busbetrieb Grenchen und Umgebung  x x
BLM Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren  x x
BLS BLS AG (without catering BLS lake cruise in the Bernese Oberland)  x x
BOB Berner-Oberland-Bahnen  x x
BOGG Busbetrieb Olten Gösgen Gäu AG x
BSAG Bergbahnen Sörenberg  x
BSG Bielersee-Schifffahrts-Gesellschaft  x
InitialsTransport companyCounterTicket machine
BSU Busbetrieb Solothurn und Umgebung  x x
CG Cossonay Gare - Cossonay-Ville x
CGN CGN SA (Lac Léman)  x
CJ Chemins de fer du Jura  x x
FB Forchbahn  x
GGB Gornergrat Bahn  x
LEB Chemin de Fer Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher  x x
LLB Auto Leuk-Leukerbad  x
LSS Säntis-Schwebebahn  x
MBC Transports de la région Morges-Bière-Cossonay  x x
MGB Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn  x1 x1
MOB Chemin de fer Montreux-Oberland Bernois  x x
MVR Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera  x x
NStCM Chemin de fer Nyon-St.Cergue-Morez  x
OC Orbe – Chavornay / travys  x
InitialsTransport companyCounterTicket machine
OeBB Oensingen-Balsthal-Bahn  x x
PAG PostAuto Schweiz AG  x2
RBL Regionalbus Lenzburg  x
RBS Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn  x x
RhB Rhätische Bahn  x
RVBW Regionale Verkehrsbetriebe Baden-Wettingen AG  x
SBB Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG  x x
SBN Niederhornbahn  x
SBW Stadtbus Winterthur  x
SGV Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee  x
SGZ Schifffahrtsgesellschaft für den Zugersee  x
SMC Transports Sierre-Montana-Crans  x x
SMtS Funiculaire St-Imier – Mont-Soleil SA x
SOB Schweizerische Südostbahn AG  x x
STI Verkehrsbetriebe STI AG  x
InitialsTransport companyCounterTicket machine
SZU Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg Bahn  x
TBBU Toggenburg Bergbahnen  x
TMR Transports de Martigny et Régions  x
TPC Transports publics du Chablais  x
TPF Transports publics fribourgeois  x
transN Transports Publics Neuchâtelois SA  x x
TRAVYS Transports Vallée de Joux-Yverdon-Ste-Croix  x
VB Verkehrsbetriebe Biel  x x
VBL Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern  x
VBZ Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich  x x
WAB Wengernalpbahn  x x
WSB Wynental- und Suhrental-Bahn  x x
ZB Zentralbahn  x x
ZVB Zuger Verkehrsbetriebe x
1) May only be redeemed at selected ticket counters/machines
2) Only valid at the PostBus counters in Bern, Sion, Saas-Fee, Bellinzona, Lugano, Fims and Lenzerheide/Lai

Where can gift cards be purchased?

Initials Transport company Counter
SBB Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG x
RhB Rhätische Bahn x
TransN transports publics neuchâtelois x
BLS BLS AG x2
FB Forchbahn x
MGB Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn x
SGV Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Vierwaldstättersee x1
SOB Schweizerische Südostbahn AG x
SZU Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg-Bahn x
VBL Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern x
VBZ Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich x
ZB Zentralbahn x
1) Only at selected ticket counters
2) Vending only at Travel Centres or further points of sale of BLS AG (without BLS lake cruise in the Bernese Oberland and BLS Lötschberg Car Transport)

FAQ gift cards

What is a gift card?

Gift cards are prepaid electronic cards that can be used in the same way as vouchers to make purchases at SBB ticket offices, SBB ticket machines and participating transport companies.

How much is a gift card worth?

You decide how much you would like your gift to be worth. The minimum amount is CHF 10 and the maximum is CHF 3000.

Where can I get a gift card?

Gift cards are available from all SBB ticket offices and from the ticket offices of the participating transport companies.

How can I pay for a gift card?

In cash or with a Postcard or Maestro card.

Where can I use my gift card in payment?

You can pay with your gift card at any SBB ticket office or SBB ticket machine and at the ticket offices and ticket machines of the participating transport companies.

What can I pay for using my gift card?

You can use your gift card at any SBB station or SBB ticket machine and at the ticket offices and ticket machines of the participating transport companies to pay for anything except cash withdrawals, foreign currency, Western Union, TravelCash, InternetCash or travellers’ cheques.

Can I use my gift card to buy tickets online?

No. Unfortunately that is not possible.

Can I use my gift card to buy tickets at a ticket machine?

Yes, but you must have enough remaining credit on your card to pay the amount stated.

I have several gift cards with small amounts on them. Can I use them all at the same time?

Yes. You can do so at all SBB ticket offices and at the ticket offices of the participating transport companies, but not at ticket machines.

Can I use my gift card to buy tickets from a different transport company?

Yes. You can use your gift card to pay at all the participating transport companies, regardless of where the card was purchased.

How can I find out the remaining balance on my gift card?

You have two options:
1. Go to www.giftcard-pt.ch and enter the gift card's balance enquiry code, or
2. Text "Balance" and your balance enquiry code to 959 (CHF 0.20 per text). You will find the balance enquiry code on the back of your gift card.

Can I find out my balance at a ticket machine, too?

No. Balances are not available at ticket machines.

How can I find out when my gift card expires?

Go to www.giftcard-pt.ch. You can launch your balance enquiry from the relevant field on that website. Your gift card's expiry date will be shown along with the balance.

The remaining balance on my gift card is less than I thought!

The balance is adjusted automatically. If you would like to have the balance checked, go to the ticket office of one of the participating transport companies. Your request will be processed and forwarded for attention.

I can't pay with my gift card, even though it should still have a remaining balance on it.

Your gift card may be damaged. Take it to the nearest ticket office of a participating transport company. The staff will be pleased to help.

I have lost my gift card or it has been stolen. Can I get a replacement?

Unfortunately it is not possible to replace, block or reimburse lost or stolen gift cards.

I don't need my gift card any more. Can I return it?

Gift cards cannot be returned.

How long is my gift card valid for?

Gift cards are valid for two years from the last financial transaction. Each time you use your gift card to pay for something, the two-year period starts again from the beginning.

If I buy a gift card will my personal details be used for commercial purposes?

No. Gift cards are not personalised and are transferable. You do not need to provide any personal details when purchasing a gift card.

General Terms and Conditions for gift cards (GTC)

1. General

The public transport gift card is an electronic gift card (debit card) marketed by Swiss transport companies.

The participating transport companies are listed at www.giftcard-pt.ch. The gift card gives the customer a credit against SBB. These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between the customer (cardholder) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), joint-stock company under special legislation, 3000 Berne 65 (henceforth SBB). The customer acknowledges these Terms and Conditions and undertakes to comply with them.

2. Purchasing and loading credit onto gift cards

Gift cards can be purchased and loaded at the staffed ticket offices of the participating transport companies, which are listed at www.giftcard-pt.ch under "Where can I buy one?".

Credit can be loaded using cash or a debit card. It cannot be loaded using Reka Checks or a credit card.

The minimum credit load is CHF 10.00 per card. The maximum amount that can be loaded onto a single card is CHF 3,000.

3. Uses of gift cards

Gift cards can be used as a means of payment at the ticket offices, travel agencies and ticket machines of participating transport companies.

Gift cards cannot be used as a means of payment for the following services: foreign exchange transactions, TravelCash, InternetCash, Travelers Cheques, Western Union.

Credit balances on gift cards (full value or remaining balance) cannot be paid out in cash.

To pay for goods and services with a gift card, insert it into the card reader. No PIN or signature is required. If payment with the gift card is not possible because of a technical fault, participating transport companies reserve the right to refuse to accept it.

Participating transport companies also reserve the right to investigate customers’ financial background and to ask them to produce official proof of identity.

4. Remaining balance

The credit balance on the card can be checked at www.giftcard-pt.ch or by text message (CHF 0.20 per text).

5. Interest

No interest will be paid on gift card credit balances.

6. Fees

No fees are charged either for loading credit onto gift cards or for making payments for goods and services using gift cards.

7. Validity and expiration of gift cards

Unused credit balances will expire two years after the last date the card was used: i.e. the last time it was loaded or debited. Authorisation requests/balance enquiries do not count as use of the card.

8. Cardholder's duty of care

The customer must keep the gift card in a safe place and protect it against misuse by third parties. The customer agrees to accept all transactions completed with the gift card and bear all consequences arising from its use.

9. Liability

Gift cards are not personalised and are transferable. They should therefore be treated in the same way as cash. The remaining balance on a card will not be refunded if it is lost or stolen. Damaged gift cards which still have credit on them can be exchanged for new cards at the ticket offices of the participating transport companies. In these cases, the damaged gift card must be handed in.

No liability is accepted for damages incurred by customers as a result of system failures, faults, unlawful interference with transmission networks or other deficiencies. Participating transport companies reserve the right to suspend services at any time and without giving a reason if they identify a security risk relating to the service.

10. Cancelling transactions

If a transaction with a gift card has been initiated in error, customers must keep the transaction receipt and present it at the ticket office of a participating company immediately afterwards.

Services purchased in error can be exchanged. No cash payments can be made. Gift cards can only be cancelled and reloaded in isolated cases if the service purchased in error cannot be exchanged.

11. Data protection

In principle, no personal data is collected or stored. However, should such data be collected within the scope of Section 3 above, participating transport companies undertake to comply with the statutory provisions of the Swiss Data Protection Act.

If customers provide contact details such as a mobile telephone number or technical network address when making a balance enquiry, these data will be used to provide this service. Customers accept that third parties may be involved in the provision of balance-enquiry services; in this event, however, steps will be taken to ensure that appropriate technical and organisational measures are employed to protect customers’ contact details.

12. Applicable law and place of jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by Swiss law. The place of jurisdiction is Berne. Binding legal provisions remain reserved.

13. Amendments and additions

SBB reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Advance notice of changes will be given at www.giftcard-pt.ch. Changes will be deemed to have been approved unless the customer surrenders the gift card before they come into effect. The most recent version can be found at www.giftcard-pt.ch, and it can also be obtained from the ticket offices of participating transport companies.

In the event of any discrepancy between the German, French, Italian and/or English versions of the Terms and Conditions, the German version shall prevail.

Berne, 9 November 2012

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Editor-in-chief:

Swiss Federal Railways SBB
Passenger Services Markets
P.O Box
3000 Berne 65
Switzerland
www.sbb.ch/en/contact

Design and implementation

Maxomedia AG
Agentur für Crossmedia-Kommunikation BSW
Zinggstrasse 1
3000 Bern 23
www.maxomedia.ch

Tickets for a leisure excursion, a travelcard, a trip abroad – these are just some of the things you can pay for with a gift card. A prepaid card is an ideal gift for every occasion.

Gift cards are available from all ticket offices of the participating transport companies and can be loaded with any amount between CHF 10 and CHF 3000. Details of where the card is accepted can be found under "Where can it be redeemed?". And don't forget: every time the gift card is used in payment, its expiry date automatically extends for another two years.

Balance enquiries.
To find out how much you have left to spend on your gift card, you can simply request the current balance: enter the code on the back of your gift card here (e.g. ABC123):

You can also request your balance by text: just text "Balance" with the balance enquiry code (see back of card) to 959 to find out your balance. Price per text: CHF 0.20.