French Train Booking @ Voyages-SNCF: repeated Credit Card rejection

[legroom]

Hello

I wonder if any of you had come across & more importantly know how to deal with this situation.

Planning ahead to buy some French train tickets (Avignon to Paris etc....) on SNCF, my Aussie CCs (Visa & MasterCard - some 6-7 cards) were all rejected.

Talking to the banks, they claimed that no transaction has ever been even attempted / registered with them i.e. the rejection occurs before they even reach the banks and therefore they cannot do anything.

And yes, SNCF is not blocked as per my request.

I have done the followings:

1) Refresh screens, empty all cookies

2) Enter the SMS authentication code sent from the banks

3) VPN to pretend I am in France and using French (not English) version

4) Use the recommended alternative - Capitaine Train which returned the identical error message

What else have you tried to buy a train ticket ?

IIRC, it was much simpler the last time I tried (2014).

 

[Pushka]

I used Capitaine Train this year with no problems. They also responded quickly by email. Buying a ticket creates an account so you can go in and check.

 

[opusman]

I have bought from SNCF direct using an Aussie card before, so maybe this was just a temporary glitch. Give it 24 hours and try again.

Or use an Australian agent like Rail Europe, but you'll end up paying more.

 

[24601]

Assume you've read this or know this stuff anyway, but easy just to book through one of the agents mentioned: Voyages-sncf.com | How to use it, without being redirected.

I used a raileurope site last year and no problem.

 

[legroom]

I used Capitaine Train this year with no problems. They also responded quickly by email. Buying a ticket creates an account so you can go in and check.

I tried Capitaine Train using my account twice on two separate days - same error message as SNCF

I have bought from SNCF direct using an Aussie card before, so maybe this was just a temporary glitch. Give it 24 hours and try again.

Or use an Australian agent like Rail Europe, but you'll end up paying more.

Same here, no problem as recently as last year !

Don't want to try RailEurope - more expensive

Had tried this over the last 3 days and cleared all cookies as well

 

[Pushka]

Can you try a different card? I used an Aussie card, no vpn and used correct details. This worked in March this year.

 

[legroom]

I wrote ".... my Aussie CCs (Visa & MasterCard - some 6-7 cards) were all rejected ..."

Can you try a different card? I used an Aussie card, no vpn and used correct details. This worked in March this year.

 

[Pushka]

I wrote ".... my Aussie CCs (Visa & MasterCard - some 6-7 cards) were all rejected ..."

Sorry. On the app and it is into the second page. I have the memory of a gnat these days.

 

[maia200]

I booked mine on SNCF twice last week with no problems - one from Lyon to Paris return and the other Lyon to Geneva (on two separate days ) using French site and Aussie cc.....sounds like a glitch with the system

 

[legroom]

Thanks

Will keep trying I guess

I booked mine on SNCF twice last week with no problems - one from Lyon to Paris return and the other Lyon to Geneva (on two separate days ) using French site and Aussie cc.....sounds like a glitch with the system

 

[opusman]

Out of interest, what's the actual error message you get?

 

[legroom]

Out of interest, what's the actual error message you get?

SMS authentication



SNCF error message



Apparently this has been a running sore for some time !

 

[Pushka]

So you are not getting the sms then?

 

[legroom]

So you are not getting the sms then?

I did - every time !

 

[Franky]

I did - every time !

You've had a number of suggestions, we used 'The Man in Seat 61' online booking agency with no problems Amsterdam-Paris this year.

 

[turtlemichael]

I used the french language SNCF site this morning with an Australian Amex without any problem.

 

[legroom]

That's odd as I have not seen AMEX listed on my attempts thus far, only Visa and MC.

Will flush the cookies and try again

 

[turtlemichael]

That's odd as I have not seen AMEX listed on my attempts thus far, only Visa and MC.

Will flush the cookies and try again

Amex definitely there

 

[Boca68]

I'm sure I read about this potential problem on Voyages-sncf.com | How to use it, without being redirected Its near the bottom of the page. Might just help you? I remember when I booked SNCF tickets a couple of years ago. Although, luckily I did not have a problem

but have a look , you might find something.

 

[legroom]

This is my payment page - on numerous occasions.

Amex definitely there

I had tried captaintrain.com - as noted in my OP.

Here is the error message - seen on 3-4 occasions now with different cards

I'm sure I read about this potential problem on Voyages-sncf.com | How to use it, without being redirected Its near the bottom of the page. Might just help you? I remember when I booked SNCF tickets a couple of years ago. Although, luckily I did not have a problem

but have a look , you might find something.