Not able to receive SMS text on Google Fi USA phone number

Werowa80

I am not able to receive SMS text to my USA cellphone number for identity verification on Google Fi using SBB app or Swisspass website.

Does anyone know a solution to this issue? Thanks in advance.

RolandP

Hello Werowa80

I wondered why you, as a tourist, need to identify yourself. You, in fact, took the wrong path and are about to register as a resident 🙂

Simply create an account, saying that you do not have a customer number. As a tourist, you do not need a customer number, just a user account.

https://sbb-tickets.cc/de/angebote/swisspass-karte/register/1?lang=en

Let us know if you need further assistance.

Kind regards,
Roland

Werowa80

From what I can gather from reading the various SBB sites, etc. it is definitely not clear tourists from abroad are not required to do such identify check and link it to the SBB app to use for booking train tickets while visiting Switzerland. In fact, it appears tourists can get such customer number by going to train station on arrival to be ID check with their passport.

RolandP

Hello Werowa80

Your conclusion is wrong. You can even purchase tickets as a guest, without a user account. The user account is useful if you want to cancel point-to-point tickets or saver tickets within 30 minutes after purchase.

Simply create a user account as I told you in my previous reply. There are thousands of tourists using the SBB Mobile app every day; you will be able to do so as well.

Kind regards,
Roland

Jahreviking

RolandP Unfortunately the SBB Train Staff also are not aware of this. As a tourist today without a valid photo on my SBB app they wanted to charge me extra because “anyone” could have purchased the day pass I had between Zurich and Zug. With a US phone number it is not possible to upload a photo like the other comments but the rail staff are not aware of this and do not care.

tflats

Thanks for asking this question.

RolandP

Hello Jahreviking

Believe me, the SBB staff is well aware that tourists do not have a photo on the app. Neither do all the locals, as you can use the SBB Mobile app as a guest as well.

And since e-tickets are personal, you have to show your physical passport or ID card along with your e-ticket.

And yes, without a physical ID your ticket is not valid and you have to pay for new tickets (a surcharge of CHF 90 per person would actually be due in addition as well).

It is clearly stated in the GTC, that you accepted when you have downloaded and installed the SBB Mobile app. See the tab ‘Profile’ > ‘Legal’ > ‘GTC’.

Best wishes,
Roland