Contact Paris Metro: Find below customer service details of Paris Metro, including phone and email. Besides contact details, the page provides a brief overview of the subway and its services. Reach the Paris Metro customer service below for queries, complaints or feedback.
Head Office
RCS de Paris n° 775 663 438
54, quai de la Rapée
75599 Paris Cedex 12 France
Customer Service
Phone: 4 24 (general)
Phone: 32 46 (lost property)
Phone: +33 1 58 78 20 20 (corporate)
____
About Paris Metro
Paris Metro is a rapid transit system in Paris, France, that began operations in 1900. The underground subway system covers much of the greater metropolitan area of Paris. The metro operates on 16 lines and connects to more than 300 stations. Using the Regional Light rail system RER, commuters can easily connect to airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly. The Metro and RER share the same stations. While metro lines are identified by numbers, RER lines are identified by letters such as A, B and C. Trains arrive every 2 to 4 minutes during daytime hours.
Tickets can be purchased at stations or through automated ticket vending machines. As for fares, you have single ride tickets, multi-day passes and weekly/monthly passes. A day ticket is called the Ticket Mobilis. Paris Visite is a 1-5 day pass that comes with unrestricted access to all public transport. The Carte Paris Visite is a multi-use paper ticket coupon.
The busiest metro stations in Paris consist of Gare Du Nord, Saint Lazare, Gare De Lyon, Montparnasse-Bienvenue, Gare De L’est, Republique, Bibliotheque, Chatelet, La Defense, Bastille, Les Halles, Hotel De Ville, Opera, Franklin D Roosevelt, Place D’Italie,Belleville, Nation, Esplanade De La Defense and Palais-Royal. Download the Paris Metro smartphone app to access timetables, get details of stations, fare information, and much more. For more information or queries on tickets, payment, refund, cancellation, parking, lost and found items, or others, reach the Paris Metro customer service.
I arrived from Australia with my two young granddaughters and was having a great time in Paris until we returned from The Eiffel Tower using metro station Champs de Mars. We were unsure of train direction so asked a couple of girls in their twenties for directions. Very helpful. We then moved further along the platform where a young man of say 17 asked if we needed any help. He said he was Bosnian.
He then advised us that it was a small train and we needed to be closer to where it stopped. We hop on the train with him and there were the 2 girl’s. All the trains were packed in the evening. I suddenly felt someone touching my money bag. It was one if the girls with a jacket. I pushed her away and said “What are you doing”. She then dropped the money she had managed to get out of my bag on the floor. I shouted at her and all 3 got off of train. I realised then I had been set up. I went back to the station to see security but of no avail. Absolutely no security. I then went to inside to report this.
Staff friendly but not really of any help. As comments before, a lot of stations have staff clearly having a ball, passengers are secondary.
There are cameras on these stations so they would clearly see these offenders. Paris has changed.
My daughter and I are visiting Paris from Vienna, Austria. We bought Navigo weekly pass for all areas, and they are still valid. This evening we were trying to ride Metro 8 from Grands Boulvards. But my daughter’s card was not properly read by the entrance machine and we needed a help. There were two ticket officers and they were assisting a group of several young girls, but mostly joking and laughing. Obviously they did not need two people to attend such a chatting so I asked if one of them can help because we were in a hurry. THe said “No!!” And started to joking with them again. It was unbelievable. My card was read properly and my daughter’s was eventually read and we could enter. All these time the two workers were joking and laughing with those costumers and ignoring us. I like to file a lawsuit with these workers. They were sabotaging their duty a one probably discriminating us because we are orientals. Such people deserve facing a penalty, lowered salary or job suspension. We will never use this station again and I will spread the world this evil reality of Metro in Paris .
I thought it was just me, but reading the comments it is clear that the Metro is run by bandits. Having arrived at Gare du Nord and needing to travel for a booked connection to Gare de Lyon. I bought a metro ticket on the Eurostar and used the same to enter the metro through a controlled gate putting the ticket in the slot to open the barrier, collecting the ticket and proceeded to the platform through the gate and down some stairs where I was jumped by a bunch of aggressive inspectors. They took my ticket, swiped it and told me I had to pay a fine. I explained that I had put my ticket through the machine, but they wouldn’t accept it and said I had got through the barriers without endorsing the ticket. Eventually I got the head bandit to go back to the barrier with my ticket to put it through again on the assumption that if the ticket had been used it wouldn’t open the barrier. It didn’t. But thar till didn’t convince the head bandit who demanded my passport. Time was against me so after sustained argument which got me nowhere I paid the fine. At this point, they jumped on another group of travellers and began the process of extortion again. Never again will I travel to or through Paris – the metro inspectors are a disgrace.
I have always defended Paris and France against complaints about how rude the French are and the Metro was impeccable when compared to London’s Underground where we lived at the time of our first two visits to Paris in 1985 and 1986. We are much older now and are at the end of a 10 day trip to London and Paris with our daughter and kids. We have had a great trip until the last day of our trip. We’ve used the Metro several times and found that we didn’t need to keep our tickets so we started disposing them as soon as we used them to get through the turnstile, especially since they have small trash bins on the wall just past the turnstiles after you enter. The used tickets were a seeming nuisance since they get easily confused with unused tickets. As we returned to Charles deGaullle Metro station from our last trip (Sacre Couer) in the Metro, we had the usual issue of our tickets being demagnitized.
As usual, the ticket agent was very pleasant when we explained and, as always, she very nicely exchanged them. As we were exiting at the deGaulle station, we were confronted by a young woman who demanded to see our tickets. We were confused as we had come to assume we didn’t need them after using them to enter. We explained and offered to give her our unused tickets. She told us that we were being fined and threatened to summon the police if we didn’t pay. We were stunned and our 10-year old granddaughter was traumatized by the scene and the actions of the worker and the subsequent visit of the police officer. No one cared about our explanation. I also should mention that there were 4 or 5 other parties/families being harassed and detained for the same issue.
I eventually succumbed to the threat of arrest and paid the 140 Euro fine to avoid missing our flight home later today. Paris is a beautiful place to visit but I can truly say that the Metro organization is singlehandedly out to destroy its reputation. Paris could be headed for disaster with the upcoming Olympics. I hope that I get over this horrible experience by the time we return next year for our 2-week river cruise since we were planning on extending our time in Paris. As a lifelong Francophile, I am still stunned by the unbelievably rude treatment by the Metro personnel. The Metro needs explicit signage stating the importance of retaining tickets. Also, I think they need to take a close look at London’s Underground ticketing.
Was having a great time in Paris and after being afraid of the reputation of Paris of hating Americans had commented to my wife that everyone has been extremely nice to us during our trip. Until our 4th subway ride. We purchased 8 tickets at once yesterday and were using our 7th and 8th tickets coming back from Notre Dame. We had noticed that nobody comes by on the metro and checks tickets, so we were under the impression it’s just used to open the gate and then you’re good. I usually stuff my ticket in my fanny pack but my wife tossed hers in the little bin immediately after the turnstyles. On our way out of M4 metro at Sebastopol on our way to the M3 and ran into people we’d never seen before checking tickets. I still had mine, but my wife did not. I explained the situation, explained that we were tourists, that it was our first time in Paris and 4th time in the subway. The employee did not care, he said it’s a €50 fine. I got upset and asked him why he couldn’t let us go given the situation, it was a mistake, we didn’t know, and why would I have a ticket if we were acting criminally. He didn’t care and simply said there are signs at the front, as if everyone reads every sign when they’re in a place they’ve never been to and has no idea where they are going struggling to follow Google maps for direction. He refused to even let us simply buy a new ticket for my wife (despite the fact that we’d already paid for our rides). In the end we had to pay a €50 fine and my wife was crying on the metro from embarrassment.
Paris Metro does not have contactless payment option. So for people who pay through their phone it is impossible to buy tickets and get a metro! How is that possible in 2022?! And when I asked the service lady about it, she said its the leadership decision.
Well its a really non-customer friendly decision.:(
This is exactly what happened me on Jul 9th . I, my husband and 3 young children travelled on the metro train, we had bought tickets from the ticket office within the metro station and was given advice on which train we needed to get. We got off the train at our station and were approached by ticket attendants asking to check out tickets.
I confidently handed over the tickets but was told they were not valid, we explained we’d been sold them by one of their own ticket staff in the previous station (which we specifically done so we had correct tickets). The controller immediately became very aggressive towards us saying we needed to pay a fine of €35 each. We tried to explain we didn’t know what we had done wrong but she was not interested and threatened to get the police involved.
Our 12 years old daughter was clearly very traumatised and started having a panic attack. We pointed out to the attendants they were upsetting her to which they replied they didn’t care. We were asked to produce our passport which we explained we weren’t carrying with us so then she said the police were on their way and the fine was going up to €100 each. We ended up paying the €35 fine each (€175 in total) just so we could leave the train station, by this point it was 23:00 at night. They have also mentioned that we Turkish people are not respectful to rules. This is also clearly discrimination. My family was ever never treated like that.
Does anyone know whom we can complain about is. These rules are not written anywhere in the stations or only in French. Tickets are also so small to read and again in French.
My 17 year old daughter was visiting Paris over the last 4 days and has been traumatised by an incident with a Metro worker /attendant last night. She was travelling with 3 friends and all 3 were stopped by an attendant to have their tickets checked. Their tickets had been paid for and they believed them to be valid. When asked to produce them, the attendant said they were invalid. After some discussion he let my daughter’s two friends pass but would not let my daughter leave, claiming she had committed a serious offence. She was terrified, crying and pleading with him to let her go. He said it was very serious and she was in big trouble. She said she was sorry, she didn’t understand what had gone wrong with the ticket but would do whatever it took to validate the ticket. She was beyond scared. Eventually he agreed for her to leave after fining her 60 euros on the spot. She then called me in England, inconsolably crying. This incident happened at Trocadero metro station on Wednesday 1st June 2022 at approximately 11pm.
I think there is a pattern here as same happened to my sisters few days ago on their way to the airport!!! They took one of their passports, refused to talk to them and as they were asking questions fine increased to 100Euros. Luckily one of my sisters asked a lady in a nearby shop to call the police. By the time police arrived a woman inspector and two of her colleagues left in a hurry. No official id was shown at any point and my sisters were in so much distress. They said that they were shouted at and treated like criminals. Awful way to treat anyone for what it seems to be a common issue “faulty machine”.
Today I had very bad experience with metro in paris. So I bought 10 tickets and I have been using them during my stay in paris. I was asked to show my ticket in the end of the trip and I took a while to find it inside my bag. So they said it is not valid. So how come it is not valid if the door on the first stop opened for me? If it wasn’t valid it shouldn’t have let me in in the first place. Then I paid the fine because obviously I can I prove anything?! It is my word against them. I went to the information desk to ask for help to complain and ask further investigations of the situation and I said: hello madam I would like to make a complaint. I was told: “why do you come to paris if you dont speak french.” The lady was rude, ironic, she presented french people in a very bad way for a turist. (St germain station 15:30 2nd of july.) I don’t think this is the way I should be treated as a turist and foreign even if I don’t speak french. I am really traumatized with Metro in Paris. I have still 3 tickets and scared of using them because it is my word against theirs and I get this attitude from the staff. Worst experience of my life and I am still shaking because they stressed me and made my day a mess!!!!
So much for a city that stands for love and equality. I’m reading all these comments of travelers who have been grieved by Paris metro and fallen victim to a purposefully poorly designed system. To have to use the ticket to go through a barrier (that I can tell would be very difficult to pass through without a ticket), and to not have to use that same ticket to exit the station, one would assume that ticket is no longer needed after using it for entry. Additionally, there is no signage in other languages stating that a tracker must keep their ticket. All of these tiny pieces of paper get lost and mixed up in a bag, which is why I didn’t keep mine. Then to find controllers barring the exit, demanding to see the ticket I already used and unknowingly discarded. Why would a system make you use a ticket to enter the station and ALSO have controllers passing out fines to anyone who didn’t know they had to keep their ticket?! This system is designed to fine tourists who don’t speak French and aren’t familiar with the Paris metro system. City of love? More like the city of state-enforced scam. THIS IS CALLED EXTORTION.
Please put signs up saying that you need to push a button to open the doors because they do not open automatically. This is confusing and I missed my stop, which then made me buy another ticket because there’s no way to change platforms without exiting the station. If you want tob be a world class transit system, you have to actually make it possible for people to understand how to use it
On the 27th March myself, my husband and 2 young children travelled on the metro train, we had bought tickets from the ticket office within the metro station and was given advice on which train we needed to get. We got off the train at our station and were approached by ticket attendants asking to check out tickets.
I confidently handed over the tickets but was told they were not valid, we explained we’d been sold them by one of their own ticket staff in the previous station (which we specifically done so we had correct tickets). The lady immediately became very aggressive towards us saying we needed to pay a fine of €35 each. We tried to explain we didn’t know what we had done wrong but she was not interested and threatened to get the police involved.
Our 6 year old daughter was clearly very traumatised and started having a panic attack. We pointed out to the attendants they were upsetting her to which they replied they didn’t care. We were asked to produce our passport which we explained we weren’t carrying with us so then she said the police were on their way and the fine was going up to €100 each. We ended up paying the €35 fine each (€105 in total) just so we could leave the train station, by this point it was 22:00 at night and our 6 year old was extremely distraught. I have never in my life felt more threatened and intimidated. It took until the next day for our daughter to calm down and stop crying and reliving the shocking abs traumatic experience she was subjected to.
THIS EXACT THING JUST HAPPENED TO ME! It was horrible and traumatic. I was traveling with my 3 young children and my 85 year old mother on the metro. I had purchased our 5 tickets specifically from the actual attendant to be sure I bought the correct ticket. We were on our final train and a woman went up to my 85 year old mother and very confrontationally asked for her ticket. I told her I had the tickets for all 5 of us. I handed over our 5 tickets, the attendant told me 1 ticket wasn’t valid. I tried and tried to explain to her that I had purchased the tickets from the attendant and it had to be valid. She insisted it wasn’t and told me I must pay a 35 euro fine immediately or she would call the police. I kept trying to explain that I had bought the tickets and I don’t know why it’s not valid but I have all 5 tickets. She started yelling at me and telling me that I don’t respect her. I told her it’s ridiculous to ask me to pay 35 euro for no reason.
We got off the train and 5 of these ladies surrounded me and were yelling at me and my kids and my mom and saying she is calling the police on me and then I will have to pay 200 euro to the police. I told her call the police, I’ve done nothing wrong. These 5 ladies surrounded me and my young children and by this point I’m crying and telling them I’d done nothing wrong and showing them my 5 tickets that I’d purchased. They didn’t care they just yelled that must pay immediately or they’d call the police and have me arrested and charged 200 euro. Arrested???? It was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. She told me I’d be put in jail if I didn’t pay! I just wanted out of the situation so I finally just paid the 35 euro because my kids were terrified and I needed out of the situation. I cannot stop thinking about this whole situation that occurred. I feel like this was extortion. I’ve travelled all over the world and have NEVER BEEN TREATED this way. It’s beyond comprehension. It has absolutely turned us off to this city.
We travelled from chatelet to CDG Airport when there occurred a technical defect and trains did not arrive at chatelet. After 30 minutes, there was NO announcement, NO information in english, NO person from Ratp to assist and the communication point on the Plattform did put meninnhold for 15 minutes and the was dead.
Many thanks Ratp for almost screwing ip the flights. We then took a 90 euro taxi to CDG and arrived last minute!
I do not find any email contact for rer or ratp to file a complaint and get the cost of the taxi or at least rhe 25 euro for the two Rer Tickets back.g
My sister and I were treated abhorrently by Metro ticket officers at Porte De Pantin station on 17 September 2019. Having come through 2 barriers; one at the Metro station at Saint Lazzare Station and one at Gare Du Nord station, we discarded our tickets thinking we were through (where we thought we’d buy SIM cards for our phones). Ridiculously, there was a third barrier to go through. We brought another ticket and decided to go to instead to Porte De Pantin to check into our hotel. We were stopped at that station by a male ticket officer who asked us why our tickets weren’t validated. Despite our best efforts to communicate to him that we’d accidentally thrown our tickets out, he abjectly and rudely told us we must pay 35 euro each. There was no explanation why this fine was being handed out. It felt like a Government enforced tourist tax to any unweary tourist who has not read up or does not understand the convoluted Paris Metro system. Due to the traumatising experience and the lack of dignity with which we were treated, it’s safe to say that we will not be coming back to Paris. If it’s that easy to get fined on a Metro train who knows what other ridiculous and obscure fines the city hides.
Paris Metro, you people are actually very rude and unhelpful. You should be ashamed and something should be done.
I was their in Paris last week on my 4th trip in the last several years, never again, firstly i was robbed at your awesome Eiffel Tower cause its full of vagrants, chase the dam things away and control and protect the tourists or one day you may have no more tourists, there are so many immigrants there its hard to actually find a French person.
Re the Metro, the lady at the Metro refused to help me cause i could’nt speak French,maybe you should learn to speak English so that you can help tourists, you arrogant and unhelpful people at the Metro.If you not willing to help then get another job serious.Your bitterness is quiet a thing really.
We are tourists from Canada and used the Metro today to buy 10 tickets for 14.90 and my wife tendered a 20euro bill .this occurred at the Place de Clichy metro station at 9:30 am with a tall , slim , black agent with a moustache. He demanded she pay with 10 and 5 euro notes instead and would not accept the 20. I then got involved and told him he should complete the transaction and he began to yell and withhold the tickets. I said that was “ bullshit” and thAt he should make the 5.10euro change to which he yelled that I should “ suck his cock “.
This all occurred in front of other customers and in English. He then motioned that he was coming out oh his booth to physically assault me. Another citizen held his booth door closed and told him to be quiet and stay inside. Lucky for him !
The attitude of French transit employees is deplorable and Must be addressed. We have been in France for4 weeks visiting family and have encountered horrible transit employees 4 times in Nice and Paris.
By contrast we have found citizens helpful and polite on most occasions.
The RATP MUST MAKE IT EASIER TO REPORT ISSUES , HAVE EMPLOYEES ALL WEAR ID NUMBERS AND ACT ON COMPLAINTS.
We will take our tourist dollars elsewhere where country employees appreciate and accommodate the much needed tourist dollars.
My friend and I and I were in Paris March 9th 2019, traveling from CDG airport to the city center. While riding the train, 3 people in plain clothes came from behind us. One black man (Agent: PN745) said something to us in French. We replied that we are Americans we do not speak French. Then he said in English he wants our ticket. We gave him our train tickets. He then said my foot touched the chair and to give him €50 CASH. I don’t recall my foot touching the chair. I had 2 back surgeries and I always extend my legs out to stretch, it is called nerve flossing. Regardless, it did not feel right to give him money. Since we did not give him the cash he demanded our passports. We did not have our passports and when we told him this he was visibly more upset. He was speaking in an aggressive tone in French. None of the people had anything on that showed they had any authority. At this time the other 2 people came back towards us. He yelled at us he will turn us into police. They then slapped on yellow bands from their coats. We tried to record the conversation since he was speaking a lot of French in a contentious tone. The black girl that was with him then started yelling confrontationally to us that we cannot take any pictures. She told us that she will take the phone. We told her she can’t take our phone. She said she will take the phone and throw it out the window of the train. She then proceeded to walk to the left of us to the vacant train seats and lower the train window. She threatened my friend Amy if she sees his phone one more time she will throw it out the window and she does not care if she loses her job. During this time she is also yelling at us in an assaultive tone in French. Later on the train ride a few other people joined in plain clothes but they came from the front of us. No one else said anything to us. Just as the trained pulled up they all put on yellow arm bands. As we were trying to get off the train Amy was pushed by one of the men. At the train station was several men dressed in uniform. Our train car was mostly empty. I know for certain there was one lady seated 2 seats in front of us.
We then proceeded to the French police to report the aggressive and threatening behavior of the train employees. The police informed us that it happens all the time. We were so astonished by the behavior we filed a complaint anyway in hopes the train authority will address the action of their employees. It was also suggested to write a letter to the train authority and report their behavior. The French police also mentioned that we do have the right to take pictures and video but posting on social media is not permitted without permission.
We were tourist in France. In our opinion the behavior of the train employees was completely unacceptable, aggressive and unnecessary. To threaten, verbally assault and intimidate tourists or anyone for that matter is inappropriate. We feel that train employees should always have visible identification and behave appropriately. At the time, we were uncertain if he was legitimate or trying to deceive us for money.
Hi ,
I had a travel to paris with my family on 26th Oct 2018 to 28th Oct 2018 from London (where we are from) . We reached paris at Nord station using Euro rail. Once reached we stood at the long queue with small kids (10years, 3years and 1 year old) for almost half an hour and reached the counter . Our request was simple:
1. We needed a pass to go around the city ( zone 1 to 3) for 26th Oct 2018
2. We have to go to Disneyland from the hotel ( station is Jasmin , Line 9) on 27th Oct 2018
3. We needed ticket to go around the city again ( zone 1 to 3) for 28th Oct 2018.
The person at the counter did the below:
1. My elder kid (10 year old ) is considered an adult and need a full ticket.
2. Other kids can go free.
3. He gave us the tickets as below:
Two Days Pass – For 26th Oct 2018 and 28th Oct 2018 (single ticket ) which cost us – Eur 19.50 Per person = Eur 58.50 (in total)
Pass from Paris to M.L.V Chessy for 27th Oct 2018 which cost us – Eur 15.20 Per person = Eur 45.60 (in total)
In total I spend Eur 104.10 for the 3 day trip. I paid the amount by card. and again told him we have plan to use the ticket Zone 1 to 3 on 26th (Friday) and 28th (sunday) only. He said yes , and showed us the ticket says (2 Jours DU). We don’t understand French so believed him. I even asked him about the booklet for the 26th and 28th he said this is cheaper for us. I even had told him 28th we have BigBus booked so would not require it for the full day.
For 26th and 27th the trips went fine. Though it was really inconvenient for us to carry the kid on the buggy with never ending steps and surpisingly Jasimin station (the station near to which we were staying) there is no exit for the buggy , we had to lift the buggy over the turnstile every time we had to travel.
On 28th when we decided to use the ticket, we were not allowed from the station at Opera. We went to counter, the lady their said this ticket is invalid and directed us to a different staff in the next counter. She again said its not valid. we tried to explain her whatever happened with us at Nord station. She was so irritated and started shouting at us saying she is at fault and we are blaming her. I very clearly tried to explain her its not her fault but one of her colleague but she refused to even listen to us. She straight away closed the counter. I agree to the fact she had an issue on the language , however a person sitting at customer service can be a little more patient and try to help people who are tourist to their country and help them instead of closing the counter in anger. Me and my husband along with the kids (who were crying non stop due to hunger) were struggling to understand what to. We then decided to forgo more money then paid = Euro 11.40 for rest of our travel in France. We almost missed out Eurotrain back to London after spending so much time speaking to the lady and the kids are down sick since we didn’t have time to grab lunch for them.
My claim is as below:
1. Looking to get a refund of the day we haven’t used, because of the issue from the person who issued the ticket to us.
2. I am still not sure why my 10 year old is charged full rate, if its the policy I am fine with it. Else please refund the amount.
3. Request you to please educate your staff to be a bit for understanding and sensitive to the customer.
I was not expecting such a terrible holiday at Paris after spending so much money.
Attaching the one of ticket for the 2 day pass and ticket to Disneyland (I have all the three tickets with me in case you need it) and a receipt the lady at the station gave me( sorry I don’t understand French so not able to read it).
Looking forward to have a positive reply from you soon.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Asha
My husband and I travelled to Paris for the RyderCup last Thursday 27th Sept. We went to the ticket desk at CDG airport and explained where we were travelling to and from and would it be possible to buy all our tickets in advance. The girl at the desk had excellent English and was really helpful and advised us to purchase a permanent pass and add credit for the week. It was 22.50 each, we thought this was excellent value and she handed us a plastic pack and told us all we had to do was insert the tickets in the pocket and it will work as a swipe going through each ticket machine. She said the only time we will need to pay extra is if we are using a bus service. We attended the rydercup on the Friday and I double checked at the service desk of the metro station at Faidherbe Chaligne and the lady at the desk checked our passes and said everything should work fine. It was the following morning Saturday 30th Sept when we decided to tour Paris, we got off at at Concorde metro station and on our way out our tickets were checked by a Metro ticket inspector and he said in an accusing tone “how did we get these tickets?” His English was good so we explained exactly how we obtained the tickets and asked him what was the problem? he then said you have no photo on the ticket and we advised we were never told about this and explained not only once but three times we met various service people and no one mentioned anything about the requirement of a photo, infact we had the ticket turned in the wrong way so we never even saw the tiny space for it. He then was accompanied by 3 other inspectors who surronded us and demanded to see a receipt for the tickets and neither of us could recall even getting a receipt let alone keeping a receipt, why would we ever need that? Then I showed them my photo ID and they said it didn’t matter, we broke the law and if we didn’t pay 45 euro fine each that they would call the police. They were rude and shouted at us and said that we should have read the terms and conditions of the tickets. I explained the course of events and said that we’ll go and get a photo immediately and and we were completely puzzled as to why we were being treated this way. Under no circumstances had we ever intended to cheat the system, we purely followed what we were told to do and we met 2 service people between when we purchased the ticket to the inspectors and this was never mentioned once to us. I have travelled all over the world with lots of different languages, I always go the the ticket desk to make sure I get the right ticket, I don’t ask for receipts or terms and conditions. This absolutely ruined our day and shame on France for treating Tourists like this. I have taken the Agent codes and photo of everything and I would like to make a formal complaint to the Metro system, no easy way of finding a direct complaints email other than this, I intend to also write to the Minister of Tourism and the Team behind the Ryder cup. This is a matter of principle, neither of us ever have been fined or accused of something of this kind and it’s left a really bad feeling about a country we thought had bigger worries than trying to pick up fines from tourists who have paid for their tickets but made a genuine error.
On September 26, 2018 returning by train from Lyon at 11 pm my wife and I took the metro in Paris to go our hotel, we had been using the metro system by more than a week without a problem. That night, when we were going to make the last metro connection we were stopped by three persons that single us out from all the people that were walking around us and demanded to see our tickets.
I don’t speak French but I finally understood they were demanding the used tickets for the metro, I explained to them that I thru them away because it was very difficult to tell the used from the unused and twice I got stock at entry for insert used tickets on the machine. They say I have to keep the used tickets at all times which I agreed but also to pay a fine of 70 Euros for my wife and I. Meanwhile people around us walking by and nobody was stopped.
I explained that the ticket didn’t instruct that regulation, there were no signs of those instructions around the system, that we didn’t live in Paris and we didn’t speak French and that we were tourists. They say it was posted at the platform in French, English and Spanish, which I found out later not to be true, that information is posted only in French with some much other information. Not to post that information is like have a highway without signs of the permitted speed. They became more aggressive and said that if I didn’t pay the fine they were going to call the police and have us arrested. It was 11 pm , my wife started to get nervous, we were dead tired , it was one day left in Paris, so we decided to pay the unfair fine.
In conclusion, I still cannot believe how rude these people were, they ruined our France vacation, the metro system is setup in a way that if a you are a first time user, don’t know the language and you are more focus in how to get from one point to the other , they will be looking for you not to assist you but to take your money
Our family of five recently had the experience of being fined on the spot at Trocadero station because we had not kept our tickets after going through the turnstile. The fine was 50 euros for each “missing” ticket, although the agent said that would be reduced for 35 euros because we had return tickets on hand. I guess we should have known about retaining the tickets, but there is no posting in the stations or on the tickets. I have ridden metros around the world and have never had such a negative experience. We had a receipt for the purchase of a carnet of 10 tickets, and had unused tickets that we offered to use, but the agents were insistent that we pay the fine immediately. We obviously were not trying to avoid payment for the Metro ride. Our family spent thousands of dollars to travel from the US, plus hotels and restaurants in Paris, so thinking that we were jumping over a turnstile to save a couple of dollars does not make sense. This leaves me with a very negative feeling about visiting Paris. This does not foster tourism or good will.
On July 13, 2018, I took the Metro to LA Defense for an event. When we are ready to leave, we tried taking the elevators, but none of them were working by the time we were ready to leave. We found one elevator that could get us to the street to a bus, but the elevator was out of service. We ended up walking out of La Defense and going to a nearby hotel to call a taxi. We have trip interruption insurance coverage, but we need some kind of documentation to justify the trip interruption claim. Could you please send me some information about elevators out of service at La Defense on July 13?
On the 11th of June 2018, me and 2 other friends of mine were at the station of Saint Michelle to take the ligne 4 to go to Chatelet. It was raining heavily, and when we had already validated our tickets, they announced that the ligne 4 would not work for at least 30 minutes (it was already late and we had to take also the ligne 14). So, we decided to walk to Chatelet, while it was raining, to take the ligne 14. When we reached the station, we decided not to validate another ticket, since it was not our fault, and if a controller came, we would explain to him the situation. So, 2 contollers came to us, and we tried to explain to them the situation but they were so RUDE that they didn’t even let us explain. But, since I can also become rude, they finally heard us and let us pass. I was so upset that, just after that, my phone fell off my hands and it broke. Thank you Paris metro. You and your people can easily ruin someone’s day.
My family of 2 adults and 2 children bought 10 tickets to go on the metro on Mar 30 from Pont Neuf. We put our tickets through the scanner. My husband and 2 children thought they don’t need the tickets anymore and threw them in the trash. I kept mine. At Chatelet station, we changed to the 4 line to Ste. Michelle. While walking to change subway, we were stopped and asked for our tickets. Since my husband and two young children threw theirs away, they were told that they will be fined 35euro each. My ticket scanned through OK. We showed them that we have many other new tickets and they can scan them but they said we have to pay a fine now. If we don’t pay a fine, they will call US embassy and we will be fined 100Euro. This is the rule. I don’t see any of this rule noted anywhere in the travel books or on any signs in the metro station. We asked to call the police but 4 security guards came and kept harrasing and yelling at us and threatening that we will charged 100 euro if we don’t pay now. I tried to explain that we are tourists and we have many unused tickets that we just bought. I tried to speak some French and they refused to speak English and refused to talk to my brother on the phone who spoke fluent French. They kept yelling at us like we are criminals and kept threatening us that we will pay a higher fine. My children were very afraid and almost cried. Is this the treatment to tourists the subway is encouraging? No wonder many people complaints about poor treatment they receive as tourists by French people. It is obvious that the metro encourage this type of behavior to their security guards to harrass unknowing tourists to make extra income. Shame on them.
Very unpleasant experience at Bastille metro stop this evening. One of our group of 4 threw away her ticket before exiting. She (a teenager) thought she did not need the ticket at exiting because in the morning we had exited at Palais Royale and no ticket was needed on exit. The rest of us (another teen and two mothers) had our tickets and it was obvious we were not cheating the system. The men at the exit scanning tickets informed us there would be a fine of 50 euros. When we offered a new unused ticket (we had some from a 10 pack) they said it would be 35 euros. When we protested, they said they could call the police but that if the police came the fine would be higher (85 euros). Can that possibly be true that the fine would be higher just because the police came? When I asked them to show me proof of this, they showed me their booklet on fines which included nothing about the fine increasing if the police were called. My biggest complaint, however, is that they were very rude and made the teenagers (and the adults) feel threatened and uncomfortable. This seems like terrible customer service and an unacceptable way to treat tourists in your country.
Can I ask if you have had any response from metro? I had similar situation yesterday, and so angry about how disgustingly I was treated and spoken to.
Recently I visited Paris and traveled with the metro frequently. I can say that it is the most inhumaine metro I have used due to the fact that it is impossible for the disabled people to use it. Actually I wonder how do the disabled people function in Paris at all?
My partner and I recently visited Paris and returned two days ago, and was not pleased with the service we received on the Paris transit system. This experience will impact our future travel plans to France as I will be informing everyone I know not to visit.
When heading to the airport, I purchased two tickets to CDG from a ticket booth at the station from an attendant. This attendant failed to inform me that the train to CDG was not working and still sold me a ticket for 10,30 euros each. Unbelievable! We only found out that the train was not working when we got off at the connecting station, only to ask a staff member. The staff member told us that we can take a bus to the airport. I asked if my ticket, of 10,30 euros can take me to the airport, and he replied with YES. When we got on the bus, the bus driver told us that NO, we cannot use the ticket we purchased and had to purchase another 6 euros each worth of tickets to take a bus to the airport. I was very upset. I had already paid the ticket to take the train to the airport, which is more expensive than taking the bus and had to pay extra????? In total, we had to pay 16.30 euros each to get to the airport. I think this is ridiculous! If you know that the transit system is not working to the airport, you are obligated to tell the public and not sell them tickets for a system that is not functioning. I have traveled all over the world and the customer service I received in Paris is by far the worst I have experienced. If I had more time in Paris, I would have demanded a refund on the extra money I had to pay to use their public transit. This is definitely not a way to promote travel in France. I would like an explanation from Paris’ metro customer service representative.
The metro is one thing i love about Paris, but it seems your staff just dont like me – or tourists.
Today we got a ticket to Disneyland, not knowing they are one way tickets so upon our return when none of the turnstiles at Chassy were on or working and the gates were open we assumed this was okay because, well we had our tickets on us anyway.
At our change at CDG Etoile we just followed the signs for number 6 train, i was more than ready to buy a new ticket for zone 1 because i wasnt daft enough to think my Disney one would still work around paris. However, there wasnt any ticket booths or machines so we thought, bugger it we can only give it a go. It didnt work. So then we thought the station staff looked friendly enough to approach and ask if we can buy a ticket from them. Unbeknown to us a witch was among them, ready to call the police at a raise of her awful eyebrows. 100euro ‘taxes’ later and you have one very unimpressed tourist, and an even more unimpressed travel agent. I mean, i just wanted a new ticket, would have happily paid my return ticket amount. Is this how you treat all tourists?
Anyway, i have learnt my lesson and will pass this on to my customers, but please note that not everyone books their travel through an agent so is unaware of just how unhelpful those 5 particular staff were (im sure there are more out there).
Im pretty easy going, but when you threaten me with police before even listening to me, i wont hesitate to make myself heard
Kind regards,
An easily pleased yet sensitive aussie tourist.
I wish to complain about my experience on the paris metro and RER train on Sunday 25 june 2017
My wife and I purchased tickets from Montparnasse to paris CGD. We changed at Les Halle and passed through the ticket machines as normal. We changed onto the RER B to Paris CDG.
When we arrived in the RER station at the airport a woman with an SNCF uniform stopped me from trying to go through the turnstile and took my ticket from me without allowing me to put it in the machine. After making me wait 15 minutes she told me and my wife that our tickets were not valid and that we had to pay a fine of 100 euros. We had not option but to do this as we had to catch our flight home. I have copies of the original tickets and receipts and the fine and receipt.
She would not explain why we were being made to pay a fine despite us clearly doing nothing wrong. She suggested that we had not put our tickets into the correct machine, however I have made this journey on several occasions and I did use all the correct ticket machines. I am angry at being made to feel like I have broken the law when I have done nothing wrong, and also angry at being humiliated in public as if I was a criminal.
I would like you to repay the fine immediately. I would also like some form of apology for the way in which my wife and I were treated.
I have all the original documents and can send you scans of them.
I had a similar experience..26.07.17
We were told as we had small children with us (3 under 11) we had to buy 10 children tickets as a bulk buy, along with our 2 adult tickets..
Guards pounced on us as we accidentally put 5 tickets in the barrier machine but had put all children tickets in rather than 3 child tickets and 2 adult.
They just wanted to extracate money from us and wouldnt listen ! Great way of promoting tourism !!
My son and I had bought passes for the week and were told we had 2 days to come up with pictures to put on them. Well, we were in Paris to visit the city and not do errands to full up our time. We were going to take care of it the evening after we got the tickets, not even 24 hours later. But, we got stopped at the metro, treated like criminals and threatened with being taken to the police if we wouldn’t pay the 35 Euros each because of the missing photos. There was nothing wrong with our tickets, just the photo missing. Very sad that honest people are treated like criminals in this country. Makes me never wanna come back.
We visited Paris in 2015 and used your Metro to travel around Paris , it was the first time we had used your metro and the service we received from the staff at the St George station line 11 was excellent. There was gentleman called Pasco he was extremely helpful , patiently helped us understand the metro system, greeted my husband and myself every time we passed thru and we observed that he extended this good service to locals as well as all overseas travellers . He greeted us by good morning Aussies !
Pascal is a credit to your metro transport system
Hello,
I recently took a tour group of students to Paris for a weekend to visit some of the main attractions. We used the metro to get around and had a great few days. We were using day passes for the metro and thought they were very useful. However on our last day we were heading home and we were approached by several security officers. They checked our tickets and said as we had not filled our names in on the tickets we had to pay a 35 euro fine each! this added up as we were with a lot of students. We were told if we did not pay the police would be called and we would be arrested. This is appalling and we were not even told to fill in our tickets when we purchased them. I hope you stop trapping tourists like this as it is despicable behaviour and I will never take a group again.It is unbelievable that you allow this to happen is such a tourist driven city. Such a bad taste has been left in our mouths and I really am shocked that you can allow this sort of thing to happen.
Same happened to us, missing photo after having purchased the tickets a day earlier. We were told we had some time to take care of this. Were upsetting and despicable on the Metro’s part. The person who wrote the tickets and threatened with the police should be ashamed of himself as well. We are not coming back.