A Munich commuter describes trying to buy a digital bus ticket while running late, in rain that makes the phone’s touchscreen unreliable. The MVV app has logged him out again, so he must sign in with a password his iPhone will not autofill. As the bus arrives, he knows the process will take too long and watches it leave. He recalls the old paper strip ticket, which could be validated with a simple mechanical stamp, as a pointed contrast to the supposedly effortless modern alternative.
After signing in, he checks in through the app and waits for the request to load. The payment then triggers Visa Secure: he must switch to his banking app, enter his eight-digit PIN, approve a provisional charge of up to €10, enter the PIN again, and dismiss a familiar warning before returning to the still-loading ticket app. Eventually a QR code appears, bringing relief - but only after repeated authentication, slow processing, and a missed bus. The account’s humor underscores its criticism: digital ticketing promises speed and convenience, yet fragmented apps, recurring logouts, awkward password handling, payment safeguards, and network delays make a small everyday purchase needlessly cumbersome.
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