Health insurance, subscriptions, faulty goods and debt enforcement in Switzerland

For policyholders in Switzerland: terminates a supplementary health, household, liability, legal-protection or other policy under the Insurance Contract Act (VVG) — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a VVG), on the date the conditions allow, after a premium increase or for good cause (Art. 35b VVG), else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance needs a separate letter. Send it by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in Italian: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. In Ticino the consumer association ACSI offers its members model letters for gyms and subscriptions. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For policyholders in Switzerland, in Italian: terminates a supplementary health insurance, a household, liability, legal-protection or other insurance under the Insurance Contract Act — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a LCA/VVG), on the date the policy conditions allow, because of a premium increase, or for good cause (Art. 35b), else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance (LAMal/KVG) is terminated with a separate letter. Send it by registered post.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty, in Italian: gives notice of the defect under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found, and demands with a deadline repair under the guarantee terms, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or rescission of the sale (Art. 205 CO). Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law gives no right to send back goods bought online when nothing is wrong with them. Send it by registered post.

For travellers who booked a package holiday in Switzerland and found services missing or defective, in Italian: claims from the organiser, under the Swiss Federal Act on Package Travel (SR 944.3) — not the EU directive — the difference between the price of the agreed and of the services provided (Art. 13) and other costs (Art. 14), with a deadline. The period for complaints is in the travel contract (Art. 6). Send it by registered post.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty: gives notice of the defect (Mängelrüge) under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found and demands, with a deadline, repair under the guarantee, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or rescission (Art. 205 CO). Claims are time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law has no right to return faultless online purchases. Send it registered. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For customers in Switzerland, in Italian: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of the minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for good cause, and asks for written confirmation and how to return equipment. Notice periods and minimum terms come from the contract and terms, not from a statute. Send it by registered post; in a dispute the telecom conciliation body ombudscom can step in.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. Consumer organisations offer free or members' model letters. Send it by registered post. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For customers in Switzerland: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of the minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for good cause, and asks for written confirmation and how to return equipment. The periods come from the contract and the provider's terms, not from a statute. Send it by registered post; ombudscom mediates disputes. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For a passenger whose flight arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or who was denied boarding, on a flight covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004: every flight from an airport in Switzerland, the EU, Iceland or Norway, and flights into them on an airline from one of those countries. The letter claims the fixed compensation — €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by distance — from the airline that operated the flight. The airline's own claim form and the EU complaint form are free and do the same job. Send it by registered post (Einschreiben); Swiss authorities work in their official language, not English.

For passengers whose flight from Switzerland — or into it on an airline from Switzerland, the EU, Iceland or Norway — arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or who were denied boarding. The letter, in Italian, claims the fixed compensation of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies in Switzerland through the air transport agreement with the EU: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by distance, from the airline that operated the flight. The airline's own form is free; the BAZL takes complaints online. Send it by registered post.

For travellers who booked a package holiday in Switzerland and found services missing or defective, in French: claims from the organiser, under the Swiss Federal Act on Package Travel (SR 944.3) — not the EU directive — the difference between the price of the agreed and the services provided (Art. 13) and other costs (Art. 14), with a deadline. The period for complaints is in the travel contract (Art. 6). Send it by registered post.

For passengers whose flight from Switzerland — or into it on an airline from Switzerland, the EU, Iceland or Norway — arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or who were denied boarding. The letter, in French, claims the fixed compensation of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies in Switzerland through the air transport agreement with the EU: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by distance, from the airline that operated the flight. The airline's own form is free; the BAZL takes complaints online. Send it by registered post.

For passengers whose flight from Switzerland — or into it on an airline from Switzerland, the EU, Iceland or Norway — arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or who were denied boarding. The letter, in German, claims the fixed compensation of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, which applies in Switzerland through the air transport agreement with the EU: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by distance, from the airline that operated the flight. The airline's own form is free; the BAZL takes complaints online. Send it by registered post.

For travellers who booked a package holiday in Switzerland and found services missing or defective, in German: claims from the organiser, under the Swiss Federal Act on Package Travel (SR 944.3) — not the EU directive — the difference between the price of the agreed and the services provided (Art. 13) and other costs (Art. 14), with a deadline. The period for complaints is in the travel contract (Art. 6). Send it by registered post.

For people insured in Switzerland, in English: terminates the compulsory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung) after the new premium is announced, for 31 December (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names your new insurer and leaves supplementary insurance running. To change on 1 January, it must reach the insurer by 30 November. The Federal Office of Public Health offers free German, French and Italian model letters on priminfo.admin.ch. Swiss authorities and courts work in their official language — German, French or Italian — so this English version is for dealings between private parties.

For people in Switzerland moving to another health insurer: the letter ending the compulsory basic insurance either after the new premium has been announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 LAMal/KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for yourself and children covered with you. It names the new insurer and leaves supplementary cover in place. To change on 1 January, the insurer must receive it by 30 November — the postmark is irrelevant. The Federal Office of Public Health has a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it registered or by A-Post Plus. In Italian.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in French: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for good cause such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to any tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. The Romand consumer federation FRC publishes a free model letter for gyms on frc.ch. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For policyholders in Switzerland, in French: terminates a supplementary health insurance, a household, liability, legal-protection or other insurance under the Insurance Contract Act (LCA) — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a LCA), on the date the policy conditions allow, because of a premium increase, or for good cause, else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance (LAMal) is terminated by a separate letter. Send it registered; the Act also accepts text form such as e-mail.

For people in Switzerland leaving their health insurer, in French: terminates the compulsory basic insurance (assurance obligatoire des soins, LAMal) after the new premium is announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 LAMal), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names the new insurer and keeps supplementary cover running. To change on 1 January, the notice must reach the insurer by 30 November; the postmark does not count. The Federal Office of Public Health has a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it registered or by A-Post Plus.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty, in French: gives notice of the defect (avis des défauts) under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found, and demands with a deadline repair under the guarantee terms, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or rescission of the sale (Art. 205 CO). Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law gives no right to send back goods bought online when nothing is wrong with them. Send it by registered post.

For customers in Switzerland, in French: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of its minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for good cause, and asks for written confirmation and how to return any equipment. Notice periods and minimum terms come from the contract and terms, not from a statute. Send it registered; in a dispute, the telecom conciliation body ombudscom can step in.

For buyers in Switzerland whose goods are faulty, in German: gives notice of the defect under Art. 201 CO as soon as it is found, and demands with a deadline repair under the guarantee terms, a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO), a price reduction or the unwinding of the sale (Art. 205 CO). Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 CO). Swiss law has no right to return goods bought online when nothing is wrong with them. Send it by registered post.

For members and subscribers in Switzerland, in German: cancels a gym membership or other subscription at the end of its term, with the contractual notice period, because of a price increase, or for an important reason such as illness, pregnancy or a move; it objects to a tacit renewal and asks for prepaid fees back pro rata. The Swiss consumer foundation (Konsumentenschutz) and K-Tipp offer free model letters. Send it by registered post and ask for confirmation.

For customers in Switzerland, in German: cancels a mobile, internet, TV or landline contract at the end of the minimum term, with the contractual notice period, because of an announced price or contract change, or for an important reason, and asks for written confirmation and how to return equipment. Notice periods and minimum terms are in the contract and terms, not in a statute. Send it by registered post; in a dispute the telecom conciliation body ombudscom can help.

For policyholders in Switzerland, in German: terminates a supplementary health insurance, a household, liability, legal-protection or other insurance under the Insurance Contract Act — ordinarily after three years with three months' notice (Art. 35a VVG), on the date the policy conditions allow, because of a premium increase, or for an important reason, else on the next possible date. Basic health insurance (KVG) is terminated with a separate letter. Send it by registered post; the Act also accepts text form such as e-mail.

For people in Switzerland changing health insurer, in German: terminates the compulsory basic insurance after the new premium is announced, for the end of the year (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG), or with three months' notice for the end of June or December, for you and children insured with you; it names the new insurer and keeps any supplementary insurance running. To change on 1 January, the notice must reach the insurer by 30 November; the postmark does not count. The Federal Office of Public Health offers a free model letter on priminfo.admin.ch. Send it by registered post or A-Post Plus.