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Notice of defects in goods, demanding repair, replacement or a price cut, in French (Switzerland)

Switzerland · in French · for consumers

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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.

  • Last updated November 4, 2026
Consumer
Switzerland
Français
Complaint & Appeal
Print & sign
1 page

Published byDocMuse

When to use this document

  • Something you bought in Switzerland broke soon after delivery and the shop is not responding.
  • The seller only offers a repair, but you want a replacement or part of the price back.
  • You found a hidden fault weeks after buying and want to report it to the seller in writing.
  • You want to claim under the warranty in French for faulty goods bought in Switzerland.

What you fill in

The details the document asks for.

  • Buyer
  • Buyer's address
  • Seller
  • Seller's address
  • City
  • Date
  • Description of the item
  • Date of purchase
  • Price
  • Invoice number
  • Noticed on
  • Defect
  • What you demand (in French): repair, replacement, price reduction or rescission
  • Deadline
  • IBAN

Common questions

Does Swiss law give a cooling-off period for online shopping?
No: unlike the EU, Switzerland has no right of withdrawal for online purchases; you can send goods back only if the shop offers it voluntarily. A statutory 14-day right of revocation exists for doorstep and telephone sales where the customer pays more than CHF 100 (Art. 40a ff. CO). This letter is for goods with a defect, for which the seller answers under the warranty.
How soon after delivery must I notify a Swiss seller of a defect?
Immediately. You must inspect the goods as soon as is practical in the normal course of business and report visible defects at once; a hidden defect you report as soon as you discover it (Art. 201 CO). Waiting too long loses the warranty for that defect, so send the notice within a few days, by registered post, and keep the receipts. For building materials built into a house whose defect they caused, the period has been 60 days since 2026 (Art. 201 para. 4 CO).
Can I insist on repair, a new item or a refund from a Swiss seller?
The law lets you choose between rescinding the sale — return against a refund — and a price reduction (Art. 205 CO), and for generic goods also a fault-free replacement (Art. 206 CO). A right to repair exists only where the contract or guarantee provides it; many shops replace the statutory warranty with a repair guarantee in their terms. That is allowed in principle, but not for defects the seller fraudulently concealed (Art. 199 CO).
How long is the statutory warranty period on goods in Switzerland?
Claims become time-barred two years after delivery (Art. 210 para. 1 CO). When you buy from a trader for personal or family use, the trader may not cut this below two years, or one year for second-hand goods (Art. 210 para. 4 CO). The notice of defects alone does not stop the clock: if the seller does not give in, file a conciliation request with your canton's conciliation authority before the period ends (Art. 135 CO).

How you can sign this document

  • Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
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