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Banking Guide

 
 

Paying Bills

 

What Bills look like

Most bills you'll get - for Utilities, Rent, etc, will include a payment slip like this:

 

This slip is the key document you need in order to pay the bill. You'll get the bill & payment slip by
post, and the slip will note the amount you owe, and the bank details of the party asking for the money. All that's left for you now is the part we all love: paying the bill! 

 

How to pay Bills

These are the common ways to pay the bills, all using the above Payment Slip, and all commission free:

 

1.  Cash payment at any Post office

Step into any post office with the payment slip & cash, wait, wait, wait … and it's done.


2.  UBS Multimat
UBS have such Multimat machines - allowing you to make automatic payments - at nearly every branch. Access to the machines is possible 24/7, and they 'speak' English. You need to have a UBS account, the payment slip, and your UBS client card or Maestro card. 


3.  E-banking. 
Most banks offer this, and if you use a good system it's great, as it allows you to make all payments from home / office.


4.  Standing Order. 
Works great for fixed expenses like rent. You can get it going either via e-banking, a UBS Multimat (if you have a UBS account), or via your bank teller.


5.  Payment by snail mail. 

Send a payment form and your payment slips to your bank by snail mail.

 

 

If You Don't Pay Your Bills on Time

The Swiss system for enforcing payments is very effective, and we strongly recommend to pay everything on time. If you have issues with a bill you received, mail a written letter to the supplier, by registered mail.

 

Here's what will usually happen if you fall late on payments:

 

1.  You get a Bill, and you usually have 30 days to pay it. 

2.  If you don't pay it, you'll usually get 2 written reminders / warnings from the supplier. In most cases, these reminders will cost you an additional sum of CHF 10-20 in 'administration fees'.

3.  If you still don't pay it, the supplier will usually either go to the 'collection authorities' that will summon you to
their office, or hire a bill collection agency that will start chasing you. In either case, by this stage you'll be asked to pay all kinds of additional 'collection fees'. Avoid getting here.
                            

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
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