Billag is a radio and TV tax.  If you haven't a TV then, unless the rules have changed, you should only need to pay the radio tax.
harris, Apr 20, 2009 @ 20:38

Welcome to the world of customer oriented marketing!!! These CHF 120 are probably for the basic subscription (The cable connection inclusive of all analogue programmes usually costs CHF 22.50 plus statutory fees per month). For a phone line, you pay a basic fee of CHF 25 something on the top of which you add services and the time spent using these services. It works the same with Cablecom: You pay for the line, then for the services to which you subscribed, then for their usage.



As for Billag you have to pay,

1) for the radio if you have a radio, be it in your car, a small device for jogging, a mobile with an FM receiver or a radio alarm clock.

2) for TV if you have a TV receiver, be it a TV set or a PC program or device.



I you do not have these, you may not be obliged to pay, at least for the TV. As for the radio, I'm not sure as you can get it via Internet on any PC.



Cheers.
Free, Apr 21, 2009 @ 01:12

You can have the Cable-plug sealed-off and then you can successfully get around paying for it.
rainer_d, Apr 21, 2009 @ 01:47

Gonzalotango- I'm in a similar situation. When we move in to our flat my husband paid for a Billag TV licence for 3 months, by mistake, even though we had no Tv or radio. After 3 months we got a letter reminding us to pay for the tv licence. So I sent them a letter ( in proper French) saying I don't have a TV, not planning to get one and asking them to refund us the money ( which I doubted they would do). In response we got another bill with an additional charge for the delay of payment (!!!!!!!!!!).



I'm so upset. Why should I pay for something I don't have or use?
Marz, Apr 21, 2009 @ 02:00

I haven't had a TV for a long time now. Certainly over 12 years.

I have Swisscom for the internet, and pay for radio only to Billag. I wrote to Billag (or was it the other folk before they existed.. cannot remember who they were, now...), a 'resiliation' of the TV reception when I ceased having one.

Told the regie by letter I didn't have TV anymore at that time also, but still have to pay the telereseau. From time to time .. about every 3 years, I get someone from Billag come knock on my door and ask me if I have a television. Not sure why, would have thought it would be relatively easy for them to check that remotely and frequently..
TogJay, Apr 21, 2009 @ 02:15

Forgot to say.. after writing the resiliation I did have someone come round and block off the cable like rainer_d said. Think it was done by Billag (or their predecessors, whoever they were) to whom I wrote the 'resiliation'.
TogJay, Apr 21, 2009 @ 02:23

Hello,



thanks to all for the answers. Ok, I guess "Free" knock on my clue ... 22.50 is the price just for the basic service (called Sitel), if I understood well, then, if I want a fixed phone, i must add 20Chf, if i want internet 49CHf and so on .. .right?



Now I just wonder some things:

A- 1st at all, Cablecom never told me, when I did the contract, about this fare of 22.50 monthly and it is not written in any part. How legally so it is?!

B- If i call billag to say about my TV, then, if i understood well, since my internet and phone pass by cable, i cannot have them anymore ... so, i'm condaned to pay both, Billag and Sitel ...?!?

C- I've time till the end of the month to resiliate Cablecom services (they offer 3 months tryout). So, as your advice, is better a "normal" line paying only the lines services and Billag than Cablecom or it is more or less the same?



Thanks a lot again and have a good night!



Gonzalo
gonzalotango, Apr 21, 2009 @ 04:50

Billag is totally independent from TV providers (cable, satellite, air, whatever) It's a tax on programs that you have to pay no matter how you receive them. If you have a TV, you're in. Period.



The question now is how you want to be connected to the rest of the world. There are basically two options: Swisscom (Swisscom, ADSL, Bluewin TV) or Cablecom (Calecom, DSL, cable TV). In both cases you have to pay a base subscription, services and usage. Cablecom seems to be a bit cheaper but their service is not as good as Swisscom (although I heard sad stories from both sides). I did a few calculations, and I could not find a huge difference between the two! It depends on the services you use an how you use them. My only advice would be to get in touch with reps of both companies ans ask for a quotation -- Base subscription, Phone, TV, Internet, Mobile, Equipment Rental (router, TV receiver, mandatory or not...), and other value added services you may need such as web site hosting, itemized billing, etc.
Free, Apr 21, 2009 @ 10:16

Billag has nothing to do with cable operators and are not allowed to seal any plug. They are just collecting taxes on TV on behalf of the State.
Free, Apr 21, 2009 @ 10:19

i have cablecom and here is the reason why you need to have the cable tv connection.

1- cablecom uses their own cable on which you have the possible 3 services. TV, Internet, Digital phone.

2-because they use their own cable, you do not pay the swisscom last mile of Sfr. 25.25 every month.

3-cablecom charges sfr.20.- ( saving of sfr. 5.25 )for the cable connection.

4- you may decide to only have the internet and digital phone, but the cable is necessary to allow this, so you have the basic analog tv carried on the line.

However, if you have no TV, you are correct, and not required to pay the TV license fee etc.( if you have a radio, for example in your car, you are required to pay the radio license) However, the tv cable connection is required to allow the internet and digital phone.

i believe that from May 1st, cablecom is dropping the charge for all local calls in switzerland 24/7. but you have to request it!!

hope this helps
epicure, Apr 21, 2009 @ 10:41

Hi again,



Ok, I got it :) . Thanks to all for the answers.



So, I guess I will rest with Cablecom, but I will keep only Internet, without phone and TV (since I also already have a Voip phone). I guess is the best solution now.



Thanks again and have a nice day!



Gonzalo
gonzalotango, Apr 21, 2009 @ 13:30

Billag announced that since 1 January 2008, you have to pay Billag TV tax even if you dont have a TV but if you have a high-speed internet connection as you can stream TV shows direct.

Hope this helps.

Susan

SuzieQ, Apr 23, 2009 @ 14:19

[quote]Billag announcedthat since1 January 2008, you have to pay Billag TV taxeven if you dont have a TV but if you have a high-speed internet connection as you can stream TV shows direct.



Hope this helps.



Susan



[/quote]



They may have said that, but if memory serves right they backed up a notch; you also need to have a soft installed to get the TV programs on your PC. A high-speed connection alone is not enough a reason to rob your hard earned cash.
Casuistik, Apr 23, 2009 @ 15:13