Here is my experience:

We had a kiddie birthday party back in 2000, we invited a lot of friends, colleagues and our neighbors (top, bottom, left and right and some within the bldg). Noise is everywhere the apartment, kids watching tv, playing and lots of running around, Adults (including our neighbors) chatting, eating and drinking.

Before 10pm our neighbors started leaving, by 10:30 police came due to a complain reported by one of our neighbors.

Paid the fine the next day, still friendly with the neighbors but no more invites, lesson learned. We never made noise after 10PM until now.

Welcome to Switzerland.

A pity. But did you warn your neighbours about the party, and ask if they minded if it went on, exceptionally, a bit beyond 22.00? Did you invite any of them? It could have made all the difference. Why not try this approach next time- even putting a friendly note about the party in the hallway.

But that they called the police is pathetic and really stupid, I agree.

Yes Odile, most of our apartment neighbors were in the party.

As i said, lesson learned. I'm still in the same apartment and we are all friendly.

So who on earth called the cops????

Surely if you are friendly with the neighbours, you could find out over a cup of coffee. Maybe they've moved on- and in future, providing you discuss it with current neighbours in advance, it could work. Or just make sure it starts early int he day so all be finished by 10. What a pity to let it spoil it now.

Didn't bother asking, i just charged it to experience and it was different back then.

To the op, avoid the hassle and enjoy your movies in all their glory (any time day or night). I got these months ago - 2 in fact for the same reasons - although I did'nt get a visit from the polizei lol.

http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser...dphones_502874

Bass and surround work very well and can all be controlled from the headset. They might have upgraded these ones - dunno - but they are worth the purchase.

The one that was not invited and upset?

On two occasions (1 per year) my neighbour has left me a note under the door timestamped 1010pm and 1016pm for the noise made when putting my plates back in the kitchen cupboard. if I make noise again for a third time they will inform the landlord/authorites...this shocked my friend who was staying with me at that time..she never visited again

One can only assume that a neighbour that exacting takes great pleasure in the act of timestamping notes. If I was being polite I would say they are easily amused aren't they! In a more honest moment I would call it a sad little *&^%er.

I'm born and raised here and I understand how OP and others feel about us Swiss.

During my stays outside Switzerland I noticed much more tolerance and laisser-faire, in both ways: freedom to act/listen to music late etc.. and in return acceptance towards critics/complains from others and immediate cooperation.

Here it's different: social relations are defined by rules you learn to stick to from a young age ... So listening to loud music/tv/party eg. after 11pm is considered by many Swiss as a rule-break, rude, arrogant, selfish and anti-social. The reactions of the "victims" is proportional - as the way they feel: they call the police. As they feel "ignored" by their neighbours, they don't see why they should go to knock at their door and talk to them.

Unfortunately, it seems to me that people "breaking rules" here (incl. the Swiss!) have a tendency to not take upon themselves their "faults" and cooperate: some neighbours from the building facing our bedroom use to have loud summer-parties on their balcony long after 12pm: if we politely ask to adjust the volume we get at best a "scho guat", but the noise starts again after a few minutes, or even just a thumb down from them (not to mention other fingers..). So sad but true: a call to the police tends to be the most efficient solution.

My advice: be proactive when you know that you have a party/need to wash on a sunday, etc.., or just "invite" your neighbours to contact you, should you break "the Rules"

First World Problem doesn't even begin to cover this...

Sometimes, I really can't help feeling that Switzerland needs to get out more.

I agree with you you, but its unmoral to put somebody freedom at risk over a tv, this is the problem with most people today , the lack of communication skills, and cultural dufsion and culture exchange, Switzerland is a melting pot, so many cultures, sort of like NYC, but not the people when the life is layed back some people become un cultural and unfair , and the last thing is that the people will stand in the street and watch something much worse happen and do nothing, along with the fact when using public transportation, no one moves to the side to let the passengers get off , before trying to get on,lol the country needs a social upgrade, but I just love the Land and mountains more than anything

Think about it...if they would have talked to you and you wouldn't have stopped. Then you would have known who called the police afterwards. Actually I would have done the same, maybe the neighbor is a psycho and will make you pay for that later...

Some people should know what the police are made for....

To enforce the law and make sure people can rest in their own appartment. I know what I'm talking about because my neighbors are unbearable, move furniture day and night and don't care about what I'm thinking. Where I leave you don't need to call the police, they don't care (I don't leave in Switzerland yet).

Wow. I had no idea I could expect the police to come knocking on my door thing like these. I may consider refraining from my late night baths.