I have had a few rants over the last 10 months about things that have gotten under my skin here. This time, I am furious. Saturday afternoon the heater for our buildings water broke. There are five families in this moden chalet, so naturally we called and they sent out a crew of two to fix it. After 3 hours, the men came door to door and informed us that they couldn't fix the problem and that they had to come back. I asked if it needed a part they didn't have and he said that they just needed more time to fix it and that it was 5 and time to go home. So I ask when they will come back and they tell me Monday. I asked why not tomorrow and they looked at me smiled and said "we don't work on Sundays" as they were leaving the other guy smiled and said that I should feel lucky that this weekend wasn't going to be cold because the broken water heater also affects the radiant floor heating. Holy s&$t..........this is taking the Sunday and work hours thing too far. I know this isn't the UK or the US, but how can you leave a building full of families without hot water or heat simply because Sunday is f$&@ing day of rest. Total bulls&$t. If this was anywhere else a crew would be required to fix it immediately, even if that meant the owner paying a crew to work through the night. I can tolerate no shopping on Sunday or Saturday night, but this goes to far. The guys comment about being lucky it isn't cold just tells me that if this were to happen in the dead of winter, my family would be f&$@ed. No comment from the management company because THEY DON'T WORK SUNDAY EITHER. One day people are going to have to realize that you simply shut down an entire nation on Sunday....sometimes things need to be taken care of. My broken hot water heater doesn't care that it's Sunday and neither should the management company.

A kettle and a watering can make a temporary shower; no hot water isn't the end of the world. Annoying, yes, but for most things use the kettle to heat the water you need.

Dishwashers heat from cold. Washing machines heat from cold.

I'm sure you will survive it is possible to survive without a shower or a bath for a day or two - honest. You can boil water for washing for a couple of days, really. You are beginning to sound very spoilt, sorry, oh dear. We never had hot tap water when I was a kid until I was in my teens - and most of the world people don't now.

Edit @ Adrian, posts crossed.

Catbath. I think for a day, it's not so bad..do you have friends you could take a shower at?

My old home is a place of pyromaniacs and once on New Years Eve the fireworks were so intense somebody blew up the water pipes for the entire quarter. We had to wait a week. One has to be resourceful, fitness, public pool or sauna to shower at for adults, heat large pot of water in the morning, it keeps for the entire day. Kids don't mind going to bed dirty, trust me.

I know it is irritating, but just to put it at a perspective, outside of US/UK, it would probably be treated the same way.

The good thing about having no shower is that you will get lots of space in public transport

It is very possible to wash and not stink with hot tap water. Sink of warm water, 2 face cloths, well one for the face and top, and another for the rest- bit of soap - sorted. Really, for goodness sake! We are talking about 1 day or two FFS.

See why I get pissed off everytime Mercer publishes their fantastic study of quality of life etc. Its not even the unavailability of goods and services but also the complete lack of professionalism that enrages me. And then you have to listen to such comments "oh, you're lucky it's not winter" or "oh, if you don't like it, you can move elsehwere where there is no hot water at all.." like Switzerland is the only country with hot water.

How do people do camping? No showers there...Oooh, I love camping. Cold shower isn't sooo evil, either, in emergency. But I don't think I was ever brave enough for one of those.

No hot water for a day is ok. No power is the ultimate no, especially when one has kids.

And I think that some of the above posters are missing the main point of the rant, which is the feeling of frustration at the extremely inflexible and intransigent attitude of the service providers in CH.

But is it ?I am sure if there was an emergency, a dangerous situation, the service would be provided. But no hot water over one week-end is NOT en emergency- and can quite happily wait. Why should someone lose their week-end just for because of a very slight inconvenience- and NOT an emergency of any kind whatsoever?

We did have an emergency one, with boiling water spewing all over the cellar from a broken boiler - and the guys were here within minutes and never left until it was sorted- but I wouldn't dream of asking people to to work over the week-end for a mere inconvenience, not here, not in the UK, not anywhere
Boil kettle, top and tail - sorted. No need to go all pathetic, is there? Not the end of the world

I hate camping.

Op, I feel your frustration.

I agree with your rant! That's total BS! There are plenty of workers who would fix that on a weekend/sunday. You have a shitty management company and you should definitely tell them this kind of thing is not acceptable.

We've had water, heat and electrical issues on Sunday's and they have all been fixed on Sunday, including getting the electrician to come out in the middle of the town fete.



SOME service providers. (I'll even go as far as many )

Holy Moly! You mean like no Internet? That's against human rights!

Now seriously, my OH once was nine months without her kitchen range. After quite a few breakdowns of her former stove she had bought a new, very expensive, one with all kinds of electronic bells and whistles -- something I'd never do. It was even much worse than the old one. Several times a week she had to disconnect it from the mains supply to boot the software, something I had never heard of before, but the company said that was fairly common.

As if that were njot crazy enough, several times the oven tried to burn her house down by going into self-cleaning mode (read: overheating) but not switching off, and that while she was not not even at home. Result: charred counter tops, black ceiling etc..

She thought that was pretty bad. Little did she know. The maker of the range (Jenn-Air) put the blame on the company that had installed the appliance and vice versa. They went to court, where their lawyers crossed swords for nine months. During the whole time, my OH had to do all her cooking in an electric skillet, a slow cooker, the BBQ grill and the fireplace. The companies didn't give a hoot.

You think you are having a problem?

By the way, that was in the USA.

Nt true.


Sundays: trains run as per usual enabling travel throughout the country. Lots of cafes and restaurants open; supermarkets open at larger train stations; kiosks open at many smaller stations. Hospitals still operating; ski fields still open ( if cold enough) swiing pools and thermal centres open.

I love the fact that most unessential services are not open, giving people time for other activities and not have the pressure to be oncall for working.

I am trying to think of the worst scenario for a home in Switzerland. Perhaps midwinter: heating system breaks down - so make sure there is a portable heater in the house. Oops, Electricity goes off: make that a heater with a gas cyclinder. And cook over the bbq, or at least have a little camping stove with its small gas cyclinder. Wear a warm jersey or jacket and bring out the board games and playing cards for a weekend of indoor camping. You will survive. IN fact with the right spirit, you can turn it into one of those fun weekends that your family will have happy meories about , forever. (been there, done that.)

I don't the point is being missed..Just that a bunch of people do not take that inconvenience to be so grave, just suggesting some practical ways to cope. I really can imagine that the attitude of the people might have been really irritating, lack of compassion or whatever, so it is good that one can come and off load here. On the other hand, let's not lose perspective - what does one need hot water for, just shower and that can wait a day, no? Besides, bathing kids every day apparently isn't so healthy. Mine would be thrilled if she could skip it and just crash. I know if I needed, and I am really grateful for that, I can call up a few friends and have my kiddo shower there.

I can see both sides. Personally, I would boil the kettle and do a flannel wash but yes, it is irritating. Hope you enjoy your lovely, warm shower tomorrow.

Had to go without hot water for a few days, here in mid-winter and in UK mid-winter in a very very cold house. Yeah it's annoying, but you'll be alright.

You won't die and like it's been said before that's what kettles are there for.

Here's an idea - ask some friends, or neighbours. You'd surely let your neighbours in if that had the same problem wouldn't you?

Always a blessing in disguise

G'luck!

Yeah, except many restaurants (even in Zurich), all stores except at major trainstations and airports right?


Also, I'm looking for the people here crying "1st world" problem....hot, running water I also had when I lived in 3rd world countries...and when it in fact did go off, the issue was fixed within 2 hours...and no, I didn't live there on a lavish expat package.

Although I understand the OPs frustration I think it depends if you have just yourself & partner or a whole load of kids at home.
Just you and it is easy , as been said, boil up a kettle. 4 kids needing a bath not so easy.

(Our heating went once ( a Canadian boiler) and had to wait 3 weeks for a new part. Snow outside and me & Mr S had to live in one room, making a fire with 3 kids - when you opened the door to go to the bathroom it was flippin freezing - now that's suffering - 5 living in 1 room with no heating/water)

Yes, quite right. But that is known in advance, so easy to plan around.

Not sure what your point is LIB, re "1st world problem."

I also found it easier to get things fixed in less developed countries. But one of the (many)things I like here is that most people don't have to work 7 days a week to make a living - and for that, I am quite happy to wait till Monday to fix or buy anything that crops up over the weekend.

Now, why did I get that groan?