I've been having DSL issues all weekend. The DSL connectivity shuts off intermittently. The connection somewhere between my modem and the DSLAM is going out because I see the "DSL" light on the modem is off. So I try calling the clowns at tech support to tell them to fix their problem (at 0.11CHF/minute...don't even get me started on how retarded that is), but there aren't any clowns there to yell at .

Do I have any recourse here? They are charging me for a service they are not providing. In the US I could tell them to refund the days the DSL didn't work. But somehow I can't see that happening here.

And this is something that kind of smacks of hypocrisy to me. The Swiss seem very demanding of quality when they are on the receiving end of a deal, but are less zealous when they are on the provider side.

First of all, I always call the tollfree number, ask if they have problems on their network, and when the untrained person suggests I call the tech support, I ask to be connected directly. There go the 0.11chf/min.
Then, on weekends getting any sort of help other than in german is generally quite complicated, although I must say that at least the cellphone support helped me a lot a couple of weekends ago.

It might also be sunrise-independent, as it's swisscom managing the physical connection. If they're working on the infrastructure, you're left in the cold.

As for asking for a refund, read carefully the contract you signed. It should tell you if you have room for recourse.