I am going to be a student starting this September and (I think) I will have a B permit. I've heard that UBS has a good program for students called UBS Campus but wanted to see if anyone has experience with this account. I'm from the US where I've never paid monthly fees for my bank accounts and have had a credit card since I turned 18. I would like to get a credit card to use here so I don't have to pay foreign transaction fees for my dollar denominated card but have heard that it is tough to qualify in Switzerland (especially when you're a student and unemployed). According to the UBS website it looks as though you can get a credit card through the Campus program.

Does anyone have personal experience with this? Thanks for your help.

It is possible, but they may ask to block some funds of yours in case you can't pay your bill....

UBS used to give credit cards to Campus account holders. The recipients I know were Swiss citizens. Ask UBS if this facility is also available to foreign students. The fact that you have a US credit card may persuade them. Credit-Suisse, too, offer student accounts with preferential conditions.

I checked the Credit Suisse website but the student deal only applies if your degree program is at least 2 years and since I'm doing a 1 year MBA program at St. Gallen I won't be eligible.

ZKB offers a prepaid mastercard to account holders.

http://www.zkb.ch/de/startseite/firm...ditkarten.html

I'm sure there are kantonal banks all over CH so you could use the kantonal bank in St. Gallen

Then again, they don't ask you to prove you will be studying for two years. You just have to be a bit affirmative, eg:

" I'm studying here in Zurich for the next 4 years and will then be working here as well..."

cheers,

felix

Hi, I have a problem with my UBS Campus Account. Today I got my account statement and apparently I have withdrew 200CHF on 1st of December in a town I have never been to. I have already went to the bank, stated my problem I they said they will try to contest the statement. I am absolutely positive and sure I didn't withdraw the money, I didn't lose the card ever and even if I did I am the only one who knows the PIN number. The fact is that it was the statement from 1.12. to 31.12. and in the bank they said it is usually possible to file a complaint until 1.1. which is ridiculous, I got the statement on 11.1. for Christ's sake... -_-

So my question is, if the complaint doesn't pass is there a way to get some legal help and do you have and advices what to do in case that the complaint fails. Basically, what UBS has done is a robbery... -_-

Find the customer compliants area and follow the process they require it may take time but it is the best way for a loss of 200CHF. Put in a written request to the bank and send it officially since going in an complaining or discussing in person is fine but doesn't force the bank to respond. You will most likely find on the statement somewhere information detailing that you have 30days or something to dispute an entry.

What you may need to do is prove that you could not have done the transaction since in the banks perspective (and correctly so) you may just be a customer trying to fraudulently deny a transaction. They have nothing that proves your statement so it is hard to just simply refund you.

Your card could have been skimmed (copied electronically) and therefore others may know the PIN as this is a growing trend here that is commonplace in the rest of the world.

A lawyer will cost you more then that amount in about 1 hours worth of work.

Follow the process and document you claim clearly

it is not robbery since from the bank's point of view there has been a withdrawal with YOUR card. Since you're not supposed to pass on your passwort and your card was stolen it was YOU.

You could check your statements for locations of ATMs you've withdrawn money from and ask if any of those is known to have been used for skimming. If yes, proof for you.
But as Wallabies stated, file a written complaint, maybe even providing evidence of your whereabouts on this date, and send it as registered letter.

Oh, and having to file a complaint until 1.1. when the statement was only generated on the 3rd (1st and 2nd are banking holidays) is BS, you have 30 days.

did you buy any petrol from an automatic machine around this time?? they block a sum of money from your card then credit it back later

No, I don't drive a car and I would know if I bought something. Anyway, I have to go to the police now in order to contest the statement. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. In any case if I'm a victim of some scam I would love to see someone get caught, not just because of me...

not being funny here, but generally when your card gets cloned the thieves empty your account, they don't just stop with 200chf.

The transaction data doesn't necessarily reflect the date you actually made the transaction, it could be from a few days before, especially if it was a weekend (which the 1st was).

Do you have online banking? you can research a transaction and see exactly what company was paid, again, this may mean nothing to you as a lot of high street companies are owned by a bigger holding company and its there name that appears as the payee so you could have paid by card in Bugerking on a friday night in zurich (for example) but your statement says Cocacola holdings inc geneva on the sunday. (the holding company)

Oh and the police wont give a hoot about a 200chf card transaction that may or may not be theft.

The Swiss Banking Ombudman can also help you to contest the charge and to get your money back.

Also block ASAP any further use of your bank card and request a new one with a new pin. If the charge is indeed fraudelent then your card was skimmed (copied).

Some hints that may help others (Not 100% proof, see link below):
Always wiggle on the ATM key board and card insert part. Cover your pin entry.
See how some skimming device look like.

skimming is becoming more common here, especially in the Swiss French region.

dispute the transaction and ask them if the ATM has a camera installed. also inform them that you're prepared to make a police report.

cancel the card immediately.

I'm assuming if this is all true that you don't have much money in your account? It's usually a withdrawal of a small amount followed by the rest.

Well, they couldn't have emptied my savings account as it was empty but my personal account was robbed. Yeah, that look suspicious to me too, just 200CHF. The thing is that I don't use my debit card too often, maybe sometimes for paying in stores like Migros or Coop. I don't withdraw money, I can't remember the last time I did that. Well tommorow I'm going to the police office and I'm blocking my card. The odd thing is that it is on the 1.12, the transaction, it may be some late transaction but as I said I don't use my debit card in ATMs...

I don't know, the lady in the UBS bank told me to go see the police for contesting the statement...