After moving out here and renting a temporary room for a job ( just 3 weeks ago! ), I am considering quitting and moving back at the end of the month (to UK)... I have registered at the RatHaus (Gemeinde), opened a bank account, and am about to send off the health insurance forms ( I have 3 months apparently ) ....
Since I will just draw my salary out of the bank, close it, and bring the cash back to the UK, is there any point in me 'deregistering' at the RatHaus as my insurance probably won't even be activated before I leave...

cheers!

Assuming you haven't actually set up the health insurance yet, you needn't bother. I was here 3 months before I even applied for insurance and just got reminder letters threatening to set me up on my behalf until I finally got insured about a month later. The deregistration confirmation you get is useful for cancelling insurance, but if you don't have insurance and don't plan to come back.....

Thanks.... might as well save the deregistration fee then !

It is always better to deregister. Even though you have only worked for a month, you have paid taxes, pension and other social insurances.
So that you have no more trouble, I would suggest to deregister. It takes only 10 mins at the Kreisbüro.
Also you can then transfer or get a refund on your Pension that you have paid this month.

And I'm quite certain there's no such thing as a deregistration fee anyhow.

"Deregister"....

That sounds so Orwellian!

It is essential that you de-register. Otherwise in a few months you will be receiving health insurance bills - and other bills too probably - forwarded to the UK.

You are obliged to find health cover within 3 months of registering otherwise one will be allocated to you - with a bill dating back to the day of registration. So without officially signing off you may end up with bills you dispute in a few months.

Don't be surprised if you are expect to pay health insurance for the period you were here. What happens if you break your leg or worse tomorrow? Who do you think will pay??

Doing it properly will make life easier for you and other expats who will follow you in the future. Also you may queer the pitch for yourself if you ever return...

Like AbFab says. You have to deregister. If you don't you can expect a bill for health insurance as they will think you are still living here.

It's covered by accident insurance from work, the compulsory medical insurance won't pick up the tab.

How do you tell the Taxman you have left the country, and do you want to risk getting late filing penalties until you do ?

Actually, more "Brazil"-ian...if you've seen the movie.

Obviously it is a private matter- but just wondering if you would be prepared to share why you've decided to return after such a short time? If you'd rather not, I'll just wish you luck for the future.

I'm curious, too, as I wanted to bolt after a few weeks of being here and had I been single, I'd have done so. The EF is somewhat like group therapy in this regard as it helps to know why you want to leave and why you stay.

de-register. it will be better. you might even get an insurance refund...

I just deregistered it cost 30chf. You have to give them a forwarding address in the Uk to be passed on to the tax authorities for their records. Although strangley enough they will only send the tax returns to an address in Switzerland so that seemed a bit of a daffy duck thing to ask for, but this is Switzerland after all!

Even though you have only been here a month, in my 3 years i have encountered some of the most weirdest things and situations with the authorities and health insurance companies so I would strongly recommend to get along there and do the business pronto! You can do it only up to 30 days before you leave. I gave them 40 days in advance and was told to come back when it became 30 days...........lalalalala

I'm still waiting for that moment of revelation to strike where I do NOT want to go back; where all of the excitement and bewilderment I held before coming over finally return and I realize... "WOW... it really is a dream come true..."

....no longer the f@#k^*g nightmare that it actually is.

If you really feel like this, isn't it time to consider leaving? Why would anyone keep living a nightmare? I don't think you'll get to the point where you think "wow". Switzerland (or anywhere really) just isn't for everyone.

Some people see leave as a failure on their part. It so isn't. You went, you tried, and it's not for you. No shame in that.

You need to find your place in the world.

Probably a bit dramatic of me. This was just a craptastic week.

Not my thread anyway.... back to Mark....


So why are you leaving Mark?

Sorry. Didn't realize you were one of our drama queens!

Yeah, Mark. Sharing is caring!

Good luck to you on your move back.

Sounds like he is still undecided, but I am sure the reasons are personal.

Good luck with your decision.