Hi all,

I'm leaving CH by beginning of may. I already informed my employeer, and today I wanted to proceed with the step 2, so I went to the gemeine to start all the paperwork. I was a little bit surprised when they told me I have to wait and start with everything 2-3 weeks before the departure and I have to go to the "Stadthaus" (zurich, close to paradeplatz) not to the gemeine.

My question is about how to proceed to cancel the services (Mobile phone, gym, krankenkasse, insurance...)

Regarding the mobile phone, I've called swisscom and my phone will be converted to prepaid from april, so I think this is ok.

I've already inform my landlord about the flat (I paid a flat rate including internet, expenses and all the things) anyway the termination date of the contract is the 30th of april...So..Done :-)

I've read for the other services like krankenkasse for example, you need to send them the documentation that you're leaving the country to cancel the contract. Does it really work like this?

I'll call the bank as well to check how to proceed..of course

How did you proceed? For me it looks like I could have started with all these things in advance and avoid to be in a rush the last two/three weeks (As I'll be working full time....)

Thanks a lot!
Martin

I've never been through this process so cannot provide detail - but have observed others. The main thing I've learned is get everything in writing. Really - do not trust any company or organisation - get something from them confirming that a) your contract is terminated and b) you owe them no more money.

Starting out now you can clear all the hurdles in time. You may have no problems but do be warned that organisations from health insurers to phone companies have been known to pursue people for money after they have left that they clearly do not owe in a quite disgusting and disgraceful manner simply because the organisation has at best failed in its internal communications or at worst is, well... worse. Until I saw it I couldn't believe quite how arrogantly money-grasping they can be and in such a rude manner - even when they are legally and morally completely in the wrong. That is why I say be sure to get it in writing so you can throw back at them if you get any fallout after departure.

It is only wise that you are starting now - then none of the b&%^%d$ can later claim you gave insufficient notice.

All the best for the move!

You'll get some paperwork (can't remember the name) from the Gemeine (I did) stating that you are indeed leaving the country etc. It cost me 20chfs for that.
Copies of that were needed to cancel some contracts etc. I just basically told everyone when I was leaving, sent them the paperwork if needed and they sent me final bills.

Nothing too hard to sort so don't worry.

Hi, I have oftened wondered what people do about their postal mail, as presumably would be the odd letter after you leave?
No idea if one asks someone else in the block where you live to forward to you, or you do something at the Post.

Good luck with your move

You can just get it forwarded by the post office.

When you deregister from your commune/gemeinde, you'll get an officially stamped letter. I did this about a month before the move, which was fine.

You then make lots of copies of this and send it off to everyone - health insurance, Cablecom, phones, Billag, etc. I'd suggest having the letters written out ready, then just drop a copy of the deregistration letter in and it's like a magic bullet, everyone just writes back saying 'ok, thanks, have a nice life'. There's no quibble at all, they're used to it.

Mail can be forwarded at the post office; I didn't have a new address in the US to send to so just got it sent to my parents in the UK, who phone me if anything interesting turns up. It's been a few months, so the post's pretty much dried up now. From memory, it was about 40 chfs for a year.

This is exactly what I wanted to do, but they said I have to wait till april to start , I'll try again and I let you know.. :-)

Hey..good point. I'm gonna ask!

Strange I'm gonna try with my gemeinde again...

for the guys who already did this. Is 2/3 weeks enough time to complete all the deregistration process?

Thanks!

Sure, you don't need to give any notice period for anything; for example, for our Swisscom box, we took it into one of their shops with our deregistration notice, and they cancelled our account on the spot.

Health insurance is cancelled on the day you leave, but you still seem to have to pay in complete months - try not to leave on the 1 or 2 of a month if you can! Much better if it's the 20-somethingth.

I have a related question. Let's say you leave your job on the 1st but leave Switzerland on the 20th. In this case:

(1) will you need to pay the medical premium for the entire month

(2) will you have medical insurance for a) the entire month, b) only through the 1st, or c) only through the 20th? In case of 2a), that means you will still have global coverage for the 10 days after leaving Switzerland.

(1) Yes
(2) C as your coverage terminates the moment you leave Switzerland. I obtained a bit of 'expat' travelers' insurance for the brief amount of time between leaving Switzerland and when the health insurance kicks in on the other side. See something like http://www.medexassist.com/

It depends on the Gemeinde as we asked for and received our de-reg letters in late Jan and we're leaving in April. Three weeks is pushing the time a bit, especially since things like our phone contracts would have been difficult to sort out along with all the chaos that goes with moving. Lean on your Gemeinde a bit and say you have to have the paperwork so that you can cancel your contracts in good time.