Hi
we did something stupid when we signed our lease; we didn't read it as it was in German and relied on our landlord to be, uh,cool.
I know it was stupid but we really needed a place to live and he talks a lot so we didn't ask too many questions.
Anyway we just got a bill for him for about 100 CHF for changing the names (to ours) on our buzzer.
The names are written on typewriter tape. Yes, they are. If we had known it wouldcost us that much we would've done it ourselves!
So...is this common? or is our landlord a sneaky douche?
thank you!

Same happened to me, and I just put it down to local leasing habits. Mind you, it was only 30 Francs for me so I wasn't too bothered. 100 francs sounds a lot.

It is common practice that they are all the same however usually this is metal...

Hi Layla, this is common "landlord" practice but you have been really ripped off. I paid CHF30.50 for 2 metal engraved plates from MS Gravuren in Embrach. Zurich prices are a bit more expensive - take a look at http://www.sigristsign.ch/ you'll need to download the brochure to see the prices - page 18 for mailboxes as an example. Whatever the size or number of lines, you wouldn't have paid more than CH50 to get it done by professionals. I'd print a few pages from the brochure out, show it to this guy and tell him you'll get one done yourself.

Do you mean the Dymo type of self-adhesive plastic? CHF100 is steep for that.

Mister Minit (often in larger Migros) make metal ones for mailboxes for about CHF20...

Layla,
before you go off on him check that the current lables are the ones he charging you for. It may be that these are just temp and the real ones are on the way. Having said that 100francs is too much.

Thanks all.
I misunderstood the translation on the bill. There are metal labels on our mailboxes. They are the ones that apparently cost us 100 CHF; we asked around and everyone else we know (ok, like 2 people) paid 35 CHF. So I'm pretty sure we are getting hoodwinked .
I am not ready to tear anyone over 65 frs, but I am a little concerned that it may some of kind of prelude to a very tragic opera. Justa Kidding!

thanks
Leyla

I fear you've been ripped off big style!

It's common practice that the tenant pays for the name labels on letterbox,doorbell in and outside of the house.

Now a landlord can make it mandatory to buy them from him.....to ensure that the name labels are all the same,with fancy letterboxes the labels sometimes cost more than the engraving....

That's why we switched in our house to print them on clear tape and stick them on and don't charge our tenants anything! This way everyone benefits, we don't have to buy new metalplates all the time and if someone moves out the plates can be re-used.

Anyhoo,I wouldn't let it lie and I'd ask the landlord why you had to pay more than the other tenants for the same thing.This way you show him he can't do what he wants with you,coz if he rips you already off with such a minor thing, then I fear that the 'nebenkosten' ( charges) bill will be the same.....

EE

Mmmmmm. What would you charge for going down to Mister Minit (or whereever) and ordering your name tag, waiting for it to be made, paying CHF35 for it then inserting these on your mailbx? CHF65 sounds OK...

Does the price include those for mailbox, outside buzzer and interior buzzer. Thats three. The people you spoke to may not have been aware, but then again I paid 37chf, and had my company names on it as well....
dave