Hey all,

I just got a random bill from UPC cablecom for 90 CHF outside of the normal monthly bill. It is for "frais regulaires pour l'utilisation de ce raccordement cable" or "costs for using the cable connection."

Does anyone know anything about this? (I mean besides calling UPC cablecom, which I will do, I'm just wondering if anyone has any anecdotal info on this.)

Is this a once a year charge and why is it outside of my regular bill?

Cablecom charge a fee, around 25Fr a month, just for the connection. Crazy. That means internet costs, say, 35Fr (5MB) plus 25FR each month. Compare that to £10-£15 for this in the UK.

Usually the 25Fr/month connection fee is in the apartment rent (nebenkosten). Some people here will swear blind that it doesn't exist, but it does, they are either paying it without realising, getting away with it, or (a new one), waiting for Cablecom to bill them.

Of course, your 90Fr could be for something totally different! :-)

Thanks for the info! Upon closer examination it looks like a quarterly bill for October through December, aprox. 25 CHF a month, as you say.

This is strange. We've had the cable since March but have not received any bill like this before. Does anyone know if it is supposed to be each household or the entire building that pays for this charge? (It's also lame that UPC doesn't quote this in their rates, right?)

So, I will also contact the gerance (landlord company) to make sure that they are not already paying this for my building.

Has anyone else had any experience with these cable connection costs?

This exact situation just happened to me!

Used the service from October to December and no cable connection charge. All of a sudden I get a bill for the 25CHF/mo from January- March.

I believe there is some kind of charge for this in my monthly rent.

What's the best way to fight this?

My cost is included in my monthly rent. However, if you have a cable outlet then its almost certain its from cablecom and somebody is paying for it.

1)you landlord and passing the cost to you
2) you are directly billed

If you don't wish to have cable TV you do have an option. You have to disable the cable connection in your home. It could be as simple as putting electrical tape over it or getting somebody to remove the Video socket from the wall. Either way, it has to be verified by Cablecom. (verify the exact procedure with cablecom or your landlord)

People who subscribe to swisscom or sunrise tv are advised to do this so that they are not billed twice. A large majority however dont do this either because they dont know they are paying for it or dont know how to stop paying cablecom

Yes, we had this, moved into an apartment with cable TV already plumbed in and default option of it being activated. if you don't want to use the cable TV service, just call Cablecom and they'll send someone round to put an official cap over the outlets - our guy turned up within a few days, it only took a few minutes and they deleted the existing bill without question.

Look in your rental contract. If the rental contract explicitely states that the cable connection is included in the Nebenkosten, then it has already been paid.

If it does not, and you wish to continue using the cable connection, then you have to pay for it.
Unfortunately, ignorance is no excuse for not being charged for the service.

If you don't want the cable connection, ring upc cablecom and request your connection be sealed (plombiert). That way, you cannot use it, and you don't have to pay for it.

Experience? Yes.

If you have a cable connection, and the fee is not included in the nebenkosten for your rental contract, then the tenant must pay.

The only way not to pay is
a) The fee is part of your Nebenkosten, or
b) You request the connection to be sealed so that it cannot be used.

Corrected this for you:
Because it is part of the Nebenkosten does not mean you do not pay it. If you seal it, your Nebenkosten must be lowered by the Cablecom fee.

See Art. 35a of SR 784.10 Telecommunications Act

I pay it as well. Cablecom is the TV provider of my building, whether I want it or not. As I want to use my TV, I have to pay.