Hello,

I live in Geneva and travel abroad quite often. I am wondering whether there is a possiblity to authorize another person to sign and accept registered mail addressed to me while I'm away. Is there any formal procedure for this in Swiss Post?

Many thanks,
Ofer

Yes, there is. My husband and I had to go to the post office with our passports (or IDs) and signed a form giving each other an authorization to get each other's mail (we don't have the same surname, hence the need for the form).

If I remember correctly, it didn't cost anything. And it took all of 5 minutes .

I just realised.

If you live in Geneva, maybe you'd like to update your location .

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Thanks J.Marple and jrspet for your quick replies and valuable information!

Best,
Ofer

My pleasure. Here to serve .

We don't have the same last name either, except that I get mail with my last name, my husband's last name, and both names hyphenated in either order. I suppose it's because I've been very sloppy - although my passport, driver's license and residency permit are all in the same name (my last name). But anyway, I sign for everything, and I've never had an issue. Neither has my husband. If one of you is at home, they're probably not going to make a big deal out of it.

When I go to the post office I always take my residency permit because it has my husband's name on it, and I've never had a problem signing for his stuff.

ahahahahaha have you looked at yours?

What's wrong with the name of my village?

To what I understand, it can be anyone (any name) you have authorized, and it doesn't need to be a relative or someone sharing the same address as you.

I have the same problem collecting mail for my husband as we have different last name. Can we just write an informal authorisation letter to present to the post office when collecting the mail or we have to fill up a formal form for such authorisation. How does it work?

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks

Yes, just write it out, sign it and date it.

Tom

There's even a ready made form (in English) to make the job easier...

This doesn't always work - tried to pick up a registered package for my girlfriend once using a letter she wrote and signed to authorise me to pick it up. The lady at the post office told me that the authorisation had to be done officially with them to be valid. So I went home empty handed on that occasion.

My girlfriend and I signed each other a power of attorney letter which allows us to receive and sign for all sendings, letters, and parcels alike from any courier service. Actual wording:

"Ich Der/Die unterzeichnete (XYZ birthday/place or heimatort plus address) bevollmächtige hiermit (ABC birthday/place or heimatort plus address) zum Empfang und Entgegennahme von Sendungen aller Art der Schweizerischen Post sowie allen anderen Dienstleistern nach Postgesetz. Insbesondere ist der/die Bevollmächtigte ermächtigt Sendungen gegen Unterschrift in Empfang zu nehmen, die normallerweise nur gegen Unterschrift des Empfängers aushändigt werden. (Optional) Diese Vollmacht soll mit dem Verlust der Handlungs- bzw. Urteilsfähigkeit oder mit dem Tode nicht erlöschen."

We printed both version on one A4 sheet and went to the local notary with our IDs where we signed it in its presence. The cost in Zurich is 20.- for each signature. The advantage of this version over others you can find: It is valid for Post, DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc... and there is no recurring fee as with the Swiss Post. The optional part is not needed for the Swiss Post alone as it is already in there terms and conditions.

__________________
What?

I do it every time when my wife travels to our home country. She just wrote a authorization letter and signed it. They just check the authorization letter and my Id. Also,we have different last names.

For stuff for my wife, I don't need anything, not even ID!

(picked up a registered letter for her yesterday)

Tom