On Thursday afternoon my better half was doing laundry in basement of our four floor building. All the laundry machines and driers require green tags/keys which interface with relay system and control access to the power. Since they are quite common here in Switzerland, it is needless to further explain. Most of the EF memebers will be familar with them.

Anyway, I suggested to my better half to wait one or two days before someone might realize that he/she took a wrong tag by mistake and it will turn up soon. She also talked to one senior lady, whose grandson spoke some English and she volunteered to take matter in her hands. Unfortunately nothing has happened ever since.

What is more troubling for us is the fact that we did not get acquainted with all the inhabitants in the building and it seems to be quite awkward and bit presumptuous to go and knock from door to door inquiring about the lost tag. Eventually, we could claim it from house hold insurance and thus making a matter more simple.

But we came up with a better idea to post the note on the information board at the ground floor and wait a day or two longer. To cut the long story short, can anyone please help us to write a note:

''Dear Mme/Sir, We were doing laundry on Thursday 14.08.2008 and our electricity key/tag has disapeared from the washing room downstairs. Can you please check if you find yourself in possesion of additional key? Thank you in advance,

Jacek''

or something alike, which is more suitable to this type of situation. Since German is not my first language, I would not want to risk writing something clamsy making an intactful mistake which might hurt my somehow already sensitive neighbours

Thank you for any suggestions to resolve this problem.

Hey, can't help there, maybe the thread would be better in the language corner?

Uh...that is really bad. I have one of these green thinguies, too, and have left behind several times. It always found its way back home, though....

It was relatively easy to get a copy of it. I just called the landlords and they ordered it for me. It took 1 week to get it on the mail, and it costed 30 suissies if memory serves me well.

The note seems OK to me, but i am helpless with German. Though it probably would be better if you ask them personally. At least you would know who they are...

PS - What i never managed to get back was a pair of GAP jeans and several socks......

Since I use Zürich house hold someone advised me to claim it back just in case something goes wrong with any appliance save when it disappears. I would rather prefer it was returned to avoid unnecessary hussle. Otherwise I will specialize in hand laundry for the next few weeks

Hi there,
I would try something like this: Lieber Nachbarn, Wer hat am 14/8 unsere Waschmaschinenkarte gefunden? Good luck, cacohen

How about this:


An alle MitbewohnerInnen

Am Donnerstag, 14.8.2008 haben wir das letzte Mal Wäsche gewaschen. Seither ist unserer elektronischer Schlüssel, der im Wäscheraum war, verschwunden.
Darf ich Sie bitten zu prüfen, ob Sie diesen Schlüssel irrtümlich mitgenommen haben?
Bitte bei mir melden (Tel. xxx), falls Sie ihn gefunden haben.
Mit bestem Dank für Ihre Bemühungen und
freundlichen Grüssen
Jacek

Many thanks to you folks. I will just wait for development of events and keep you posted on the outcome.

BTW: Today I checked again in the laundry room and towards my surprise I saw a washing machine running I just wonder if it is strictly forbidden or allowed based on circumstances to do laundry on Sundays? Just simply asking becuase if it is allowed I would be very glad... since Sunday ends up being one those do it all days...

In the words of my father: You can do what you want until someone says you can't.

Wash away, my boy. Wash away!

That would be in your house rules (= Hausordnung) or agreement attachmed to your contract.
AFAIK there's no law saying you cannot do laundry on Sundays in Switzerland. I'm doing mine right now, too!

It is more like it! It makes you feel better inside (and the clothes clean)... you know what I mean... when you do not have to obey all those rules

We pay our own mortgage - we make our own rules - simple as that!

That's a bit weak how about:

ohne Kläger kein Richter

Few hours later after I had hanged the note in the basement the key has been placed inside my post-box wrapped around the note that I placed.

Viel danke für deiner Hilfe alles die EF Mitglieders. Ich musse verbessern meiner Deustch und meiner Nachbarn bekannt werden

Now my better half off she went to the ... Boden und hoffentlich die Redewendung gilt auch ''ohne Kläger kein Richter''

Again, thanks a lot folks...