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12.09.2020, 21:08
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wallis
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag
Flipping SERAFE
I've just had a bill, with the wrong postal address, but in our names, for 730- for 2019 & 2020.
I already paid 2 bills in Feb & Nov 2019..... unfortunately didn't keep bills but have eBanking proof of payment. Basically getting double billed.
I think there is an address issue.... when signing up for phone/internet etc, the phone companies have our phone line under a different address to our actual postal address.
I have a feeling this is gonna be a nightmare to sort out  ... not paying it but don't want to get a Betreibung either | 
13.09.2020, 01:28
|  | Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag | Quote: | |  | | | Flipping SERAFE 
I've just had a bill, with the wrong postal address, but in our names, for 730- for 2019 & 2020.
I already paid 2 bills in Feb & Nov 2019..... unfortunately didn't keep bills but have eBanking proof of payment. Basically getting double billed.
I think there is an address issue.... when signing up for phone/internet etc, the phone companies have our phone line under a different address to our actual postal address.
I have a feeling this is gonna be a nightmare to sort out ... not paying it but don't want to get a Betreibung either  | | | | | Hi,
I haven’t been in Switzerland for a while, so I am not sure how scammy the new licensing system is. However, in my personal experience, swiss people are usually willing to quickly fix their mistakes. If you are sure there is a mistake (and it might be genuine of you think is an address issue) get in touch with them, send them all the bills and receipts you have and explain the situation. If they are wrong and you can prove it, there is good chances they will correct their records. Again, only my personal experience, but everytime something was off and I was sure I was right, and I had proof to back up my version of the story, i got an apology and things would be sort out fairly quickly. It is worth a try. Are you sure it s not a bill for next year?
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14.09.2020, 11:23
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wallis
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag
Contacted the Gemeinde, apparently everyone in the entire Gemeinde has had an incorrect bill. Something to do with them renaming the streets in the near future (I had no idea this was happening  ) .... they've told us not to pay. | 
14.09.2020, 12:20
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Frick, Aargau
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag
They've found me even though my first house in Switzerland is a new build property.
I was hoping the combination of new resident and new property would be hard to find on the system. However, the Swiss are just too efficient.
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14.09.2020, 12:26
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wallis
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag | Quote: | |  | | | However, the Swiss are just too efficient. | | | | | How is it efficient to bill us twice for the same property??? | 
14.09.2020, 12:35
| Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Frick, Aargau
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag | Quote: | |  | | | How is it efficient to bill us twice for the same property???  | | | | | In your case, rather less so!
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15.09.2020, 01:16
|  | Only in moderation | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Basel-Land
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag | Quote: | |  | | | How is it efficient to bill us twice for the same property???  | | | | | Sounds highly efficient to me—Serafe was looking to double their revenue from existing resources!
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18.09.2020, 10:42
|  | Newbie 1st class | | Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: AG
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| | Re: Do I really have to pay this? | Quote: | |  | | | Background:
I am a consultant, living in Luzern, staying in a serviced apartment (Think long term Hotel with weekly cleaning, etc...). I recieved the Radio/TV licence bill and wasn't sure what to do with this.
Thoughts:
I am only here till the end of December, all television services are provided by the property. Any extra fees, etc... are wrapped in my montly bill/rent (or so I thought). Radio? are you kidding me? I haven't listened to the radio (broadcast) in 5 years. The TV that I do watch at the apartment (flat) is all cable but not even much of that, since I prefer Netflix/Prime/Hulu, etc...
Just curious as to what my obligations are. I could certainly get my company to reimburse me, but I suppose that its kinda the principle of the matter. I.e. I don't think that I owe anyone anything (but I've been wrong before, and will probably be so again)
Thanks for your input.. | | | | | It may be too late at this point, but in case you're still thinking about this and haven't made any move, if the serviced apartment you've rented states in the contract that they handle the TV and internet fees (mine did) and they are not listed on your name anyway, but on the name of the landlord company, then call Serafe (phone number on the bill) and see what they say.
In my case they, they agreed to change the invoice to start since I started have internet on my name, not since I stayed in the Hotel, but for this you need to go with the proof of hotel registration at the Gemeinde where you are registered, as they work together on this.
If you're still in the serviced apartment, and you have no internet contract on your name, then my guess is you shouldn't pay, as you can prove "you" have no internet on your name, which is one of the requirements.
Good Luck
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19.09.2020, 13:11
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
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| | Re: TV licence, Serafe in place of Billag | Quote: | |  | | | Contacted the Gemeinde, apparently everyone in the entire Gemeinde has had an incorrect bill. Something to do with them renaming the streets in the near future (I had no idea this was happening ) .... they've told us not to pay.  | | | | | Almost all if not all faults by Serafe were due to mistakes by the Gemeinden!
They will rename the streets? In plural?  That is rather unusual (and will lead to a lot more confusion/problems). However, now you know the new name of your street already, right? | Quote: | |  | | | How is it efficient to bill us twice for the same property???  | | | | | Very efficient, I'd say
Last edited by curley; 20.09.2020 at 01:26.
Reason: typo
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20.09.2020, 00:19
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: Do I really have to pay this? | Quote: | |  | | | If you're still in the serviced apartment, and you have no internet contract on your name, then my guess is you shouldn't pay, as you can prove "you" have no internet on your name, which is one of the requirements. | | | | | Having internet service or a receiving device is no longer a precondition. It is good enough if you have working ears or eyes. Yes, no joke, that is OR. https://www.serafe.ch/en/exemption-f...nd-households/ | 
16.10.2020, 13:49
| Banned | | Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Basel
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| | Serafe
Hi I know we all get these bills and have been paying them for ages now but it just feels crazy that I don’t use a tv radio or anything is there anyway around this or do we just have to pay them regardless
Thanks
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16.10.2020, 13:58
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Serafe
If you own a TV, radio-set (either standalone, in your car, built into another device such as a phone) or any other similar device capable of receiving radio or TV signals, you HAVE to pay.
On the flipside, if you don't own any such device, claim it. They may send an inspector that will check the house and, upon confirming you aren't able to receive TV or radio signal, will waive the payments.
After 2023 nobody will be able to be excluded from payment, though.
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16.10.2020, 14:01
| Member | | Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Serafe
You could exercise your right to leave Switzerland.
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16.10.2020, 14:02
|  | Moderately Dutch | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Serafe
He is posting here so one can assume he has at least one device?
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16.10.2020, 14:04
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Zürich
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| | Re: Serafe | Quote: | |  | | | He is posting here so one can assume he has at least one device? | | | | | Or posting from the office.
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16.10.2020, 14:05
|  | Moderately Dutch | | Join Date: May 2011 Location: Zurich
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| | Re: Serafe | Quote: | |  | | | Or posting from the office. | | | | |
Could be, but then seeing his previous posts he must be there 24/7 :-)
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16.10.2020, 14:14
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rheintal
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| | Re: Serafe
Given you came in April 2019 and Serafe bill annually, you can't have seen more than 2 of them.
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16.10.2020, 14:17
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Suhr, Aargau
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| | Re: Serafe
If you have a smartphone or a computer you have to pay.
The only exceptions are the following: (i) the old and poor receiving income subsidies, (ii) people living without electronic devices, (iii) the deaf or blind, and (iv) diplomats. https://www.serafe.ch/en/exemption-f...sic-principle/ | 
16.10.2020, 15:13
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Zurich area
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| | Re: Serafe | Quote: | |  | | | If you own a TV, radio-set (either standalone, in your car, built into another device such as a phone) or any other similar device capable of receiving radio or TV signals, you HAVE to pay. | | | | | That is only true till the end of 2024. Art.109c RTVA and Art. 95 RTVO
After that it is:
If you own one functional eye (either standalone, or accompanied by a glass eye in your skull socket) or an organ capable of receiving acoustic waves such as an ear or a cochlea implant you HAVE to pay.
Only those which are legally deaf AND blind are exempt. (Plus diplomats and those who get supplementary benefits) Art. 69b RTVA, Art. 61 RTVO
Last edited by aSwissInTheUS; 16.10.2020 at 15:20.
Reason: The English version of the RTVO is not up to date. Linked to German version.
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16.10.2020, 15:15
|  | A modal singularity | | Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Morgins, VS (and Alsace)
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| | Re: Serafe | Quote: | |  | | | Given you came in April 2019 and Serafe bill annually, you can't have seen more than 2 of them. | | | | | Unless he hasn't paid them, in which case he could have loads of reminders and final demands by now.
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