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?

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.

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.

How is it efficient to bill us twice for the same property???

In your case, rather less so!

Sounds highly efficient to me—Serafe was looking to double their revenue from existing resources!

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

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?

Very efficient, I'd say

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/

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

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.

You could exercise your right to leave Switzerland.

He is posting here so one can assume he has at least one device?

Or posting from the office.

Could be, but then seeing his previous posts he must be there 24/7 :-)

Given you came in April 2019 and Serafe bill annually, you can't have seen more than 2 of them.

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/

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

Unless he hasn't paid them, in which case he could have loads of reminders and final demands by now.