hi all,
this is my first post to the forums, i am actually not even in switzerland yet but just about to arrive on monday sept 8th in the morning. i will be staying in a temporary accommodation up until october 1st, and i don t know yet where i will live after that. the movers will arrive on tuesday september 9th or wednesday 10th (ie right after me) and will drop off the stuff in a storage facility that i have already booked. they still expect to be able to call me and for me to show up at the storage facility on short notice. problem is, i won't have a phone.
so here is my simple question: how easy do you think it would be to go to a cell phone retailer and buy a phone and a plan, to be activated within a few hours? i am talking about doing this before any visit to the Kreisburo or the Betreibungsamt. is there any paperwork required in order to subscribe to a phone plan?
other things that might be relevant: i am EU, and have a copy of my contract in Zurich to show. i am expected to get a B permit.

forgot to say thanks in advance for anyone taking time to answer my question!

You can buy a cheap phone with a prepaid contract with your passport to get you going for the first months.

With Orange, you can get prepaid at first and change to a full-time
contract when you receive your work permit.

walk into Migros (the supermarket chain) - they sell prepaid phones (for mobile) - no problem, just fill in the card and show your ID.

When you register at the Kreisburo (you have to do this within 8 days of arriving) they will give you a card which shows you have applied for residency, and it shows your address (which is handy).

Also, have a copy of your lease document, as a confirmation of your registered address, as this is handy to have when you are trying to do things.

For ADSL/Cable/home phone, we had no problems - my husband just went to the local swisscom office (they are everywhere) and paid for an ADSL/Phone bundle and I think he paid 80chf for a phone with two handsets, and the ADSL modem etc - maybe 120chf for that. We didn't have too many problems hooking up the computer...but they did sign us up for the wrong plan (less than we wanted), and he had to log in online to change the settings. One good thing is they have us listed as english speakers so all our notifications come in the post in English...handy!

Or you could try this to get you started.

Free Swisscom Pay as you go SIM card

I should add: I don't own a phone that will work in Europe yet, and I want to take advantage of some deal to obtain one when I get a plan. So ideally I would go straight to the bundle option, and not buy a prepaid phone first...

You can get a prepaid phone plus some credit with Orange for about 30CHF - which, if you're desperate to be mobile, would do until the necessary registration etc is completed.

Most of the Orange shops as an example have English speaking people in - so you could go there and ask what you need to do to get a contract phone if you don't want to go for the cheapo prepaid option first.

You won't get a mobile phone on a contract without a permit. There is too much risk for the phone companies that you won't pay your bill.

I would have thought that the shop would expect to see your permit before giving you a contract - but maybe I am wrong.

As for a landline in your temporary apartment, its highly unlikely you would be up and running in an hour or two.

it is possible (at least for EU/EFTA citizens) to get a contract with 1500CHF deposit at swisscom. but believe the posts in here: its a crap deal with lots of hurdles and much higher rates, excessive paperwork, waiting to get it sorted will maybe take that long...youll get your permit meanwhile=pointless doing it. rather get a prepaid one n get yourself a fon/bundle contract after you get your permit. if you dont want to because you know better: go ahead and find out for yourself at the shops. have fun!

I couldn't get a contract phone without a permit.

Don't know someone here who could take the call on your behalf?

Not really, or at least not someone willing to part with their phone for those 2 days. And I will need to run around the city to do all my admin tasks (I start work on Monday), so I can't really be tied down anywhere.
Looks like the best solution is to go to Orange and talk to them, and maybe check the Migros as well.

You could always but a PAYG from Migros, cheap as chips. Then when you get the permit you can get a contract and a decent phone. hat way you have something to get you started that doesnt cost a fortune.

http://www.melectronics.ch/g3.cms/s_.../s_level/17340

Don't over complicate things for yourself. Get a prepaid bundle that come with cheapie phone. You can get these so many places including the post office, media markt, interdiscount, migro, coop, the phone house, etc. I got one for 50CHF at the post office when my phone died and sold the phone for 25 to someone else when my regular phone was fixed.

PS, I still have the sim card if anyone wants it. you need to go activate it at Sunrise with your ID/Passport.

Here is an option.
I work at the airport. I can meet you upon arrival and lend you our extra phone. We always keep one for our family and friends who visit.
We also have a Migro prepaid card. I can load it with 10CHF and you can have it until you get yours.
PM me if you want to borrow.

Aki

Thanks all. You guys are right, I should just keep it simple. The movers have also just told me I would have 2 days to figure it all out, so that's a bit better.