How to cancel a subscription in Switzerland

In Switzerland, there is no single law on cancelling subscriptions. Whether it is a mobile plan, an internet connection, a gym, a streaming service or a newspaper, the rules are set mainly by the contract and the general terms and conditions (GTC), within the limits of the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO). The first step is therefore to reread your contract and the GTC currently in force.

Look for three things: the minimum contract term, the notice period and the date for which you can give notice. A subscription taken out for twelve or twenty-four months generally cannot be cancelled before the end of that period without charges. The notice period, often one to three months, must be respected before the end date. Many contracts also provide for automatic renewal: if you do not give notice in time, the subscription is automatically renewed for a new period. Such a clause is in principle valid if it appears clearly in the GTC you accepted. However, if it is unusual or unfairly disadvantages the consumer, it can be challenged, in particular under art. 8 of the Unfair Competition Act (LCD).

The form of the notice also matters. If the contract requires written form, a letter signed by hand is the safest option (art. 13 and 16 CO). Send it by registered mail: what counts is the date the company receives it, not the date you send it. So allow a few days' margin. If the company offers cancellation online or by phone, always ask for written confirmation. In your letter, state your customer number, the service concerned and the date you want the cancellation to take effect, adding that the notice applies to the next possible date if that date is not accepted.

In some cases, you can cancel early. If the company raises its prices unilaterally or changes the services to your disadvantage, many GTC provide for an extraordinary right of termination within a set period; read the notification you received carefully. For fixed-term or ongoing contracts, case law also accepts termination for good cause when continuing the contract can no longer reasonably be expected, for example if the services are seriously deficient. Finally, when a contract is a mandate (art. 394 ff. CO), as with some coaching services, art. 404 CO allows you to end it at any time, although you may owe damages if you end it at an inopportune time. Not all subscriptions are mandates, however, and how a contract is classified depends on the specific case.

Once you have sent your notice, think about payments. Cancel the standing order, direct debit or eBill authorisation with your bank or PostFinance as of the end date, and remove the credit card saved in your online account. Return any rented equipment, such as a router or a set-top box, within the stated deadline and keep proof of the return.

Keep everything: a copy of the letter, the registered mail receipt, the tracking details, the company's confirmation and the invoices. If the company ignores your notice and keeps billing you, dispute the invoices in writing and, if necessary, send it a formal notice. If you receive an unjustified payment order, file an objection within ten days (art. 74 LP). For telecommunications disputes, you can contact the ombudscom mediation service, and consumer associations (FRC, SKS, ACSI) advise their members.

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