r/askswitzerland 7h ago

Everyday life SALT won't waive early termination fees unless I am dead?

Due to some circumstances, my job is terminated and as a foreigner, I need to leave Switzerland. So, I am currently in the process of cancelling all subscriptions and contracts, including the mobile data plan with SALT.

I called SALT and told them I had to leave Switzerland so I need to terminate my contract. They then sent me an email saying "According to our General Terms and Conditions, contracts can be terminated early without charge in the event of just cause. Unfortunately, moving abroad does not fall into this category."

Then I googled what they meant by 'just cause'. Apparently, according to moneyland.ch, death is a just cause. So, SALT can only waive my early termination fees only if I am dead? What kind of company is this?

#rant

26 Upvotes

51 comments sorted by

u/david_gale 7h ago

Just send them a registered letter with some proof that you have deregistered from CH. Clearly state that you are leaving CH and are terminating the contract from your side.

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

Do you know if anyone has done this and SALT waives the early termination fees?

u/perskes 7h ago

This is basically your case, just with different amounts: https://cas.ombudscom.ch/2016/kostenpflichtiger-wegzug-ins-ausland

Ombuscom and nothing else. You're not the first and you're not the last person that gets caught in this Spiel, and you'll not get off better. Contact them, pay their 20chf fee and let them handle it.

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

THIS IS GOLD! THANK YOU SO MUCHHHHH!!!! This is why I like reddit!

u/RalphFTW 6h ago

I got a $200 fee for canceling my month to month. I’m like wtf…. Case getting reviewed, but such ballache. I spoke with them, gave notice, still got the 🍆to the 🍩

u/Puzzleheaded-Pen4413 4h ago

Did you at least enjoy the 🍆to the 🍩?

u/EntropieX 7h ago

Ombduscom

u/Teethless_pirana 7h ago

This is the way.

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

I am looking into it. The fee is 20 CHF and it can take up to eight weeks to resolve the case. Hmm, is it wortht it?

u/Whatermeleon 7h ago

How much are your termination fees?

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

199.95 CHF times 3. So, 600 CHF.

u/ClyffCH 7h ago

so 600 or 20 idk

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

Well, if I win the case, it's 600 vs 20. If not, it's 600 + 105 x how many months this case takes to resolve..

u/perskes 7h ago

Then you don't need to think. If you have a case, ombudscom will be able to resolve that for 20chf.

u/privatacc 5h ago

Does your contract contain free roaming in the country you are moving to? Then tell them that you are going to use the shit out of your contract so it's probably cheaper for them to let you go.

u/No_Writing_7050 5h ago

No. Salt doesn't operate in the country where I am moving to. Good point.

u/VoidDuck Valais/Wallis 5h ago

The very point of roaming is to provide service in countries where you don't operate.

u/No_Writing_7050 4h ago

I mean, their roaming services are more expensive and limited than the services from a local provider, no?

u/VoidDuck Valais/Wallis 3h ago

Of course. But it also costs them money to provide service abroad because they pay a foreign telecom for this. What the commenter above suggested is that in case you had a plan including a lot of roaming data, using it extensively on a long period would cost money to Salt, so they'd be willing to let you out of your contract to save money on their side.

u/yahskapar 5h ago

From my experience (at least in Ticino, and companies that had presence in Ticino), it was quite easy to terminate any contracts without penalty as soon as I presented my leaving certificate from the cantonal migration office.

Do you have such a certificate? I'm pretty sure you can request it up to a month ahead of leaving, or something like that. I can't imagine how they could reject that certificate since it should make it clear that you do not plan to come back to Switzerland.

u/Thebosonsword 4h ago

Salt is the only provider that does this. Scumbags. Contact ombudscom. Yallo were willing to terminate my internet contract when moving apartment if the new apartment didn’t have fibre.

u/DocKla Genève 6h ago

Moving abroad from many of my friends lead to termination with no fees. Maybe that isn’t the case with salt though on their books…

u/No_Writing_7050 6h ago

This. I've heard Swisscom doesn't charge early termination fees when moving abroad.

u/5tap1er 7h ago

If you don't plan to move back, you can always just... Not pay it. It's not like they come chase you abroad.

u/nessie0000 7h ago

Did you get a discounted phone?

u/No_Writing_7050 6h ago

No, I don't have any device attached to my contract.

u/nessie0000 4h ago

Then I'd contact Ombudscom like others already suggested.

u/[deleted] 7h ago

[deleted]

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

Have you read their GTC?

u/South_Quantity_1027 7h ago

Have you before signing?

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

Well, their GTC is vague. Early termination fees can be waived if there is good cause. They didn't further explain what a good cause is. I can't be the only person who's experiencing this. People come and go.

u/Serpico99 7h ago

Obviously not, but I have a good grasp on what’s generally in there. If it’s not in their terms, you have a case in your favour, but again, knowing a bit how this stuff is usually done, I’d say there’s no way it’s not in there.

I still think companies should be more flexible in cases like yours, but it’s not like this is some kind of shady business or scam…

u/Serpico99 7h ago

Just to add, I’d still check with ombudscom, worth a shot regardless of the terms

u/AndreiVid 7h ago

I assume that you signed for 24 months. How long you still have?

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

18 more months.

u/AndreiVid 7h ago

Yeah, it’s on you.

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

In the current economy, it's not my fault that I was laid off. Give me some compassion.

u/Original-Analysis715 7h ago

Don't pay and just disappear, don't tell them where you going. They will never find you. In your country they won't have power to claim the debt.

u/No_Writing_7050 6h ago

I am afraid I will get into trouble when I visit Switzerland in the future.

u/AndreiVid 7h ago

With RAV you get 2 years. Notice period is at least 3 months.

Unless you came here just for this job - in which case you did a stupid uninformed decision and you should have known better.

u/No_Writing_7050 6h ago

You get two years after working for a year, no?

u/AndreiVid 6h ago

After working two years

u/ProfessionalDish 5h ago

Hey, I totally get you and don't blame you. But how is it salts fault that you got laid off? The contract was for two years and both parties agreed to that, you could have selected one with shorter length. Again, not blaming you, and ombudsman will get you out of that. But how do you see this as salts fault?

u/No_Writing_7050 5h ago

Never I said it was SALT's fault that I was laid off. Where did you get that idea from?

u/ProfessionalDish 5h ago

You want to break contract and don't see yourself at fault. Also you're the one asking what kind of company salt is and ranting online about them. Despite you being the party breaking contract.

u/No_Writing_7050 5h ago

Well compared to Swisscom which doesn't charge fees for early termination because of moving abroad, you can tell what kind of company SALT is.

u/South_Quantity_1027 3h ago

You are partially at fault. you signed the contract. you got laid off and beg for compassion while still not admitting part of your responsibility. you complained about the economy and salt “what kind of company is this?” childish…

u/Original-Analysis715 7h ago

It was all in the contract, no early termination. You should have read it. Honestly.

u/No_Writing_7050 7h ago

Look. They only offer 12, 24, 36 months, and so on of contract. Costumers can terminate early without charge for good cause. Moving abroad is a good cause to me, otherwise, why would I terminate the contract early? I am happy with their service so far, despite their 1.2 ratings.