Author Topic: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?  (Read 8961 times)

Offline hocker

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Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« on: October 03, 2010, 09:46:35 PM »
To make a long story short i never terminated my cellphone service in switzerland and have accrued charges of a couple hundred dollars. I have recieved letters to my swiss address from collection agencies after I have left the country and my Visa (as in permit, not the cc) has expired. FYI i`m an american citizen.

The question is will i ever be stopped by the border or be contacted in the USA about this? Did you have any similar experiences? what would you do?

p.s. any swiss guys who can help me?

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2010, 06:05:58 AM »
If its just subscription that you have to pay, try giving them a call (where your number doesn't show up), and tell them that before you left the country, you said to them that you are leaving, and they said its ok.
If they don't cooperate, just tell them that you never come back to switzerland, so its a waste for them to keep on sending papers, collection agencies, etc.

Don't know about switzerland, but in other european countries you would never get stopped at the border for such a thing.

In the unlikely* event that they bring it to court, and obviously you will be found guilty, in the street in switzerland, if randomly stopped by a cop, they could have it on file, but even that I'm not sure.

*such companies usually make an address verification, before dragging someone to court, otherwise they spend a lot, and get nothing in return.

Offline hocker

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2010, 11:01:37 PM »
thanks... anyone with more knowledge please speak up.

Offline hocker

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2010, 03:14:43 AM »
Does anyone know a good lawyer etc, in Switzerland?

Offline Avid Reader

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #4 on: October 06, 2010, 03:23:16 AM »
A lawyers fee itself will cost you a few hundred. Try http://www.thelaw.com/ or some other legal forum for free advice.

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #5 on: October 06, 2010, 03:40:57 AM »
Did you call up as I suggested?

Offline aaa

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2010, 07:53:27 PM »
To make a long story short i never terminated my cellphone service in switzerland and have accrued charges of a couple hundred dollars. I have recieved letters to my swiss address from collection agencies after I have left the country and my Visa (as in permit, not the cc) has expired. FYI i`m an american citizen.

The question is will i ever be stopped by the border or be contacted in the USA about this? Did you have any similar experiences? what would you do?

p.s. any swiss guys who can help me?


why dont u want to pay?

Offline AsherO

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #7 on: October 11, 2010, 08:57:35 PM »
why dont u want to pay?

Speculation: Perhaps he didn't realize he needed to (or forgot to) terminate and doesn't feel the fees are justified when he wasn't using the service. He probably found out much later because he wasn't in Switzerland.
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Offline hocker

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2010, 03:40:16 PM »
why dont u want to pay?
Because it`s my money and they don`t deserve it.

Offline damaxer91

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2010, 04:31:27 PM »
I think that the Swiss have outstanding balances with enough Yidden that you can live without the guilt... It sure didn't bother them..

Offline chuchem

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2010, 06:49:04 PM »
Well I think you should call them and try to settle. They can stop you at the airport within the next five years, after 5 years its gone.
I dont know exactly what happened, but if you owe them money its gneiva not to pay, even if you can get away with it. Even if they dont deserve it, but you signed a contract.
Damaxer, that was a really good excuse. Steal from a cell phone company, because a bank from the same country stole 50 years ago. Come on...

Offline aaa

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2010, 09:11:41 PM »
Because it`s my money and they don`t deserve it.

Dont mean to get you upset or sayign you should pay, but wouldnt it be stealing? Or what is your reasoning why not?

Offline AsherO

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2010, 10:37:14 PM »
I think that the Swiss have outstanding balances with enough Yidden that you can live without the guilt... It sure didn't bother them..

I'm not saying I agree, but well said :)
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Offline damaxer91

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2010, 05:18:27 AM »
I want the truth here... Has anyone ever paid a parking ticket in Israel? (Yes Moish, we know what the briskers hold)

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #14 on: October 14, 2010, 05:48:04 AM »
I want the truth here... Has anyone ever paid a parking ticket in Israel? (Yes Moish, we know what the briskers hold)

no, I b"h always caught the guy writing the fine redhanded.

I made them cancel it.

Offline chuchem

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #15 on: October 14, 2010, 07:02:17 AM »
Damaxer, I have not.
But I think you have to see a small difference. I never asked for the parking ticket. They give me a ticket and I dont pay.
If you sign a cellphone contract there is a agreement that you promise to pay. If you forgot to cancel a plan when you left a country its not their fault. You didnt cancel the contract that you signed.
I know the difference is small and you will jump on me for writing it. I never asked a rabbi and I guess a Raw has to decide such a case.

Offline damaxer91

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #16 on: October 14, 2010, 07:43:46 AM »
Damaxer, that was a really good excuse. Steal from a cell phone company, because a bank from the same country stole 50 years ago. Come on...

The Europeans are constantly asking for our forgiveness. Then they start again.... (Theme Song from Schindler's List playing in the background)

Offline damaxer91

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #17 on: October 14, 2010, 07:44:17 AM »
Damaxer, I have not.
But I think you have to see a small difference. I never asked for the parking ticket. They give me a ticket and I dont pay.
If you sign a cellphone contract there is a agreement that you promise to pay. If you forgot to cancel a plan when you left a country its not their fault. You didnt cancel the contract that you signed.
I know the difference is small and you will jump on me for writing it. I never asked a rabbi and I guess a Raw has to decide such a case.


I have no reason to jump on you for these comments. They speak for themselves...

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #18 on: October 14, 2010, 08:10:57 AM »
 ;D

Offline Dan

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Re: Outstanding Balance in Switzerland. Should i pay?
« Reply #19 on: October 14, 2010, 09:21:50 AM »
I want the truth here... Has anyone ever paid a parking ticket in Israel? (Yes Moish, we know what the briskers hold)
Erm...twice   :P
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Wouldn't Avis just charge my credit card and then some if I didn't?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.