Swiss comparison portal advises consumers on avoiding unnecessary fees to UPC

UPC Switzerland has increased its basic subscription to CHF 39.95. According to the comparison portal dschungelkompass, the price has risen from CHF 24.10 in 2013 and CHF 29.90 in 2015. The portal comments that the increase is incomprehensible and gives advice to consumers on how to avoid paying too much.

The basic subscription includes about 80 TV channels, fixed telephony with extra costs for usage, and internet at 2 Mbps, as well as a free modem from UPC. 

In the case of rented apartments, the costs are paid as additional ones within the monthly residential rent. At the end of 2016, UPC introduced Connect&Play, a new subscription system, under which the internet, digital TV and fixed telephony price can be paid directly to UPC, including the basic subscription fee. This means the basic subscription fees can be cancelled from the residential rent paid to the landlord. Presumably, there are many tenants who are unknowingly paying for the service without using it at all, says the portal. These may be tenants who for have been using a service from Swisscom or Sunrise for a long time.

To save unnecessary expenditure, dschungelkompass gives several recommendations to consumers. UPC customers who signed an additional subscription for internet, digital TV or fixed telephony before the end on 2016, should migrate to the new Connect (internet) or Connect&Play (with digital TV) service, as this is usually less expensive. In addition, they should cancel the service by sending written notice to their lessor.

UPC customers who are happy with the basic subscription can call the operator and ask to migrate to a cheaper subscription. For example, for CHF 39.95, UPC offers a faster internet service at 10 Mbps instead of 2 Mbps, although this option is not available on the operator's website. This way, the user becomes a subscriber of UPC and can also cancel the service in the contract with the apartment lessor. 

Finally, customers using services of another operator should check whether they are paying the basic fee within their home rental contract, and should cancel it when necessary.