It seems that I have to have a metallic print of all names of people residing in the apartment! this is not a complaint, just an example of super-Swiss efficiency.
Too funny.
I just received a note from my landlord, it seems that if you add names to your letterbox in an 'ad-hoc' manner; that is, by a piece of paper, or a printout, that this is 'too messy'.
Our landlord had it done for us and installed it when we moved, we just got a bill from the engraver for 20 Sfr. or something. It does look much nicer than the sticker upon sticker/permanent marker/scotch tape method in the states, I think.
Actually it wasn't really that efficent because the landlord didn't give you the forms for the engraver, organise it for you, or inform you about it. He waited until you did the paper thing to tell you
But seriously, yes that is standard practice, not just here but in other countries where names are on the doorbells of buildings. It doesn't happen in every Swiss building though. Some very run-down buildings in poorer areas often have a mish-mash of names on the doorbells.
And long may names on door bells last in Switzerland.
For security/privacy reasons nobody in the UK would dream of putting their name on their flat door bell/letter box.
So when you know the block your friends live in the UK you are met with a list "Flat1, Flat 2 etc etc" - you need to know the number or you are lost. This has happened twice to me in the UK and I had to use my mobile (yes via Switzerland) to ask which number they were....
I'm dead against it, but then I know someone that had their identity stolen....
dave
What - right off the front of the letterbox?
I've got to wonder how the hell this works as well. What can you do with just a name, and nothing else? Especially when the nameplate is usually "R. Muller" or "T. Smith" no less.
How is getting a name from a mailbox for nefarious purposes any different than looking through a phonebook?
You're in the phonebook ? Bad error. Prepare to have your bath disturbed by junk phone canvassers...
Its often not one piece of information that is significant, its the ability to link them together in relational searches.
I'll turn the discussion around. Why should I advertise my home on the front door ? Anyone that needs to know will be told.
dave
I was just making the last post as a joke. I think what DaveA meant that he is concerned about privacy in general, and the name on the letterbox thing is just an indicator of a rather relaxed attitude to personal privacy.
There are a few ways it could be abused. If you were stalking someone and had a rough idea of their location you could walk the streets looking at the name plates until you found their address. If you saw a person driving a turbo bentley and decided that their house might be a good one to rob you'd only have to look up their full name and address on the internet from the licence place.
The list goes on. To prevent identity theft we have to be cautious. I'm also nervous about the way that date of birth is so casually handed out for everything. It's normally a security question in many other countries (like when you call up to ask about your phone bill). My guess is that the identity thief would somehow have an easier time of things here for a variety of reasons.
I've shredded everything including my name on the letterbox (in super-small letters) and even my house!
I've been ex-directory for years but you can still find out enough about me if you know where to start
That's cos you be a pirate! Arrr.
I have moved in my apartment for more than 2 weeks now and still I have no name tag on the letterbox or door bell. Efficiency? I doubted!!!
Or maybe I should just leave it blank :P then no one could steal my identity... in case there would be anyone interested? lol
I'm surprised you get any post. Do you get any?
Things can go terribly wrong:
A Danish Air Traffic Controller was murdered in Kloten by a stalker who had lost his wife and children in the mid-air collision over Uberlingen and believed ATC were at fault.
I knew his name (the ATC officer) and was most surprised to find him in the local phone book and tel.search.ch with job title of Air Traffic Controller.
Have you actually ordered one? "Normally" you need to do this as part of the moving in process and it usually costs you money... The renter generally likes all the tags to be the same so has some deal with the local engraver!
Actually you might be interested that the Swiss police in Basel are currently trying to catch a gang of identity thieves who use the information they steal from letter boxes to steal the identity of people. They are particularly keen on credit card statements.
How does having one's name on their mailbox cause their identity to be stolen? If they go for the credit card statement, they've got even more info than what they could find on the mailbox.
Its no big deal. The likes of Google and Microsoft have enough info stored in their databases to replace your identity for you.
You link a name and an address and a mailbox. Everything flows from that.
I started listing a few ways that this could be done, and then realised what I was doing and deleted it. Probably better left undescribed to avoid giving people ideas.
dave
The horrific thing for the victim is not the theft , but it is to be contacted by debt collectors years later, demanding money. It is an uphill struggle to convince these people that you never entered into any arrangement and you are the victim. The person I know went though this extremely stressful and traumatic experience a dozen times, and there is the nagging doubt that the problems are bubbling under, ready to resurface.
dave