Nebenkosten and UPC cable sealed

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
Hi guys!

I'm about to move to a new apartment (rent), and I'm struggling in understanding how it works with the tv cable connection and related fees.

In detail:

In my rent contract, in the nebenkosten part, it states "Kabelfernseh- und -radiogebühren inkl. Urheberrechtsgebühr sofern diese Kosten nicht direkt mit dem Mieter abgerechnet werden".

However, they explained to me that the tv cable connection can be sealed upon request if the tenant wants, and the costs can be deducted.

I have already signed a fiber internet connection contract with Sunrise (via Yallo), which of course does not include any TV since I'm not interested and I'd like to have the tv connection sealed.

However, when I asked my landlord, they explained that the cable connections are not managed by them directly anymore, and I should contact UPC to have the cable sealed. Now, given the fact that the cable info is included in my nebenkosten (as mentioned above), this left me quite confused. Specifically, I don't understand what is the situation here between:

1) The fee will be deducted from my nebenkosten regardless and I will pay it directly to UPC instead (via separate invoice). If I seal the cable with them, simply I'll stop paying to UPC the fee.

2) The fee is paid in the nebenkosten and my landlord is going to pay UPC. If I seal the cable with UPC myself, only then my landlord will deduct these costs from the nebenkosten.

3) The landlord is playing a game that will lead to me paying this fee twice: in the nebenkosten to the landlord AND directly to UPC with a separate invoice. So, if I seal the cable, I will stop paying the fee to UPC but I will still pay the same nebenkosten to the landlord.

I'm trying to get this information from the landlord but he is being quite vague, so I just ended up being more and more confused.

My last, more general question is: will sealing the tv cable connection also negatively affect the speed or quality of my fiber internet connection with Sunrise?

Thank you in advance for your help!

A.

2
You have to contact UPC who will then come and turn off the connection so you can't use it.

3
Thank you Rob, this helps!

However, given the nebenkosten description, how should I behave about the fee? Should I expect then the landlord to deduct it from the rent (so basically my scenario 2)?

Thanks!

A.

4
Yes! Number 2.

5
Thank you for your prompt reply!

And should I worry about losing quality of my fiber connection?

6
You'd think in this day and age, they could do it remotely, from their HQ, using a computer, in a few seconds.

Why on earth does someone need to come out?

7

To physically seal it off so it can't be used by some deviant teenager with a laptop and a big enough brain to do it

8
Do you understand German and what the above text actually means?

It says: Cable connection fees are part of the auxiliar bill IF the cable connection is not paid by tenant himself directly.

9
I did this some years ago.

1. Write to the landlord to say you do not want the UPC and will ask UPC to seal it.

2. Write to UPC asking them to seal it as you will not be using it. Ask them to give you a time they'll come by. Make sure you're at home then and have cleared the furniture away from the UPC cable outlet. Ask the technician to give you written confirmation of the seal. If he won't, write to their office for confirmation.

3. Write to the landlord telling him when UPC will be/ has been there. Send in a copy of the UPC confirmation and ask that the deduction be stopped from the following month.

When I did it, the cable company at first refused to come without authorisation from my landlord, so obtaining that was an extra step. However, I haven't heard of anyone needing such authorisation for quite some time.

10
No, I don't.

Also the translation doesn't make it clearer. I don't see why an "if" should be in a contract, I guess

Thanks though!

Thank you doropfiz for the detailed explanation, that makes sense and confirms once more my option 2, I guess.

Moreover I spoke to UTC today and apparently the contract with them is under the landlord's name, so this seems to confirm the same option as well.

11
So that it can be an iffy contract.

12
Simply because they don't come out and physically seal it! At least not in Zürich. The radio part one could still use. They dont know if someone uses this. The rest is a different story.

I would assume the OP has no contract with UPC. So why should he be concerned about " sealing" it? Or is it something one takes over automatically when one moves into another apartment?

13
I thought we went through all this on here the other year.

One need not pay the kabelanschluss any more, either through the nebenkosten or directly. If it's paid by the landlord then ask the landlord to cancel it and then the nebenkosten should be less. For new cablecom contracts the kabelanschluss is included, so one could find themselves effectively paying twice if the landlord is still paying. If it's paid directly by the tenant then you can cancel the existing contract and not have to pay the fee as a separate charge. It seems they don't actually

seal the wall socket any more. Infact I still sometimes use mine for German TV.

The info used to be on the Cablecom website and might still be.