Terminating Swisscom, Sunrise or Salt after a death: fees and procedure
Introduction
The death of a loved one brings numerous administrative tasks. Among them, terminating telecom subscriptions may seem secondary, but it deserves prompt attention. An unterminated mobile, internet or TV subscription continues to generate monthly bills. Worse still: roaming charges abroad can accumulate if the phone remains active.
In Switzerland, Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt have specific procedures in place for when the account holder dies. The good news: early termination is generally accepted without termination fees upon presentation of the death certificate. But each operator has its own procedures, deadlines and required documents.
This practical guide accompanies you through all the steps. You will find detailed procedures for each operator, ready-to-use termination letter templates, and essential information about the possible transfer of the number or subscription. We also address pitfalls to avoid, particularly hidden fees and additional services that continue to run after the death.
Objective: to enable you to manage these procedures with clarity and efficiency, during an already difficult time.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt accept early termination of a telecom subscription after a death, generally without fees upon presentation of the death certificate. Each operator has its own procedures: sending by registered post with supporting documents. The number can sometimes be transferred to the spouse or an heir. Beware of roaming charges and additional services that continue to run as long as the line remains active.
📚 Table of contents
- Telecom operators and the death of an account holder: what the law says
- Terminating a Swisscom subscription after a death
- Terminating a Sunrise subscription after a death
- Terminating a Salt subscription after a death
- Transferring the number or subscription to the spouse or an heir
- Beware of hidden fees: roaming and additional services
- Documents required for all procedures
- Checklist: steps to follow to terminate a telecom subscription after a death
Telecom operators and the death of an account holder: what the law says
In Switzerland, the death of the account holder does not automatically terminate telecom subscription contracts. Heirs also inherit contractual obligations, but have the right to early termination.
Most operators accept termination without fees upon presentation of the death certificate. This free termination is not always written into the general terms and conditions, but is generally applied by Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt.
Heirs must contact the operator quickly to prevent monthly charges from continuing to accrue. This step is one of the many post-death administrative formalities, such as terminating a lease or managing bank accounts.
Terminating a Swisscom subscription after a death
Swisscom offers a simplified procedure for death subscription termination. Heirs must provide a copy of the death certificate and proof of their status as heir (certificate of inheritance or notarial attestation).
You can contact Swisscom by telephone on 0800 800 800, by registered post or by visiting an agency. Termination takes effect immediately or on the requested date.
Swisscom generally cancels early termination fees upon presentation of the death certificate. Amounts already invoiced for the period following the death are refunded. Processing takes approximately 10 working days.
Template letter for terminating a Swisscom subscription
Here is a Swisscom termination letter template to send by registered post:
[Your contact details]
[Date]
Swisscom (Suisse) SA
Customer service
3050 Berne
Subject: Termination of mobile subscription following the death of [Name Surname]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you of the death of [Name Surname], holder of mobile subscription number [telephone number] / contract no. [number]. I request immediate termination of this subscription with effect from [date].
Please find enclosed the death certificate and the certificate of inheritance attesting to my status.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Terminating a Sunrise subscription after a death
Sunrise also applies a free termination policy in the event of death. The required documents are the death certificate (certified copy) and proof of heir status.
Contact Sunrise customer service on 0800 707 707 or send a registered letter to Sunrise Communications AG, Customer Care, 8050 Zurich. Termination can also be done at an agency.
The Sunrise termination fees linked to early contract termination are cancelled upon presentation of the death certificate. Sunrise generally processes requests within 5 to 10 days. Check the last invoice to ensure that no additional charges were taken after the death.
Template letter for terminating a Sunrise subscription
Letter template for Sunrise:
[Your contact details]
[Date]
Sunrise Communications AG
Customer Care
8050 Zurich
Subject: Termination following death, subscription no. [number]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby inform you of the death of [Name Surname], which occurred on [date], holder of mobile subscription [telephone number]. I request immediate termination of this contract.
Please find enclosed the death certificate and certificate of inheritance. I would be grateful if you could confirm the termination and refund any amounts invoiced after the death.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Terminating a Salt subscription after a death
Salt follows the same logic as other Swiss operators: termination is free upon presentation of the death certificate. Heirs must provide the death certificate and a document proving their status (certificate of inheritance).
You can contact Salt by telephone on 0800 700 700, by post to Salt Mobile SA, Customer service, 1001 Lausanne, or at an agency. Salt favours the digital channel: you can also submit your request via the online customer area.
Early termination fees are cancelled. Processing takes approximately one week. Remember to request written confirmation of termination for your administrative files.
Template letter for terminating a Salt subscription
Template for Salt:
[Your contact details]
[Date]
Salt Mobile SA
Customer service
1001 Lausanne
Subject: Termination due to death, contract no. [number]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to inform you of the death of [Name Surname], holder of subscription [telephone number], which occurred on [date]. I request immediate termination of this subscription.
Please find attached the death certificate and certificate of inheritance. Please send me confirmation of termination and a final statement.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature]
Transferring the number or subscription to the spouse or an heir
Rather than terminating, you can request subscription takeover in the name of an heir or the surviving spouse. This option allows you to keep the deceased's telephone number and the current contractual conditions.
The procedure varies according to the operator, but generally requires the death certificate, certificate of inheritance and identity document of the person taking over. Some operators also require a new credit check.
The transfer avoids termination fees and allows you to keep a familiar number for loved ones. Contact customer service directly to find out the precise procedures. This solution is particularly useful for the spouse who wishes to keep the number.
Beware of hidden fees: roaming and additional services
Even after death, certain charges can continue to accumulate. If the deceased's phone was abroad or if data was used in roaming just before death, significant charges may appear on the next bill.
Also consider third-party subscriptions linked to the number: streaming services (Spotify, Netflix), paid applications, premium options. These services continue to charge as long as the mobile subscription is active.
Block the SIM card quickly by contacting the operator. Check the last two or three bills to identify unusual charges. If you notice unjustified charges, contact customer service to request a refund.
Terminating other related subscriptions: internet, TV, fixed-line telephony
Terminating a mobile subscription does not automatically end other contracts taken out with the same operator: home internet, television, fixed-line telephony.
If the deceased had a bundled package (mobile + internet + TV), you must terminate each service separately or request global termination of the customer account. Free termination conditions generally also apply to these contracts.
Plan to return equipment (internet box, router, TV decoder) within the indicated deadlines to avoid additional charges. As with lease termination, these procedures require organisation and rigour.
Documents required for all procedures
To facilitate all your death subscription termination procedures, prepare the following documents:
- Death certificate: original or certified true copy (request several copies from the civil registry office)
- Certificate of inheritance or notarial attestation proving your status as heir
- Identity document of the heir carrying out the procedures
- Last invoice or contract number of the deceased
Make several certified copies of the death certificate: you will need them for numerous procedures (banks, insurance companies, administrations). These documents are also necessary to access financial assistance after a death.
Checklist: steps to follow to terminate a telecom subscription after a death
Here are the steps to follow to effectively terminate a telecom subscription:
- 1. Gather the documents: death certificate, certificate of inheritance, identity document, contract number
- 2. Contact the operator quickly: by telephone first to block the line and avoid charges
- 3. Send the termination letter: by registered post with supporting documents
- 4. Check the last invoices: identify roaming charges or additional services
- 5. Request written confirmation: keep proof of termination for your files
- 6. Return the equipment: box, router, decoder within the indicated deadlines
These procedures are in addition to other important administrative formalities after a death.
Terminating a telecom subscription after a death requires rigour, but remains accessible. The three main Swiss operators, Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt, accept early termination with the death certificate. Deadlines vary according to general terms and conditions, but quick action avoids unnecessary costs.
Remember to check all related services: internet, TV, fixed-line telephony and additional options such as roaming. Gather the necessary documents from the start to speed up the process. If you wish to keep the number or transfer the subscription to an heir, contact the operator directly before sending the termination.
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