Extraordinary termination after a price increase: how to cancel your Swiss plan properly

When your provider raises prices, you can in many cases exit the contract early, even in the middle of a running minimum term. This is called the extraordinary right of termination. The deadlines are short, the rules are not in the law, and taking the wrong route means you still pay a penalty. Here is what matters.

Key points

• The extraordinary right of termination does not come from the Telecommunications Act, but from the provider terms and from ongoing unfair competition case law.
• The usual window is 30 days from receipt of the notice, often with a fixed cut-off shortly before the new prices take effect.
• The most common and most expensive mistake: ordering from the new provider without first explicitly invoking the right with your current provider.
• If the deadline has passed, contracts with a minimum term can still be taken to the ombudscom conciliation body for a flat CHF 20.

Where the right comes from, and where it does not

A widespread misconception is that the right is written into the Telecommunications Act. It is not. The act covers universal service, numbering and supervision, not a general right of termination when prices change.

The actual basis is the provider terms and conditions. Swisscom, Salt and Sunrise have inflation clauses allowing prices to track the Swiss consumer price index. Whether a right of termination must be granted in return was long disputed.

On 28 April 2026 the Zurich District Court upheld a claim by the Swiss consumer protection foundation against Sunrise, declaring two clauses unlawful: price increases without an extraordinary right of termination breach the Unfair Competition Act, and customers must be able to cancel in writing, not only by phone or chat.

Important caveat: the judgment is not final. Sunrise has appealed to the Zurich Cantonal High Court and calls the decision partly flawed. In a comparable case, the Bülach District Court in 2022 and the Zurich High Court in 2023 found the clause acceptable. So rely on the actual notice from your provider rather than on the general legal position. In practice the large providers currently do grant the right.

Deadlines in the 2026 round

As of August 2026 nearly all of these have expired. That does not mean you are out of options, see the next section.

Details on each increase are in our overview of the 2026 price increases.

Missed the deadline? One route remains

The ombudscom conciliation body ruled in favour of a Sunrise customer. The reasoning: it is in the nature of a contract with a minimum term that the agreed price applies for that term. An increase during the minimum term, without an explicit reference to a right of termination, is therefore not valid.

How to proceed:

1. Write to your provider stating that you consider the increase inadmissible during the minimum term, and request a refund of the difference.
2. Announce that you will file a conciliation request if you receive no satisfactory answer.
3. If the provider does not respond, take it to ombudscom. The handling fee is a flat CHF 20. Your last contact on the matter must be within the past twelve months.

The procedure is normally written and takes one to two months. Once the provider is asked to comment, a stop on payment reminders applies.

Cancelling correctly in six steps

1. Keep the notice. The letter or email announcing the increase is your evidence. Note the date you received it.

2. Check whether you are actually affected. Prepaid, data-only plans, device instalments and running fixed-price promotions are usually excluded.

3. Cancel with your current provider first. This is the decisive step. State explicitly that you are invoking the extraordinary right of termination because of the price increase, and give the termination date.

4. In writing, with confirmation. Even if the provider points you to phone or chat, also send an email and demand written confirmation showing the end date.

5. Only then sign the new contract. Schedule number porting to the confirmed end date.

6. Check the final invoice. If an early termination fee appears, dispute it immediately, referring to the confirmation.

The three costliest mistakes

Cancelling via the new provider. The process is then handled as an ordinary early termination and a fee is charged. You have to invoke the extraordinary right yourself.

Cancelling too early and losing the number. If the old contract ends before porting completes, the number can be lost. Where porting is refused, ombudscom describes a timeout of 20 to 40 working days, after which the number reverts to the provider.

Confusing a discount with a price. See the next section.

A lifetime discount is not a lifetime price

The difference costs real money. An agreed fixed price can be relied on. A discount expressed in francs stays the same while the base price rises, so your effective monthly amount rises too. Check your contract for which of the two was guaranteed.

Keeping your number without risk

The common claim that porting is always free and done in one to three working days is too optimistic. Realistically it takes from a few working days to several weeks. Sunrise, for example, cites around ten working days. Not every provider ports for free.

Three rules:

• Start porting early, not just before the contract ends.
• Enter the details exactly as registered with your current provider. Mismatched account holder data is the most common reason for rejection.
• Use up any prepaid credit before porting.

Outstanding invoices are not a valid reason to refuse a porting request.

Conclusion

The extraordinary right of termination is an effective tool, but it is not automatic. It only works if you invoke it on time, in writing and with the right party, namely your current provider.

And if you are switching anyway, compare what actually fits your usage first, in our mobile comparison and internet comparison.