Obligations and contract law

Can a fax be used as proof? I'm in dispute about an item I ordered in a shop. I'd like to know whether a fax can be considered valid evidence?" Gilles, Vaud In a court case, each party has a number of ways of proving the truth of its arguments: fax codes,...

A gym contract in times of COVID-19 "I signed up for a gym class for 2019-2020 and in September I signed a contract for a monthly fee of CHF 250. However, because of COVID-19, the classes have not been given since mid-March and the person in charge has asked me to pay...

Can a purchase be returned and refunded? "I bought a gift for a friend that turned out not to be what she expected. When I tried to take it back to the shop where it came from, they refused to refund me. Two disappointments in a row, that's a lot... Aren't shops legally obliged to...

Delayed parcel delivery " I sent a parcel to France using a private postal service that guaranteed door-to-door delivery by 12 noon on the next working day. The parcel didn't arrive at its destination until 7 days later, so can I get a refund? Christian, Geneva When you send a parcel via a private...

Contested work regulations "I've been working for a cleaning company for almost 5 years and today my employer decided to amend the work regulations, which set out in particular the terms and conditions of working hours. All the employees are obliged to sign the new regulations, failing which the employer has already...

What about a deposit? "I'd like to buy a new car by monthly instalments. The seller would like to ask me for a commitment from my parents and is talking to me about a surety bond or "porte-fort". What does this mean in legal terms? Maria, Geneva A surety bond is a contract by which a person undertakes to pay the creditor...

What rights does a cohabitee have after a break-up? "I'm a widow with no children. Three years ago, I started living with a farmer. When I arrived at the farm, I took on all the housework with love, just as his deceased wife had done previously. When he asked me to leave...

How can I take action against my employer?" I am currently employed by a company based in Geneva. However, I am domiciled in the canton of Vaud. Can I take legal action against my employer in the canton of Vaud? Nicolas A court cannot...

What is a contract worth if the price is mistakenly too low? "I bought a briefcase on a Swiss website at a price of 70 francs less 20%. I received the goods within a few days. Two weeks after placing the order, I received an email informing me that there had been an error in the...