They help with flat tires, a flat starter battery, and faulty electronics: Since 1929, mechanics and patrol officers from the Swiss Turing Club (TCS) have been getting our cars moving again when they break down. From now on, TCS is expanding its range of services throughout Switzerland to include the home. TCS Home is the name of the new service that offers assistance in the event of a heating, hot water or power failure.
If there is a problem in your rented flat or house, you can report it to TCS 365 days a year. Experts on the hotline first give tips on how to fix the problem remotely. If it does not work, a qualified specialist company will be called to carry out the repairs. However, the damage must have occurred in permanently installed sanitary, heating or energy systems or building fabric such as windows, doors, garage doors or roofs. TCS offer does not apply to defective hair dryers or washing machines.
400 cases in test mode
TCS has tested the proposal with around 400 applications in western Switzerland and the cantons of Bern and in both Basel and is now making it available throughout Switzerland. It is surprising, because TCS and its offerings are so strongly associated with mobility and above all with the automobile. But digitization opens up new opportunities for services for the association: for example, danger alerts for field travelers or medical advice via smartphone in the event of natural disasters or a politically tense and potentially escalating situation in the country.
But the new breakdown service for home and apartment is not free. A flat rate of CHF 99 per year is added to the mandatory TCS membership.