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For being the country that practically invented banking, Switzerland is pretty bad at its banking services.

  • If you want online banking, “it couldn’t be easier! Simply print out and sign the necessary documents, send them to us and you’re ready to go!” ‘Easier’ must mean something else here.
  • You have to pay a monthly fee for an obligatory debit card.
  • You have to pay if you want a credit card.
  • You can’t use your debit card for online purchases, but have to pay for a special online-shopping card.
  • Even if you have online banking, you still have to physically go to the bank to set up direct debits.
  • Terms and conditions in English are not legally binding to the bank because they are translations of the French, and ONLY the French T&C (which you don’t understand if you need the English) are legally binding.

Actually, coming to think of it, that’s brilliant banking. At least they’re open about it. Some day, perhaps, the other banks will learn such honesty. We can only hope.

Good listener

This is my first comic from Lausanne, Switzerland where I’ve taken a science journalist role with the lauded EPFL, covering the awesome research of the School of Basic Sciences. It’s quite a switch for me, and I’m having a great time learning about things like superconductivity, particle physics and retarded interactions (that’s a science thing. Honest). I’ll keep you posted when my articles pop up on the website.

It’s good to be back. The Microscope missed you all.

– Nik

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Dear Microscope friends,

I am aware that the website has suffered terrible neglect in the last couple of weeks. The reason is that I am currently in the last stretch of moving from the UK to Switzerland for the foreseeable future, and, as you can imagine, I have my hands full of other things than drawing tablets. It was easier coming to the UK than leaving.

So, once again, I beg your patience. I should be able to update the blog soon, but there are going to be some expected disruptions in service for the next month or so.

And, incidentally, if any of you are in/around Lausanne from March onwards, I’d love to meet you!

– Nik

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