Tuesday, February 16, 2010

How to use REKA checks


For the last four years, my husband has been getting pay slips to order REKA checks from his company at a discount of 20%. REKA checks can be used to pay for holidays in Switzerland and have been around for decades.

But like most things during our first few years here, my expat brain could handle only so much stimulation, and so the REKA check stuff would get recycled with all of the other mail that wasn't absolutely necessary to figure out.

But now, after being here for almost four years, I have energy to figure out some new stuff. So when the REKA info arrived a couple of weeks ago, I actually ordered CHF 500 worth of REKA checks, which meant I got them for CHF 400 with the 20% discount. After receiving the checks in the mail, I went directly to the train station to buy overnight train tickets to Lake Bled and used them all up in one big payment. And they worked so great, the very next day, I ordered another CHF 400 worth.

So here's what you do if you get REKA stuff from your company: take the pay slip to the bank and pay it. About a week later, the mailman will ring your bell and you'll sign to receive your checks. If you order CHF 500 worth, you'll get one envelope with CHF 300 (all in CHF 10 denominations) and two envelopes, each with two CHF 50 denominations.

REKA has a website that shows all the places you can use REKA checks, but this website, like many Swiss websites, has much to be desired and almost never functions properly. So here's all you need to know:

You can use REKA checks for anything SBB/CFF/FFS. And that should be all you need to make them worth it. You can use the checks for buying local train tickets in the automated machines. You can use to checks to buy a ticket to Paris. You can use the checks to pay for an entire SBB vacation. And you can use them to buy your GA or half-price card.

If your company doesn't give you REKA checks at a discount, you can also buy them at COOP, but this is not such a great deal as you will only get a benefit of 3% (what a typical Swiss discount!). But still, if you're buying a GA or something pricey, it's an option if you want to save a bit of money.

If anyone has experience with REKA checks or just wants to comment on how to save money in Switzerland, please leave a comment.


26 comments:

Amanda said...

Yay! I've been wanting to post about REKA checks but haven't gotten around to it, so I am so glad you did! I think they are fantastic for so many reasons. I've only used them for SBB tickets and local transport, but I read you can also use them at BP stations, if you have a car of course. According to their website, you can use them on most leisure and travel-related activities, though they may need to update their search function. It said we could use the checks at the Stiftsbibliothek (museum) in SG, but the clerk would not accept them. We're going to try and use them at a water park tomorrow... I'd be curious to know where other Swiss residents have used them!

One last thing, I think the most amazing thing about the program is it's nonprofit. By using REKA checks, you save money AND make a small social contribution. You see, REKA charges vendors a small fee to participate in the program which REKA then uses to help low-income families - get this - go on vacation!!! Leave it to Switzerland to provide a high quality of life for ALL of its residents...

Chantal said...

Hi Amanda,

I knew you would know about REKA checks! Thanks for the additional information. I think that's what made me skeptical at first--the fact that I didn't know if places would take them. But after my experience with the SBB, I didn't care about other places since I spend at least CHF 800 with them every year anyhow.

Greg Christensen said...

I've never even heard of these. Thanks for the heads up.

Chantal said...

Hi Greg,

Ask your company if they offer them at a discount. They're a great deal if you can get them.

Unknown said...

Hi,
I was in a similar boat... didn`t use them for the first year but then "got with the program" and ordered some. We have used ours exclusively for petrol for the car. Many service stations take them. We predominantly use ours at BP but there are others.
Well worth it!

bwana said...

Fantastic, thanks so much! I was confused whether these Reka checks would work, since they have the Reka Rail for SBB. This is great to know though!

BTW, I hear that you can also top up your prepaid phone at the SBB machine with these?

Stephersplatz said...

Do you know if Reka checks or the credit on reka cards expire at the end of the year?
I've been meaning to order these for a while now and the packet I got in the mail says I can do it through the end of the year?
Do you know if I ordered some now if I could use them next year too?

thanks!!

these things have baffled me for the last 2 years, but i'm now realizing i should have ordered them a long time ago! :-)

Tiffany said...

Thanks for your article! I was wondering how this works with payment. For example, if I fill up my car with 55 CHF, and pay with 100 REKA, will I get change back? Or do you pay 50 REKA plus 5 CHF?

Unknown said...

Sziasztok nekem van 150chf reka jegyem esetleg nem venné át valaki?nem tudom már felhasználni nem megyek vissza.akit erdekel irjon k921120@freemail.hu

chenmeinv0 said...

louboutin femme
toms shoes outlet
the north face jackets
uggs outlet
michael kors
oakley canada
oakley sunglasses outlet
ugg outlet online
ray ban eyeglasses
canada goose canada
2016.11.9xukaimin

Unknown said...

coach outlet store
beats wireless headphones
bercrombie
michael kors outlet online
burberry outlet
true religion jeans
coach outlet store online
longchamp bags
coach factory outlet online
nike outlet store
20170331yueqin

Unknown said...

roshe run
reebok outlet
pandora jewelry
basketball shoes
fitflops clearance
air jordan
nike air max 2018
nike polo
cartier love bracelet
basketball shoes

raybanoutlet001 said...

nike air huarache
ray ban sunglasses
coach handbags
coach outlet online
nike shoes
coach outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
arizona cardinals jerseys
snapbacks
polo ralph lauren

raybanoutlet001 said...

cheap nba jerseys
los angeles lakers
nba jerseys
arizona cardinals jerseys
san diego chargers jerseys
nike shoes
ray ban sunglasses
baltimore ravens jerseys
adidas yeezy
coach outlet store online

adidas nmd said...

gucci outlet
kansas city chiefs jerseys
coach outlet
nike roshe
prada outlet
ugg outlet
polo ralph lauren
uggs outlet
nba jerseys
oakley sunglasses

Unknown said...

adidas neo online shop
converse shoes
true religion jeans
kate spade outlet
yeezy boost
michael kors outlet online
kobe byrant shoes
longchamp handbags
adidas nmd
jordan 13

raybanoutlet001 said...

zzzzz2018.4.29
nike shoes
canada goose jackets
christian louboutin shoes
kate spade handbags
canada goose outlet
nike air max 90
nike shoes
true religion jeans
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet

Unknown said...

0814ray ban eyeglasses
canada goose jackets
kate spade outlet online
vibram fivefingers
oakley sunglasses wholesale
kate spade outlet
nike outlet
christian louboutin shoes
nike outlet store
mulberry uk

5689 said...

zzzzz2018.8.20
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ugg boots
oakley sunglasses wholesale
uggs outlet
golden goose
mlb shop
canada goose jackets
basketball shoes
jordan 8
pandora charms

PalaPala said...

Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Air Jordan 9
Jordan Retro 11
Kyrie Irving Shoes
Nike 270
Jordan 11 For Sale
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Red Bottom for Women
Pandora Outlet
Air Jordan 4
Latrice20181013

Coqicoqi said...

Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Pandora Official Site
Jordan Retro 11
Yeezy boost 350 v2
Nike Air Max 270
Kyrie 3 Shoes
Pandora Jewelry Official Site
Kyrie Shoes
Air Jordan Retro 11
Ryan20181016

yanmaneee said...

fake rolex watches
ralph lauren uk
yeezy 500
golden goose sneakers
nike basketball shoes
michael kors
hermes online shop
jordan retro 12
coach outlet
nike foamposite

arnold dk said...

thanks for sharing your information.

Unknown said...

read this Dolabuy Loewe have a peek here good quality replica bags over here replica wallets

Unknown said...

a0w18n4p24 p5a24s9q55 q1r77w0t36 n7g68m6d80 r3t04l9l96 o4t34e2u79

Lillipy said...

Null’s Brawl APK is a modified version which have unlimited money and unlocked all skins for free.

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin