Free help in Bern: advice when things get tight

How it works

1. Pick a topic, for example understanding a letter or form, or debt and bills.
2. Read the short note on what matters first.
3. Call a suitable office with the button or go there at the times shown.

Which topics are there?

Understanding a letter or form, tax returns, debt and bills, rent and termination, residence and permits, and low income and general advice. For each office you see the address, hours, costs and languages. Examples are the Schreibdienst (writing service) at the Generationenhaus, the Support Café at DOCK8, the isa Fachstelle Migration, the Berner Schuldenberatung (debt advice), the Schlichtungsbehörde Bern-Mittelland (conciliation authority) and the Sozialdienst (social services) of the City of Bern.

Go well prepared

Each topic has a short checklist. For example: find and note the deadline on the letter, put all bills, reminders and debt collection notices (Betreibungen) in one envelope, or bring your rental contract and the letter.

What it costs

Some offices help completely free of charge, at others the first consultation is free. At the conciliation authority and the legal advice service of the Bern Bar Association, advice is free or costs at most CHF 50. Pro Senectute helps people aged 60 and over with their tax return; ask them about the price. Many offices don't need an appointment.

Where does the information come from?

From the City of Bern's overviews and the offices' own websites, each with its source and the date it was checked. No account, no tracking, your choices stay on your device.