brit Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Has anyone had dealings with a certain .......can help company as I don`t seem to be getting a lot of help when required , would be interested to knowif this is an isolated case . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I think I read somewhere that they had changed hands and things had gone off since then. They used to be quite good, but honestly - you'd get more help from a forum like this and not pay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brit Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 unfortunately we have already joined ie last july , mainly to be able to have somone make tel calls for us and to translate documents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 brit, It may be worth doing a search.If you are replying to this post please remember the Code of Conduct.PM's may be preferable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Brit...are you refering to "oui can help" Which was formed ...maybe ten years ago by a couple based in Mayenne.A very good concept.They offered a translation service ...helped people buy and sell properties.They also would sit-in on sales and assist with translating for the notaire ...seller/buyer.Totally different to this forum...as you could solve any problem with a few telephone calls.There was a membership fee...and you paid for various special assignements which you may have directed towards them.They sold the buisness...maybe two years ago to a Frenchman...I believe.What has happened to the originators of the company or how it works now....I have no idea.Any one elese remember the service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 IMO they were very good, although - as said above - one could probably get most of the info' one needs from the more knowledgable posters on here or elsewhere. However, as the o/p says, the website is dead and I draw a complete blank when Googling - all the leads just dry up. I think you probably just have to write this one off, I'm afraid o/p. (Hope that does not contravene the regs, R/H!)Somewhere in the archives, I have a phone number for them (which I haven't tried to ring for yonks), but if the o/p would like it, please pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I think it is fair to say that even under the previous ownership there were mixed reports about how good they were. A bigger concern was that although based in France their company appeared to be registered in England, and there were questionable aspects of the records, accounts etc. Not something that gave a lot of confidence in the quality of the advice offered to those hoping to start a business in France, as many were. When the name was sold to a French operator that latter area of concern obviously disappeared, but there seems to be a new set of difficulties now, not helped by the former website address having been unavailable for some time.There is a similarly-named outfit based in Ireland that sells houses in French and offers extra services at an add-on cost, rather like one or two of the English agencies. Though their web site apparently isn't working properly either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Aparently the female in nership was an ex solicitor or lawyer.Would you say there is a gap in the market for a good version of oui can help...or not ?Good idea or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I think there might be. However, when anybody discovers a forum like this, the interest drops off! Also, I suspect lots of things (mostly discussed on here, elsewhere) like the healthcare debacle; the problems of selling houses in the UK at present etc, may be signalling the beginning of the end of the concept of a dream retirement in France, but one never knows... Certainly, having been involved in FHI for the past few months, there does seem to be a demand for factual, unbiased information. But I imagine it could be a legal minefield. It's one thing doing these things on a voluntary basis, quite another if one sinks any assets into it.... Possibly why it was set up with a lawyer involved.Having said that, there does seem to be a number of hand-holding companies in existance, so presumably they earn a crust somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 She said that she was a solicitor or lawyer.....however I had never seen any proof....or asked for it.I can only imagine that these people made the "advisory centre" work for them......as it appeared to be their only form of occupation.This forum is extreemly helpfull but one is never sure of getting a reply to a posed question......and sometimes there are many conflicting replies.When you are proposing to venture to a different country to live or you are questioning buying or not...It could be helpfull if it appears that there is "someone there who has some interest in your case/situation"Someone who is actually living in France and knows and touches on all the daily activities. Real legal stuff can be sorted out in the normal manner and you do not expect legal matters to be managed within a fee or one or two hundred pounds per year.People are still buying in my area ............ However I think that the view of dream filled lives and blissfull retirement depend on ones own financial situation/resources...Here there or anywhere.Money has never grown on trees of any kind and not too much comes to those who prefer to be lazy.So factaul, unbiased information...I agree is exactly what all people need when they are proposing/have moved on to France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 To be absolutely honest, I don't think that such advice companies are necessarily any more reliable than asking on a forum like this - I cringe at some of the 'advice' people say they have received. One of the companies is run by somebody with a recent conviction in France for serious fraud - and although, ironically, his advice seems more on the button than some others', I don't really think I could put much trust in such a person. How do you know the source of the advice they pass on? Officials, and possibly French fonctionnaires more than most, are well known for always giving a range of answers (though with the current trend in Britain to move services to areas of high unemployment, and use lower-paid, indequately trained, staff, organisations like HMRC are no better). Those involved in the advice company may not have any professional law, accountancy etc qualifications. They may be on a commission from estate agents, financial institutions etc. Although people like financial advisors are regulated in Britain, there seems to be no similar regulation for 'helping hands' in France.I would love somebody involved in one of the companies to come on the forum and prove me wrong, but until they do I retain a degree of scepticism, admittedly based on hearsay rather than direct experience. And we know that such people do use the forum - I recall several instances in the past of people coming on here and asking such a wide range of questions that they could not apply to just one person or household. So why not just cut out the middle man, ask your question on the forum, and make your own value judgement about the quality of the advice? And if it's something vital, then you really do need to consult a qualified professional, which will, I am sure, prove far better value in the long run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I do agree with most of what you have said....but if the operator of the buisness of providing help is genuine and can gain respect...and keep that respect he/she will find the answer each time they are posed with a question...and direct the member/client towards a recomended builder/translator/notaire/immobilier...whatever the case may be.The forum has limiations as well as great assests.Of course there are rogues out there...in every shape and form and in every profession........surely most of us have been through some stress ..its modern day life.Solicitors, builders, hoteliers....all able to try to "pull the wool" yet we must still have some trust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Don't give your advice before you are called upon.Both by Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)Luckily (?) I have never found it necessary to use a "help" service. Like many of you I am suspicious of any advice-giver that is not independent and being such a sceptic will always wonder whether I am being pointed to the organisation paying the most for leads. This does not mean that all (or any) are crooks.IMHO a forum such as this has members that can can answer most questions - but can you trust a consultant that does not charge a fee ?John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 The difficulty, it seems to me, is what happens when you are wrong. On here (and on FHI) one can say - as far as I know, or in my opinion and that is fine, because you're taking no money from anybody and it's "caveat emptor" (although no empting actually takes place!) - people can take your advice, or ignore it. But what happens when you take money from somebody and the advice you give them turns out to be wrong? There are no second opinions as there are on fora. That is the joy, imo, of forum advice - it is a collective thing built up by many different people over many years and you can take it or leave it as you wish. You get to know, over a period of months, whose advice tends to be sound and on what subjects. And the more sensible people are not afraid to say "go and see a professional" if they don't know. Once you take somebody's money, you are obliged to answer their questions and - more importantly - to get the answers 100% right all the time. I would not like to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I agree absolutely with Cooperlola! I work for an estate agents, and speak French, and have been approached a number of times by English people (sometimes our clients, sometimes not!) wanting "advice" or "help" with various things - and lots of people have said why not set up as a help service and make some money out of it. No thanks! Definitely a lot more hassle than it's worth - and personally I'd be very worried about the advice I was giving since I'm not a professional or expert in any field really, just an English person who speaks French, lives here and with some personal experience in the kind of things that come up. It still surprises me though, the number of people who would actually be happy to take my advice on tax, healthcare etc rather than a professional. I am very very careful if I do ever give any advice to stress that it's really little more than my personal opinion and/or personal experience. I don't think it's as simple as just taking people's money to make a few phone calls ..........well, it's not as simple as that if you are honest and care about what you telling people!Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Husband joined the service named several years ago and paid, I think, £100. We weren't satisfied with the response we got. I think the main problem was that there were only two of them and they couldn't keep up with the demand. They must have made a fortune. I asked for a refund but no luck. That was before we knew about this forum, which has been much more prompt with replies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Yes there is a responsability attached to operating a "help service".However if you are looking for legal advice....in detail you would be refered to a specialist.There have to be limitations on what a person can expect as a service for 100 pounds per year.Could be...as it was in my case..talking to a Notaire...and reporting back to me.A good web designer...recomendations.Help finding a decent roofer for my windmill.Any one interested in taking photos of the garden etc in exchange for a few days holiday.I guesse in many cases it is about "getting to know"lots of people and being able to unmite them to help each other.Very rewarding.The company in question...well sometimes took too long getting back to me.....and the roofer was unreliable.So if they may have sold the buisness because they were tired...had enough...who knows?I do not see that [with ougoings...they did have helpers to take care of calls and advertising rates] how they were going to m ake a fortune? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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