Honesty

[Deby]

I recently left my purse together with 200Euros, Carte Sejour, bank cards - everything in a Creperie/Bar.  I did not realise I had left it until 2-3 hours later.  I panicked and returned to the bar remembering where  I had left it. The nice young guy who worked there handed it back to me all intact.  Bless him! I burst into tears as I could just see the nightmare unfolding before me having lost alot of important things, with husband away, no cash, no anything.

There are some things I will miss about France as I find in general people are very honest.

Deby

 

[Lori]

So glad for you Deby.  I too find that France is FAR more honest than the States (where I come from).

I am glad it worked out okay for you.  Maybe you could by a coffee/drink for that server/bartender.

 

[Coco]

There are some things I will miss about France as I find in general people are very honest.

Deby

 

You're not leaving are you Deby?  I thought you'd not long been set up

[Tony F Dordogne]

I did something very similar in Perigueux a few months ago, left my little black bag under a table at lunch time.

I phoned the restaurant a couple of hours later and, like Deby, it was there and when I picked it up, all intact.  When we use the restaurant now, the staff always ask me if I've remembered it!

I think that the French life style (well, around here in 24 anyway) seems to generate this sort of approach though I'm not sure that I'd get the same result in some of the big towns.

I'm impressed and amazed about the way the French banking service runs on cheques with no guarantee card which is another form of honesty.  I know that the consequences of bouncing a cheque are serious here but the fact that everybody takes them - paid for my shed/chalet, E2000 - with a cheue at BricoMarche, no problem.

We'd have taken blood from the customer for that sort of sale at B&Q, cheque being checked, card being checked .... and still we wouldn't have delivered on time 

  

[SaligoBay]

but the fact that everybody takes them - paid for my shed/chalet, E2000 - with a cheue at BricoMarche, no problem.

And yet round here, in 34, I don't even bother taking my cheque book out with me, because there are so many signs everywhere saying that due to the high incidence of fraud, they don't accept cheques.

Small shops, big shops, petrol places, even McDonald's! 

 

[Tresco]

I don't even bother taking my cheque book out with me, because there are so many signs everywhere saying that due to the high incidence of fraud, they don't accept cheques.

There are similar signs round here too, in Cognac, Saintes, Matha, and St Jean D' Angely. What I have noticed though, is that we get asked to show the ID less now than when we first came. I have pondered happily on the reasons why this might be and havn't come up with a good enough reason. I always take my driving licence out with me anyway.

It is great though when something happens that goes some way to restoring your faith in human nature (or human beings:hehe. I left a purse full of holiday cash and cards at a pay phone in a big Sainsburys in Sheffield in Feb. Something in it had my mums phone number in it, and she got called by the staff after it was handed in by, wait for it........................................

........a group of yoofs.

The staff had taken the details of one of them, and it was great to be able to phone his home, say thanks, and tell his mum. anyway, I know how you feel Deby.

SB, when are you going to break your McDo 'habit'?

[Deby]

I did offer to buy the chap a drink, but he refused.  Next time I go in there I will insist.

Now I am a bit more sensible and do not take everything with me.

Deby

[Turnip]

[quote]There are some things I will miss about France as I find in general people are very honest. Deby You're not leaving are you Deby? I thought you'd not long been set up[/quote]

Looks like Deby is leaving France

[SaligoBay]

SB, when are you going to break your McDo 'habit'?

As soon as there's an alternative that's open in the right place at the right time for the odd hours I keep! 

[Deby]

As soon as there's an alternative that's open in the right place at the right time for the odd hours I keep! 

I often wondered about that as when I see the hours which you post - I think that poor SB has insomnia!  You need some Ovaltine, Horlocks or MCdo Hot Chocolate.

Deby

[Deby]

Yes we are leaving, but will continue with the business of Chateau running.  Returning for several reasons really, namely childrens' education, plus family reasons.

I think though my outlook has changed too.  I took the children today to the zoo and found that a recent trip to Legoland UK was a far easier exercise. Toilet facilities dotted around the place, handwash basins at correct height, plus there was an abundance of eateries - none particularly brilliant but they were there in different places.  The french zoo was different.  I was surprised there was absolutely nowhere to picnic and there was only one over-priced fast-food sort of type eaterie and one set of toilets situated near the entrance to the zoo which were not children-friendly. Not even a map to show you around except an overpriced guide costing 8Euros - my 6 year old kept saying where is the map mummy.Thing is it is supposedly the biggest and best zoo in France.

Now I ask myself, if I had just moved to France would I have perceived this adventure as fabulous i.e.  the fact there was no mass commercialism to hand - probably.  Several years on I have changed and I now want these conveniences. Funny old world really.

Deby

[Tresco]

Funny old world really.

No kidding Deby?

You have done something I, never in a million years would have had the guts to do.

Good on you, and all who sail with you.

 

[Deimos]

Shortly after moving here (one and a half years ago) the security/trust attitude was brought home to me when I was in a hardware store buying a couple of hinges and only had a €50 note (and she had no change). The assistant and myself were the only people in the store yet she asked me to wait and went out round the corner to the bank to get change. The till was left unattended, and she did not have any idea who I was, yet I was automatically trusted.

Also, I have never had a cheque refused and e.g. at Leroy Merlin they only bother to check my passport/ID about a third of the time (and I’m not known there).

I have no idea if this is a local’ish trust nor how long it will last – though hope it continues. Must admit I don’t know how bad this area is for crime. Certainly I have had my car broken into once so it is not “crime free”.

Ian

[SaligoBay]

I have no idea if this is a local’ish trust

Maybe it's a population thing?   Whenever we've been to BricoDepot, the cashier looks in every single thing you're buying - even the tiniest box with a 2cm bulb in it, in case you've slipped a second one in.  It can take a long time!   

[PaysBasque]

I think it's got a lot to do with where you are. Around here people are very trusting until you get to the bigger cities like Bayonne/Anglet/Biarritz, especially in the season.

Deby, was surprised to hear about your 'zoo experience'. I take it you visited La Palmyre. I went there last year on a school trip and thought that the zoo was amazing, even for someone like me who doesn't really like zoos very much. Anyway, good luck to you and your family.