Herring_Brother Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 Does anybody know if it's possible to open a french bank account whilst still in the UK? I'm not able to get back over to our place until later in the year, but need to pay bills/builders etc?Cheers,MattP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 You can open an account with Britline from the UK ( http://www.britline.com - I gather that it requires a bit more patience and paperwork since I did it a couple of years ago but it is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewa Posted November 8, 2004 Share Posted November 8, 2004 We're just in the process of opening an account with Britline as I felt our French wasn't good enough to cope with non-English speaking staff... We sent our application (with the many millions of pieces of information requested) on the 17th October and had our telephone 'interview' today (8th November). I gather we still have a few weeks to go before we receive cheque book and bank cards so I'm not holding my breath that it'll be before we go to the notaire in the next week or two! They did say that our account was approved and just needs more paperwork before they send us our stuff (which means we'll be able to use 24hr petrol pumps - yippeee!).They've been very helpful and pleasant but of course we've not had any financial dealings with them yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sbesley Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 I opened my Britline account by post and 6 months down the line have had no problems with it... apart from the rather strict limits on the amount of MY money they are prepared to let me spend! By default it seems that a maximum of 300 euros can with withdrawn in cash per week and something like 1800 euros can be spent using the debit card per month.I suppose these are anti-fraud measures and they do have the added advantage of stopping one going completely mad when presented with an unexpected 'retail opportunity'!I haven't bothered to get these limits changed as it was only when I was making initial one-off purchases to equip my kitchen with appliances that this became an issue. Still worth being aware of.Stephen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esperaza Posted November 9, 2004 Share Posted November 9, 2004 You can get your debit card limit raised, either temporarily or permanently, by telephone, or at least you could.The only limit on writing a cheque is the fund available in your account.Most stores have cheque writers if like me, your French is not up to writing a French cheque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herring_Brother Posted November 10, 2004 Author Share Posted November 10, 2004 Thanks all,Sent off my email for the info pack a couple of days ago, so I'm purched by my letterbox every morning to try to stop my dog shredding it.24hr petrol pumps eh, its a whole new world!Cheers,Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrhartley Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 My advice on those 24 H petrol pumps - don't use the ones that actually take the card inside the machine to read the card details - just use the ones where you can still pull your card out at any moment. I used a "card swallower" in Super-U and it mashed my card. I tried to get it out using my Swiss Army knife, but to no avail. The following day I went to reclaim it, but Super-U refused to give it to me unless I paid EUR400 for the repair of their machine - they claimed that I had broken it. So I had to cancel my French cash card - a lot of hassle for the 2 weeks+ I had to wait for a replacement. So now - always the swipe at Champion for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewa Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 [quote]My advice on those 24 H petrol pumps - don't use the ones that actually take the card inside the machine to read the card details - just use the ones where you can still pull your card out at any mome...[/quote]Good advice about munching machines - thank you! Couldn't face more beaurocracy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cacknanty Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 I opened an account with CCF from my HSBC bank in the UK.Some other threads indicate that CCF are a bit like Coutts, however they have always been ok with me and there isn't any more than a few hundred euro in the account.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 I am with Ca Britline and am happy with their helpfulness. However who are CCF?John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 Credit Commerciale de France, taken over by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation several years ago. The CCF were and our local one is, or tries to be, a banque patrimonale. And was not keen on taking our 'little' account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cacknanty Posted November 12, 2004 Share Posted November 12, 2004 CCF are a french bank owned by HSBC. I think there are less than 300 branches.Checkout www.ccf.fr for further info.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marieloona Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 Hi thereMy experience of CCF is bad. They are lazy snobs to say the least who want the creme de la creme of clients but do not wish to do anything to obtain them. I sent one of their introduction forms back but omitted some details as it was for a company and not for me personally and their attitude as been awful. If that is what their customer service is like when trying to attract new business I hate to think what it is like for customers. They can keep their rotten attitude of you ask me.Marie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted November 17, 2004 Share Posted November 17, 2004 The HSBC has other banks in France, which are perfectly fine. There is a list on the CCF web site of all the other banks, and believe me, at least one of them is absolutely fine and didn't have the same traditions as the CCF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herring_Brother Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 Finally got the application pack (although the dog got there first, so it's a bit perferated (sp?)).Can't believe the amount of paperwork they require, P60's bank statements, letters from the bank, utility bills, deeds to the house, souls of your first born etc - ok, not the last 2, but you get the picture, could take forever.Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 Not the last two? Well there you have it, I knew that things were easier now than in the old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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