Transfering Money Between French Bank Accounts.

[Ysatis]

We have a bank account with Banque Populaire, within this account we have a 'compte cheques' and a 'compte sur livret', which I beleive is quite normal.

We recently transfered some money from our UK account to the 'compte cheques', but would have prefered to have transfered it to the 'compte sur livret', but didn't as we were unsure whether the IBAN number was the same for both account numbers (pretty sure they are, but not 100%). Money transfered arrived, no problems there.

We want to transfer the money, via internet banking, from the 'compte cheques' to the 'compte sur livret' but I was wondering if the bank will charge us for this.

Any info gratefully received,

Liz

 

[Benjamin]

Most unlikely Liz but you really need a copy of your bank's T & C's.

[allanb]

I have a Livret account as well as a current account with the Banque Postale, and each has its own separate IBAN.  But in any case I don't pay any charges for transfers between them.

I imagine that it would be the same at the Banque Pop.

[Clair]

With CA, I can do transfers between my CA accounts from the ATM, no charge.

[Ysatis]

Thanks for all your replies. My apologies for not answering sooner. I'm going to transfer via internet banking. I hope it goes smoothly. I was going to experiment with a small amount before moving the larger amount just to make sure I was doing it correctly, that's why I wanted to know if they charged each time.

Liz

[Poppy]

 Unfortunately Banque Populaire have started  charging for internet banking even for just looking at your account. [:(] So I guess you will get charged for the transaction simply because you are doing it online.

[Clair]

[quote user="Poppy"] Unfortunately Banque Populaire have started  charging for internet banking even for just looking at your account. [:(][/quote]

I thought most French banks did!

The regional CA charges through their monthly account fee.

If you don't apy a monthly account fee, it's €0.50 per login up to a maximum charge €4.00 a month to look at the account, but you can only download a statement for a monthly fee of €3.40.

[Poppy]

BP started charging about 2 months ago additional to their no option quarterly charges. None of our UK banks charge [:D] Also received hefty transfer charges last month which we have never incurred before. Thank goodness we don't  transfer often [blink] Haven't enquired  yet as to what their internet charges are because a bit upset with all their other charges [:(]

[jc]

Just remember that not all CA's charge the same-it's not one bank.

[Ysatis]

That's interesting to know Poppy. We pay for the internet banking facility but in almost 2 years haven't even managed to log on to it. So I recently wrote to BP and my initial password was given to me incorrectly. We too don't intend to transfer money between accounts that often, so, I suppose we can 'afford' the odd charge.

Liz

[suein56]

[quote user="Poppy"]BP started charging about 2 months ago additional to their no option quarterly charges. None of our UK banks charge [:D] Also received hefty transfer charges last month which we have never incurred before. Thank goodness we don't  transfer often [blink] Haven't enquired  yet as to what their internet charges are because a bit upset with all their other charges [:(][/quote]

We have been with Banque Populaire for the entire 2 years since we arrived here in 2005 and have noticed an increase in our monthly charge from 7 euros 40 to 7 euros 60 during this time. We pay no other fee at all and have 24/7 internet access and make regular transfers within France included with this monthly fee. We also make regular transfers from our UK bank account which incur no incoming transfer fee; so I am a little at a loss to understand what you are being charged for; unless you have subscribed to a completely different BP scheme. 

Sue

[Poppy]

We have been with BP for about 10 years the monthly charge for cheque/livret and card has always been around 14 Euros. In June I was denied access on line  was asked to reregister and advised internet rates could be obtained from local branch. We have never paid commission on transfer of sterling but this month paid 50.50 Euros. We obviously queried this got a shrug and a 'sorry but it is correct that is what we charge'.  

[Benjamin]

Hornet's nest this one. [:D]

Although banking via the internet is nothing new in France why not think of internet banks i e without any branches.

There are one or two. I'm currently with an internet bank who are primarily a large French insurance company and I do have access to a broker network if I need personal contact. Sure there are still charges but certainly cheaper than mainstream French banks who see banking via the internet as a way to reduce staff numbers and then add additional costs onto their customers for the privledge of never going near their own branch! [6]

The final straw with our region's Credit Agricole was being charged 9€45 for them to accept a direct debit instruction.

Because I also transferred my insurances to this bank I get a 5% reduction in my already competitive premiums.

[suein56]

[quote user="Poppy"]We have been with BP for about 10 years the monthly charge for cheque/livret and card has always been around 14 Euros. In June I was denied access on line  was asked to reregister and advised internet rates could be obtained from local branch. We have never paid commission on transfer of sterling but this month paid 50.50 Euros. We obviously queried this got a shrug and a 'sorry but it is correct that is what we charge'.  [/quote]

Curioser and curioser. It doesn't seem right to me; perhaps it might be worth querying the charges, also why you have had to reregister. Did your excess charges start around the same time you reregistered?

A charge was made by BP of approx 21 euros or so on one occasion when funds were sent to our account from the UK; I rang our local branch and said I thought there was an error somewhere along the line and could they investigate. The next morning I was rung to be told someone in Head Office had applied an erroneous charge and that it would be refunded immediately.  A few days later we received a very courteous letter of apology from HO.

Sue

[Poppy]

Thanks Sue, we will query the transfer charge 'with someone different'. We did get a detailed statement of the transfer which hasn't happened before but I'd much rather do without the statement and keep my 50 Euros [:D] We even got charged VAT on it [:'(] Re the online banking I didn't reregister because it also meant additional charges which I haven't looked into yet. It is a pain not to be able to access the account online because we don't receive the monthly statements until 15 days after the end of the month.

[suein56]

[quote user="Poppy"]... we will query the transfer charge 'with someone different'. We did get a detailed statement of the transfer which hasn't happened before but I'd much rather do without the statement and keep my 50 Euros [:D] [/quote]

Absolutely - 50 euros is a lot of money. 

Just in case the regulations had changed recently without me noticing I have just had a quick look at the BP charges online and they are still exactly as they were; so I would endorse you asking why you are suddenly expected to pay these charges in addition to your monthly fee

Good Luck - let us know how you get on.

Sue