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Hello all. Credit Agricole are going to charge me 103 euros for not having sufficient funds in my account to cover a Tax Fonciere bill. Can this possibly be real? Any advice greatly appreciated.
The monthly charges vary from bank to bank and depending on what "services" you are signed up for. But as far as getting by in France without a bank account, I'm afraid I wouldn't attempt it. The tax people, for one, require a bank account (i.e. a French bank account) to settle your taxes, and many other merchants and vendors, including your landlord, require you to have a bank account in order to make payments.Thanks Bev, much appreciated. As a query, is it possible to exist in France without a bank account? What with the monthly charge and these outrageous fees I do not feel that I get anywhere near value for money.
You just need to get used to the idea that banking is different in France and much more controlled than in the UK. Once you get used to it, you will understand that it's not actually a bad thing. The amounts are not necessarily 'ridiculous', as they are designed to cover various costs associated with defaults on payment and meeting government banking requirements, which are there to protect everyone and to avoid the sorts of thing that happened during the global financial crisis. Bailing out banks is no laughing matter. They're not laughing at you at all when they receive the fee. You have been given good advice re approaching your bank with a view to avoiding this sort of charge in the future. The key I guess is to take responsibility for managing your account and knowing when and what payments are due.Thanks EuroTrash. Of course. you have stated the obvious and I do not intend to let it happen again. At present I still reside in the UK and have to make money transfers to Credit Agricole and on this occasion I was late. I still feel very resentful that the bank can get away with charging ridiculous amounts of money as charges and then presumably laughing at us when they drop it into their coffers.
Your help is much appreciated.
Mark
Would you rather have the tax people taking your furniture to pay the debt? Or repossessing your home to pay the debt?? They can also go into your bank account and just take the money without your knowledge...Thanks EuroTrash. Of course. you have stated the obvious and I do not intend to let it happen again. At present I still reside in the UK and have to make money transfers to Credit Agricole and on this occasion I was late. I still feel very resentful that the bank can get away with charging ridiculous amounts of money as charges and then presumably laughing at us when they drop it into their coffers.
Your help is much appreciated.
Mark
I've had a few French tax penalties applied for late payments, because of not being where they sent the bills at various time.Likewise when the tax office and the utilities etc give you a payment deadline and tell you they will add a penalty if payment isn't received by that date, they are not bluffing, the fines are added automatically if you pay the bill a day late you will find you still owe them another 50€ or so. It's a different mindset and you do have to keep on top of it.
Yes me too ;-) they are very good like that, even URSSAF. But I don't much having to go along and grovel, and I suspect that their patience will soon wear thin if you keep on doing it.I've negotiated the penalties away in each case.
Some are fee free on condition that you have a minimum amount going into the account every month.The alternative is an internet only bank such as ING or Hello for example I have not used them so cannot say what they are like but they are fee free
Sorry, but you can pay for everything online or on the telephone but mobile telephone contracts using a foreign credit/debit card. Or with taxes, send a transfer from a foreign bank or card also.To add on to your already-answered question: no I don't think it'd be easy at all to live in France without a French bank account. That's the key to everything, even phone/internet service. They want your IBAN number, etc.
It may be theoretically possible, but simply establishing "residence" in France would require a bank account - for either buying or renting a place to live.Sorry, but you can pay for everything online or on the telephone but mobile telephone contracts using a foreign credit/debit card. Or with taxes, send a transfer from a foreign bank or card also.