can't stand this place anymore
Discussion
Le Pop said:
magooagain said:
I don't think they keep any cash behind the desks now at credit Aggro
Russwhitehouse said:
....My gripe is with the totally unhelpful attitude encountered when trying to resolve the problem and the astonishing ignorance of the staff. Not so much as a "sorry but..." Or any helpful suggestion whatsoever. f
king ignoramuses!
Much like Russ, my gripe is with the way I'm dealt with. The whole customer service revolution that we had in the uk in the 90's has completely passed France by.... I'm not looking for deference or servility, just some empathy and a smile. Oh, and a very occasional "sorry", even insincere.king ignoramuses!I've been back in the UK for several months now, and yet I'm still receiving €280 per month housing benefit, despite signing various forms stating my leaving date, and sending various copies of my rental contract with the end date in massive bold letters.
I'm obviously not going to spend the money, but I've been monitoring the account so it'll be interesting to see how high it gets before they actually contact me. I emailed them last month, but naturally I didn't get a reply.
I'm obviously not going to spend the money, but I've been monitoring the account so it'll be interesting to see how high it gets before they actually contact me. I emailed them last month, but naturally I didn't get a reply.
Geekman said:
I've been back in the UK for several months now, and yet I'm still receiving €280 per month housing benefit, despite signing various forms stating my leaving date, and sending various copies of my rental contract with the end date in massive bold letters.
I'm obviously not going to spend the money, but I've been monitoring the account so it'll be interesting to see how high it gets before they actually contact me. I emailed them last month, but naturally I didn't get a reply.
Funnily enough, all we got when we left France, despite informing the authorities that we were emigrating, was continued demands for money from the multitudinous different tax bodies within the French government, URSSAF, RSI, CIPAV, the list goes on. Consider yourself lucky! I'm obviously not going to spend the money, but I've been monitoring the account so it'll be interesting to see how high it gets before they actually contact me. I emailed them last month, but naturally I didn't get a reply.
Amateurish said:
I'm a CA customer, and I've found the customer service experience much better than any bank in the UK. I've got an account manager who knows who I am, is helpful, and that I can email directly. Sure, things are slower, take more paperwork, and the account isn't free to run. But they are always helpful, try their best to speak English and very friendly.
Well I went in my local CA the other day and asked them for two ten euro notes in exchange for a twenty and the miserable old bat refused!You could have probably offered her a twenty for one ten euro note and she still would have refused. I never cease to be amazed living here!
Le Pop said:
Well I went in my local CA the other day and asked them for two ten euro notes in exchange for a twenty and the miserable old bat refused!
Haven't dropped in here for a while, hope everyone's blood pressure is under control 
Pleasant surprise to find my local tax office is very responsive via email (sub-1hr replies). Less pleasant surprise, my accountant has failed to file as instructed, and has failed to claim VAT refunds. About 1,200€. FFS!!
On the other hand, free mobile up and running in about 30 seconds, and when the SFR box died, they just said we could head to the nearest shop to collect a new one. A mixed bag, but I'm noticing that new industries and high tech sectors are definitely customer service champs. Worst service ever received, ever, was at the notaire. 'Nuff said.
Pleasant surprise to find my local tax office is very responsive via email (sub-1hr replies). Less pleasant surprise, my accountant has failed to file as instructed, and has failed to claim VAT refunds. About 1,200€. FFS!!
On the other hand, free mobile up and running in about 30 seconds, and when the SFR box died, they just said we could head to the nearest shop to collect a new one. A mixed bag, but I'm noticing that new industries and high tech sectors are definitely customer service champs. Worst service ever received, ever, was at the notaire. 'Nuff said.
Russwhitehouse said:
Correct! A little customer service or suggestions as to how to resolve a problem, something we all take for granted in most other countries, is entirely lacking in France. I suspect it is a cultural thing in as much as this is what they and their parents have been brought up with and therefore they know no better. Rules and regulations have to be complied with unquestionly and personal discretion, flexibility, effort to help and free thought are unthinkable.
I forgot to mention on my previous rant that my wife and I had tickets to CDG airport earlier in the same week. The train was delayed by 2 and a half hours thus making it impossible for us to make our flights due to the severe thunder storms experienced the night before, presumably causing trees on the line etc. OK, so not the fault of SNCF per se, but nonetheless, we had paid them to get us from point A to point B within a certain timescale which they failed to do. This compounded by the fiasco with my sons tickets has not exactly enamoured them to me. We have submitted claims for a refund on the two wasted journeys for my wife and I, which incidentally we had to pay for again along with the air fares for another attempt the following day, along with a claim for a refund on the original TGV / Eurostar ticket for my son. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the response will be in the unlikely event we actually hear anything further from them?
So to recap, last week I was out of pocket to the tune of a little over 1500 euros, none of which was my fault, and the chances of even partial recompense are scant at best. Watch this space.
Surprise suprise! Not a peep out of SNCF despite a couple of follow up letters. Not so much as a confirmation of receipt of any of them. Who would have guessed!I forgot to mention on my previous rant that my wife and I had tickets to CDG airport earlier in the same week. The train was delayed by 2 and a half hours thus making it impossible for us to make our flights due to the severe thunder storms experienced the night before, presumably causing trees on the line etc. OK, so not the fault of SNCF per se, but nonetheless, we had paid them to get us from point A to point B within a certain timescale which they failed to do. This compounded by the fiasco with my sons tickets has not exactly enamoured them to me. We have submitted claims for a refund on the two wasted journeys for my wife and I, which incidentally we had to pay for again along with the air fares for another attempt the following day, along with a claim for a refund on the original TGV / Eurostar ticket for my son. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the response will be in the unlikely event we actually hear anything further from them?
So to recap, last week I was out of pocket to the tune of a little over 1500 euros, none of which was my fault, and the chances of even partial recompense are scant at best. Watch this space.
It is not all negative.
I travelled to the UK for the day from CDG. When I went to exit the car park I had a complete brain fart and managed to screw up my ticket.
I pressed the button for assistance and was told somebody would come to my aid.
Within 5 mins a very attractive lady arrived, I explained my predicament and despite telling here the machine had asked for 38 Euros she took 30 euros from my card and waved me goodbye with a cheery smile. Not at all what I had expected.
I travelled to the UK for the day from CDG. When I went to exit the car park I had a complete brain fart and managed to screw up my ticket.
I pressed the button for assistance and was told somebody would come to my aid.
Within 5 mins a very attractive lady arrived, I explained my predicament and despite telling here the machine had asked for 38 Euros she took 30 euros from my card and waved me goodbye with a cheery smile. Not at all what I had expected.
Got home at 1pm to find a message on the machine telling me to ring my bank urgently. Of course, I had to wait until 2pm and I was naturally worried. They asked me if I could come in straight away, which I did. Turned out the b****ards only wanted to sell me insurance and unit trusts! I was extremely rude I can assure you.
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