French bank accounts?
Discussion
We have bought a place in France and looking to organise all the payments for utilities, taxes, etc...
We only plan in being there three times a year for weeks / month at a time... Is is possible to pay all of these from a UK account? Id rather not bother with a French account but some say it'd be better.
We only plan in being there three times a year for weeks / month at a time... Is is possible to pay all of these from a UK account? Id rather not bother with a French account but some say it'd be better.
I would guess that a French bank account is obligatory, but Britline make it as painless as possible..
You may believe that we are all in the EU, but the UK is not in the Eurozone, so the banking systems are quite separate.
You will quickly learn the value of RIBs and trusty cheque books. It's like stepping back in time - late 70s, I guess.
You may believe that we are all in the EU, but the UK is not in the Eurozone, so the banking systems are quite separate.
You will quickly learn the value of RIBs and trusty cheque books. It's like stepping back in time - late 70s, I guess.
+1 for Credit Agricole Britline.
You can easily arrange Sterling to Euro transfers through one of the foreign exchange brokers, timing it to get a 'more favourable' euro rate etc. than you would from a highstreet bank, and probably pay less in transaction charges than having multiple monthly payments being converted into euros.
They also have English speaking staff on the end of a phone - might be worth giving them a call.
https://www.britline.com/
You can easily arrange Sterling to Euro transfers through one of the foreign exchange brokers, timing it to get a 'more favourable' euro rate etc. than you would from a highstreet bank, and probably pay less in transaction charges than having multiple monthly payments being converted into euros.
They also have English speaking staff on the end of a phone - might be worth giving them a call.
https://www.britline.com/
tonys said:
+1 for Credit Agricole Britline.
You can easily arrange Sterling to Euro transfers through one of the foreign exchange brokers, timing it to get a 'more favourable' euro rate etc. than you would from a highstreet bank, and probably pay less in transaction charges than having multiple monthly payments being converted into euros.
They also have English speaking staff on the end of a phone - might be worth giving them a call.
https://www.britline.com/
I can recommend Transferwise or Currency Fair for occasional transfers. You'll need a UK and Fr account in the same name and will need to prove your id after a few transactions,You can easily arrange Sterling to Euro transfers through one of the foreign exchange brokers, timing it to get a 'more favourable' euro rate etc. than you would from a highstreet bank, and probably pay less in transaction charges than having multiple monthly payments being converted into euros.
They also have English speaking staff on the end of a phone - might be worth giving them a call.
https://www.britline.com/
Steve
I've not used Transferwise, to know if this is correct, but was interested in this article in one of the Financial Times blogs about them -
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/06/15/2131894/oh-y...
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/06/15/2131894/oh-y...
trunnie said:
I've not used Transferwise, to know if this is correct, but was interested in this article in one of the Financial Times blogs about them -
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/06/15/2131894/oh-y...
Try them Trunnie, it's very easy. I don't think that you'll be disappointed. The article that you link to seems to be searching for technical negative stuff, not sure why.http://ftalphaville.ft.com/2015/06/15/2131894/oh-y...
Steve
On the issue of insurance, there are always two considerations. The premium is the easiest to compare online. Getting payment when / If you have a problem is equally important.
I have used Pacifica for health, household, cars and other stuff for the last 10 years. We had a theft during construction, just weeks after we had signed. It was complicated by the fact that the kitchen appliances had been purchased in Spain. We produced invoices and the cash was in our account faster than we could procure the replacements.
Minor scrapes with cars have been dealt with quickly. In April, I hit a small deer a week before I intended to use the car to return to the UK. everything was done in a timely manner.
My only complaint is that Credit Agricole have no Internet banking service, but in all other respects and compared to other financial services companies that I have used in UK and Spain, they really are fantastic.
I have used Pacifica for health, household, cars and other stuff for the last 10 years. We had a theft during construction, just weeks after we had signed. It was complicated by the fact that the kitchen appliances had been purchased in Spain. We produced invoices and the cash was in our account faster than we could procure the replacements.
Minor scrapes with cars have been dealt with quickly. In April, I hit a small deer a week before I intended to use the car to return to the UK. everything was done in a timely manner.
My only complaint is that Credit Agricole have no Internet banking service, but in all other respects and compared to other financial services companies that I have used in UK and Spain, they really are fantastic.
As rdj is more than likely whizzing around Val de Vienne at this very moment (wish I was too but couldn't get it together....) I'll step in to say that unless you have a different CA product from me, their internet service only allows access to your statements and details, you can't actually do anything like transfer money etc.
However, CA is very region orientated (I'm with CA Morbihan) and for you it may be different.
Steve
However, CA is very region orientated (I'm with CA Morbihan) and for you it may be different.
Steve
I am jealous. I knew that other French banks did external payments, but when I raised it with CA, I got the line that it was so open to external attack, it would be too dangerous a service to offer clients.
FWIW I drove for 4-hours to VdV and back, paid my €200, Did a warm up lap, a quick lap and noticed oil pressure warnings, did one slow in lap and came home. My new Fireblade engine has found another piece to shake off, the crankshaft cover that you remove to rotate to set-up the cams, is now somewhere on the circuit. €40 to fix, but not going far without it.
So I am doubly fed-up and feel a bottle of red coming-on.
FWIW I drove for 4-hours to VdV and back, paid my €200, Did a warm up lap, a quick lap and noticed oil pressure warnings, did one slow in lap and came home. My new Fireblade engine has found another piece to shake off, the crankshaft cover that you remove to rotate to set-up the cams, is now somewhere on the circuit. €40 to fix, but not going far without it.
So I am doubly fed-up and feel a bottle of red coming-on.
rdjohn said:
I am jealous. I knew that other French banks did external payments, but when I raised it with CA, I got the line that it was so open to external attack, it would be too dangerous a service to offer clients.
FWIW I drove for 4-hours to VdV and back, paid my €200, Did a warm up lap, a quick lap and noticed oil pressure warnings, did one slow in lap and came home. My new Fireblade engine has found another piece to shake off, the crankshaft cover that you remove to rotate to set-up the cams, is now somewhere on the circuit. €40 to fix, but not going far without it.
So I am doubly fed-up and feel a bottle of red coming-on.
Bad luck Rodger. I told you to get a 20 tv though! If you remember I took you out in my Bordeaux 20 vt. It's a lot more pacey now though.FWIW I drove for 4-hours to VdV and back, paid my €200, Did a warm up lap, a quick lap and noticed oil pressure warnings, did one slow in lap and came home. My new Fireblade engine has found another piece to shake off, the crankshaft cover that you remove to rotate to set-up the cams, is now somewhere on the circuit. €40 to fix, but not going far without it.
So I am doubly fed-up and feel a bottle of red coming-on.
As for CA. I can do all my transfers and account movements online. But the are robbing bar Stewart's though when it comes to business account charges etc.
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