It seems that closing a French bank account is not an easy thing to do. I thought that my experience was just a case of bad customer service, but apparently I am not alone.

When my daughter left France to work in the UK, she naturally closed her French bank account. However, statements kept arriving to inform us that there were several centimes still being held for her.

The branch was 300 metres from our house so it was easy to visit or to call in when passing. Only one assistant was ever on duty as it was small and local.

I broached the question of the few centimes – could they be transferred to our account ? No, that would need an authorising letter from my daughter. She duly wrote a note and I took it in a week of so later.

The next month another statement arrived which still showed the centimes in her account. Another visit took place. ‘We need a RIB with your bank details’. A RIB is a ‘relevé d’identité bancaire‘.These are thoughtfully printed in the back of your check book and can be given to anyone who needs your bank details.

‘But we bank here – you have our details on your computer! I’m sure it is possible for you to transfer this remaining amount from one account to another!’

The next month another statement arrived still showing the few centimes. Banking is not free in France. It was fortunate that there was only a small amount left as fees would have continued to have been taken during this time.

Another visit. ‘The account is still open , please could you close it’. ‘I am not authorised to do so, you need to make an appointment to see the manager’.

At this point I was fuming at the ridiculousness of all these excuses and the time being taken on something so trivial. Outside the bank my father was waiting for me. I mimed my frustration like a child would do, stamping my feet and clenching my fists with arms raised, much to the astonishment of the customer who was just entering!

That afternoon I took the phone and called the agency. ‘Please could I speak to the manager and make an appointment to see her’. The manager was a nice person, who we had always found to be very pleasant and helpful. She answered the phone.’There is no need to worry, Madame, I have your file open in front of me now. I will transfer the money straight away, and your daughter’s account will be closed.’ ‘Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!’ If I had had her in front of me, I think I would have kissed her!

I have related the incident to my adult students. To my surprise, I found that it is far from unusual. Banks hate to lose clients, so they make it difficult for customers to close accounts. Even worse, I learnt that young trainees are encouraged to lie to the public. A parent told me about her daughter’s experience of joining a bank and of the other students cheering when these attitudes were being encouraged. Another told me of her friend’s discomfort as a bank employée at having to meet weekly targets that necessitated encouraging customers to buy policies and products that had no advantages for them. This employee eventually left her excellent well-paid job on moral grounds.

To close a French bank account a formal letter must be written and sent recorded delivery ‘lettre recommandée avec avis de reception‘.Examples can be found on line which must be copied to include several legal details and be handwritten! We obviously failed to do this when we thought we had closed our account with that branch as it remained open. Fortunately, we had also failed to change one source of credit going into it so the continuing monthly bank charges didn’t make it ‘à découvert ‘. But it was a surprise to find that several months after thinking the account was closed – it was open and money was being taken for monthly charges.

P.S  Doesn't  'à découvert' sounds like a wonderful adventure and nothing like the horror of being overdrawn?