French law

[magiciansgirl]

Hi, I'm posting on behalf of a friend who lives in France. She is in serious financial difficulty and is trying to sell her property in order to get out of it.
However in the short term, the water company have cut her off. She knows nothing about French law (neither do I) and doesn't know where to turn. I suggested she tell her doctor that she has a child ill in bed and no water (this is true), but feel there may be someone here who can give her some ammunition to get the water back on.

Also, she is having major problems with her French bank who are threatening repossession if she can't sell even though she has shown them figures which show that her business is actually growing. This would leave her destitute. She keeps saying French law is very different but surely there must be some European standard?

Any help very gratefully received.

[natweststaffmember]

Re: French law

A quick google search has given me this link, I have to admit ignorance of french law as well but thankfully the site is in english.
French Law - Laws in France - Information on law in France with useful related law links to find more info on French law and French law firms who specialise in French Law.

[Tools]

Re: French law

Or email bankfodder@consumeractiongroup.co.uk (thats a joke actually, please don't)

[Paule]

Re: French law

If Fendy appears she may have some ideas too

[Amy]

Re: French law

It is illegal in France to be overdrawn. The French are not known for their tolerance.

[Mochamoo]

Re: French law

I sent your post to a friend, hope you dont mind.

Tell her contact the Commission departementale de surendettement they part of the Bank of France and will talk to her mortgage provider for her and try to change payment scheme. sounds like she might be to far gone for this.

[Fendyweather]

Re: French law

Sadly, this is very true. To date, Im no expert on this, but can I suggest another website which is usually really really helpful to ex pats living in France trying to find out information that they might need regarding laws, anything legal, etc. etc.

its:
http://www.angloinfo.com then click on the country FRANCE

or directly the page is:

http://france.angloinfo.com/


Its a really useful website that gives advice to brits living in France about anything and everything, general day to day stuff and legal and financial stuff. There are advisors on there you can post questions to, who all speak excellent english. Its worth a try. Im sorry I dont know much else, but I have found to date that the French banks are slowing being dragged into the 21st Century and are a little more flexible than they ever used to be so long as you talk to them in depth, at length about whatever problem. I can only speak from experience. But the site above should be able to point her in the righ direction about help and advice.

Fendy xxxxxxx

[magiciansgirl]

Re: French law

MANY MANY thanks everyone, that is all so helpful. She's so low and scared that she's running around like a headless chicken and hasn't been able to concentrate. I will do some initial research for her using this information and hopefully she can then take it from there.

[Fendyweather]

Re: French law

Best of luck. I do hope she manages to get help. If all else fails I do have the name and number and e mail address of a french notaire who might be able to help, who speaks good english and who also has an interpreter working for him who might be able to help with anything legal, but he does charge Im afraid. Hes not free. Drop me a line if you need his e mail. He is in the Charente area, but very knowledgeable and very very very helpful. Mr. J. P Biais in Saintes.

[tomterm8]

Re: French law

There is not really any european standard in terms of real property law or bankruptcy law. It is only very recently that the UK concept of discharge in consumer bankruptcy made it to the continent.

It might be worth calling up Citizens advice / national debt line and asking them if they know of a similar charity in France.

[Fendyweather]

Re: French law

Oooh I just found a really useful contact.

Philip WINTER-TAYLOR

The Elwick Club,
Church Road, Ashford,
Kent, TN23 1RD
-----------------------
Tel: (00 44) 12 33 66 69 68

For all issues arising on property dealings in France, talk to Philip Winter-Taylor. He is a bi-lingual U.K. lawyer and lecturer with twenty years experience of French property law and procedure. He can look after your interests and.
· deal with any disputes.
· check the sale contract, plans and title documents.
· help you with tax and inheritance law.
· deal with notarial and agency correspondence.
· advise on any problems arising.
For answers to all your questions about your property in France, call him direct on 01233 666968 or email wintertaylors@aol.com.

And avoid any legal complications!

I found his contact information because he sent me an e mail when we were looking to buy a house in France. It seems he knows his stuff about french property laws etc. etc.and he might be able to help your friend.

[magiciansgirl]

Re: French law

ooooh, great. She emailed me today saying they'd tried the Bank of France route without success and that they were going with a payment plan to the water board,which didn't sound great to me. Thanks all. it is so nice that everyone cares...

[Fendyweather]

Re: French law

The one good thing in her favour with France, is that legal stuff, both when it comes to property purchase and reposessions etc. etc. etc. anything legal at all, simply takes absolutely FOREVER................. AND I MEAN FOREVER. So she has time on her side at the moment. They dont do anything quickly, so try and advise her to use the time she has to research all this as best she can. Make the most of the lull and the fact that the french are exceptionally slow on anything at all legal. Thats fact. Speaking from experience here. xxxx

[magiciansgirl]

Re: French law

Hi, that's comforting to hear. I'm doing some of the research as her computer time is limited whilst she attempts to sell her place using the internet. xxx

[Fendyweather]

Re: French law

Very best of luck. I know it might sound crazy but a further place to advertise it, is EBAY. It has a huge worldwide audience..............I know I know, dont laugh, .............but you can list an ad to sell a house for about £1.30 for a for a week, but just word the ad properly and put the bid price as £1 whilst clearly stating in the ad that this is not the actual price of the house itself, the actual house price XXXXX . She could add in the wording, "I have listed this item at £1 in order to simply display the ad on ebay to get it seen and advertised. the actual house price is XXXXX and you can even put a link on the e bay page directing people to another page where she can host her own property details on the net to guide people to. Or she can simply use ebay and put on all her own descriptions and photos etc. etc. etc.

see this as an example.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/House-For-Sale...3A1|240%3A1318

I know its a long shot, but at least for a very cheap price its yet another iron in the fire. Sorry if Im being a bit obvious here, but Im just trying to think of all ways possible of her getting the house seen on the broadest medium for the cheapest price to list an ad.

Best of luck. xxxx