If you are staying in France for any length of time you will want to open a
bank account. It is not a difficult task and the French banking system is quick
and efficient, requiring very little on your part. A simple current account,
compte de cheques or compte courant, can be opened with proof of identity, such
as a passport, address details, a phone number if you have one and €20 to
deposit straight away. I took along a recent print out of my UK account, my UK
cheque book, birth certificate and even four passport photographs – I did not
need them.
You will receive your cheque book, which are used all the time in France, as
well as a debit card with a PIN number about a week later. The French system
requires you to provide a form of photo ID when writing a cheque and you will
be asked to enter your PIN number if you use your card. And remember never go
overdrawn, you will be blacklisted if you do not put funds into your account
within 30 days.
Internet banking is also available on many accounts, but there is often a
monthly charge or a charge every time you access your details, check your
papers.
Understanding your French cheque book
At last it had arrived, the post woman delivered my chequebook and I was now a
member of the financial world. Or so I thought, because the layout of a cheque
was a lot different than a UK one, so where was I to start? There were no
instructions in the back of the book, just more confusing forms so it was time
to search through my books and dictionary to sort it out. Firstly on the right
hand side is a € sign and a faint box where the value of the cheque is written
in numerals. Remember the number 7 is crossed in Europe so that it is not
confused with a number 1. Then on the left hand side there will be a short
sentence saying Payez contre ce chèque, and here you write the value in words.
Beneath this there will be a where you write the payee name (or moi-même
when cashing a cheque).
Something not seen in the UK is a section on the cheque to write the location
of the place where it was written. This is beneath the box where you wrote the
value in numbers and usually says Fait à. Then below that there is a line for
the date. And in the bottom right hand corner there is a space for you to write
your signature. For your own records the cheque book stub runs across the top,
where you can keep a check on who you’ve paid, what for, the date and the
amount. Each cheque will also feature your address as well as all the necessary
financial details.