None of us want to get 'caught out' by con men. So take five minutes to read this and benefit from other's experience. I've thought of a few mistakes to avoid making but I'm sure there are lots more....
1. Beware the new EBF (expat best friend) who wants to know all your details...these will be shared around the expat gossip groups for miles around....
2. Beware the door to door salesman, charities, religious folk and chimney sweeps. You wouldn't answer the door to them back where you came from so don't do it in France. One SFN member weakened and invited the man selling naff plastic kitchen ware (in aid of a charity, bien sur to come in. The salesman started coming back twice, then three times a year until he was told no more. Enough was enough. When the member asked her French neighbour about this, she said, "Non!..I only give to the pompiers and the post lady at Christmas, otherwise no-one else gets money at my door"
3. And we can’t forget the dodgy chimney sweeps aka Laurel and Hardy who announced on the mairie's tannoy that they were in the village doing their annual rounds. They then proceeded to knock on doors and explain to the newly landed expat that it was obligatoire to have an insurance certificate. They then tried to clean out a wood burning stove via the surrounding chimney stack rather than the stove’s flue pipe...a complete farce. By this time, the member just wanted them out of her house so she paid them their 50 euros and then called out a decent ramoneur recommended by a friend.
4. Use recommendations from people who have actually had work done, not just from a friend of a friend. Lots of people will try to get work for their friends...especially in the expat community. Make sure you know what you are getting into. Do they have a French SIRET number? Check www.Societe.com If its a UK company then is it registered with Companies House? www.companieshouse.gov.uk. A quick check will tell you if you need to be worried.
Any legitimate, honest and above board company or individual will happily share their registered company details. It is unfortunately common practice in both the UK and France for people to bring down a company and then start a new one when their tax bill is due (sometimes in the name of their spouse or another family member). If you are at all concerned, check how many companies the person has been a director or secretary of - Companies House will tell you as will www.dirigeant.com.
There is also a new service being introduced which will bring together a European Business Register. This will help simplify checks on companies who have control structures across different countries, for example, a company operating in France but declaring itself as a wholly owned subsidiary of a UK or Spanish company.
One member used a French architect operating in France who was registered in Spain. When there were problems with the building work they found themselves not covered by the French Assurance DECENNALE. It wasn't even cheaper for them...(the tax benefit was for the architect); as they hadn’t checked the set up of the company before entering into a contract with them, it ended up costing them nearly 10,000 euros!
So that leads me to the next point:
5. Don't expect that all French companies are going to be better/safer/more reliable than expat run companies, we've known plenty of French TRADES people go under leaving clients in a mess, we've known big electrical retailers not honour their 5 year gold guarantee because the 'franchise' closed down.
For buildings work - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure you have a copy of the ASSURANCE DECENNALE before you start the works. Keep a copy yourself and even call the insurance company to check it's validity. There is no point allowing yourself to believe 'All French work is protected for 10 years' if you don't have the right paperwork. Be prepared!
6. People move to France/Spain/Italy or wherever else for many reasons. Some want to make a new start for themselves and their family, change direction or take on a new job. Others unfortunately just want to find a new market to con people out of their hard earned cash. Make sure this doesn't happen to you. Check out the company properly and do your research - if it sounds too good to be true...then it probably is!!
These are my top tips but I’m sure there are more. What are yours?