I am picking up the keys to my new flat in Perpi on the 11th. The flat was an estate sale, so it’s been empty for a while. The vendors are being useless, all the utilities are switched off.
I’m assuming I need to nag the bank to get a move on as I’ll need a French bank account to open utilities?
Is there an easy way to contact the utility companies to open an account?
As the flat is going to be renovated there’s no pressing urgency apart from it being good to be able to use the bathroom while I’m showing builders etc around!
EDF didn’t want to know until we had a French bank account and everybody else wouldn’t set up anything until we had an EDF attestation as proof of address.
If you get an attestation de vente sans prix many companies will accept that for address. But you do need something with a Frence IBAN for bank account.
Forget EDF, they didn’t want to know us either so went with Mint who arranged everything quickly. Others are available like Octopus who are now also in France.
My experience with HSBC France (tried them because I had a First Direct account`) was that they were fully French in their attitude to customer service
Hmmm would never assume any international company you’ve dealt with fine in another country, or even several other countries, would be at all the same in F.
Rebecca, we signed up with local utility companies: Sorégies for electricity and Eaux de Vienne for water. They were both very helpful. Maybe there are similar companies where you are, to enable you to avoid the big ones.
No it can’t - when I moved to Turks & Caicos in 2003 I foolishly assumed that because I had banked with Barclays in the UK for 20-odd years, Barclays over there would welcome me with open arms.
No, they didn’t! “We are a different company” was the response.
I had to get my brother to vouch for me in order for them to condescend to look after my money!
By Perpi I presume you mean Perpignan which is where I live in the agglomeration. The water company is Eau Agglo formerly Veolia that serves the region and they have an office in town. Engie is the most used electric supplier and is very easy to contact and get set up on the phone, in fact both are. Payments are preferred by monthly prélévément but I presume you can arrange to pay by cheque, something you sort out when setting up the accounts. Service by both is excellent. You will need a cheque book to pay the artisans renovating your flat as most prefer this or cash.
