Yes, SF receives a commission for referrals that become customers.
4 Likes
You can read James’ reply… and make of it what you will. The fact that so many of us recommend @fabien is because he has helped us to save money and ensure the best product… nothing to do with commissions… 
(my own witticisms and advice… are given absolutely freely… 
)
My OH was in Finance & Insurance in the UK for many years…we thought we “knew it all”… Our first Mutuelle here was the “bees knees”… but as time went by, we had no idea how to tweak things…
We needed someone with expertise in this country’s little ways. Fabien has guided us through the minefield and we have ended up better off… (and, before anyone asks… yes, we did discuss with other Advisors/Assurers)
'Nuff said.
6 Likes
Thank you for the honest reply.
Paul
My question was posed, as I posed one on another now defunct site several years ago. My question then was ‘Does the line between recommending someone and receiving a commission for it become blurred depending upon the amount of commission received?’ I asked it because I was aware of several people offering commission for referrals. The downside to that is the commission paid has to come from somewhere and that is going to be the customer buying the service. It’s just something that I’m not comfortable with.
I can’t be certain in that being the case.
You are correct in that any commission paid has to come from somewhere but not necessarily at the expense of the end customer… it can just as easily be a contribution from the standard commission that would have been paid in any event.
I doubt very much that @fabien adds his commission to your bill. The insurance industry doesn’t work that way AFAIK.
But, that aside, if the insured gets a better deal than he would otherwise have had, isn’t that just win-win?
4 Likes
Here’s a more comprehensive answer
2 Likes
Is it possible to pin a link to Amazon (.co.uk .fr .de) etc to make it easier to do so?
2 Likes
That’s a good idea, I’ll give it some thought.
3 Likes
Hi, let’s jump in the “commission issue” wagon 
I’ll try to remain on the line of the full disclosure, basically we are giving a cut of the commission on the first year only so that the advise isn’t biased. To be even more honest, brokers are usually paid 10% of the premium (on the net premium thought, which is usually roughly 10% less than the premium you’re actually paying). As per legal requirements we are not paying referral fees from the 2nd year and beyond so we actually “take the hit” on the first year by not keeping the full commission (sharing it with SFN in that case) and then we get the normal commission on the following years. It’s important to understand that the commission is always there, whatever you go to a local agent, online, through a broker or even direct with the company it’s still there and the only thing that changes is the one who claims it
Whatever the origin of the referral, I try to advise as honestly as possible and some here might (hopefully) confirm that I’m actually a terrible sale agent, as I’m mostly pitching for the lowest end offers that seems the more relevant to me in most cases rather than the higher end alternatives.
To put that simply, loyalty is what’s keeping us afloat nowadays, not one shot deals 
4 Likes
I have literally just put my pen down from writing cheques from @james ‘s latest hospital stay.
62.91 - lab fees
104.26 to the clinic
All of this will be refunded by the mutuelle. If we didn’t have one I’d have got 70% of the 62.91 .
I would also have had to pay the 74.60 in ‘excess’ pharmacy charges, plus four visits to the GP leaving me out of pocket to the tune of 227.73.
This is way more than our monthly premium and doesn’t include both him and I going to the kine (for other things) and taking our son to the doctors.
Personally I think unless you are both incredibly healthy and very lucky, not having a top up policy is quite mad!
4 Likes
I would also appreciate a link to Amazon as I do use their services from time to time and would be happy for SFN to benefit therefrom under this arrangement.
4 Likes
Just wish to say thank you to both Jim and Fabien for clarifying the commission issue and for Fabien’s approach to assisting clients. I turned to Fabien after joining this site and have found him to be excellent with providing me with better and more cost-effective policies for a mutuelle and rental insurance. He and his Associate provide great customer service and I trust their practices --a unique concept and lesson for business services in France ; )
So thank you to SFN and Fabien both from an American expat here!
5 Likes
OOOPS! Meant to say James. Apologize to you James.
2 Likes
So could i ask who would you recommend to go to for our health insurance when we move to brittany next march ? Do we go to brokers in the high street, a bank, a doctors ?
Im finding this move a bit of a minefield. So much to consider before we move and after we get there.
1 Like
Does @fabien cover Brittany ??? … got to be worth you asking him, as I know his advice is always worthwhile…
and you can check with your Bank etc… the choice is yours…
@Stella ah ah good one I have covered people in Corsica and in the bask “country” so as long as they’re still part of France this goes without saying
@bevlar1957 I’m happy to have a chat if you’d like so you can better explain your situation and I’ll advise accordingly on the best course of action (from my perspective)? If you want to get in touch directly => fabien@pepite-courtage.com
1 Like
What other things does Fabien do. I have a huge problem concerning death cover with Insurance for my dead husbands car.
I had an health insurance in U.K. for many years but have canceled it as it got too expensive. Any claims were hard work. Their health advisers were all nurses and one of them had never heard of the condition I was claiming for, I had to explain ti to her. I would like to have a Mutuelle here in France but the 2 brokers I have approached say the contract is in French and suitable for me.
If you are a french resident why should a french contract be unsuitable for you? Odd…
Can you remind us Fay… are you now Resident in France and, if so, do you have a carte vitale ?