Like most ex-pats, each month we arrange for our monthly finance to be sent from England to our French bank, converted into Euros. At first, our bank in the UK did this direct, but we found that as they charged a fee and then also offered a low exchange rate, a currency transfer firm worked much better. Our bank has a standing order to send the monthly sum in Pounds to the firm , who convert it into Euros and pass it on to our French bank. However, this month an inexplicable delay caused problems. Although the firm sent their usual acknowledgments the money didn't arrive at this end by the seventh and there was also a problem with the on line site of the French bank, which did not like me logging on so frequently looking for our money.
Accordingly, we descended on the local office in a bad mood to chase things up. However, the girl in the office was so helpful and charming that our mood soon improved, the more so as when she eventually got through to the bank, our money had been paid in. Apparently the problem was due to the French practice of ' faire le pont' As there were two public holidays closely together, the staff had gone on hols en masse, causing a delay in the transfers. Although a little upset at this, it seems to be inevitable and is, perhaps, part of the ' charm' of living in France.... However, I have decided to change the date of transfer of funds in future to the twentieth of the month to give a bit more lee-way to the arrival of our money!
Bye for now, time for lunch!
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