Closing a bank account???

[hughnique]

I have been domiciled in the UK since April this year and albeit it wasn't my main concern at the time, have been trying to close my Credit Agricole bank account since then. Possibly a form to fill out and sign, nothing could be simpler, could it.
We all know the French attitude to simple tasks, why can't we make it a bit harder, firstly tax residency, where are you domiciled for tax purposes, fill all these forms in, what's that got to do with it, after several weeks I then get 6 forms to fill in and sign, plus passports, utility bill, and photos of cheque books and bank card cut up in pieces, all duly completed and returned, receipt acknowledged. Hold on what's this 30€ parts socials, having posed this question before I was told it was some sort of interest accrued and could be transferred to my current account, now it turns out to be shares issued to me at the inception of the account, and evidently these now have to be offered for sale, to whom I do not know. Again another delay to proceedings, and I have a bit of a deadline of the 16th to get this all sorted before the dreaded Impots come looking for another TF prelevement, which again, is supposed to have been sorted out last month and ended up in them giving me a virement of 650€, but bet your life things won't go smoothly and I am fully expecting to see another payment coming out to them. I remember asking CA to cancel my 200€ overdraft, but they refused to do that, they have still managed to charge me monthly admin fees, which in itself adds up. I had heard many horror stories regarding closing accounts, I will say that I have paid all outstanding arrangements with the likes of AXA etc. but they continue to make a charge on my bank for monthly payments that should no longer exist, culminating in all the aggro in getting a refund. Hopefully it will be resolved prior to my deadline.

[RobertArthur]

Hughnique, last year we visited France once again, the first time not in the direction of our maison secondaire. To Normandy and then to the Nievre, back again. Visiting friends, chatting for hours as if nothing had changed. After selling our house in July 2025 I already began to empty our CA account, stopping the usual virements automatique and waiting for refunds, insurance, water company, EDF.

Our local CA bank in Corbigny - all the regions have slightly different interpretations of central guidelines - insisted that we had to show up in person, so we did. Passports ready, cheque book, plastic card etc. On a bright and sunny afternoon the door opened for us, maybe the last time, I don't know. Half an hour later we were outside again. By the way, not my car.

I must say I’m rather relieved that we were able to bring our formal financial dealings with France to a smooth conclusion. It does make administrative life a bit easier.

The young man there, who was clearly very adept at using the CA’s complex IT system and was working away diligently at his keyboard, managed to sort it all out fairly quickly, partly thanks to the preparatory work we’d done. The printer there was busy: more than one doument waiting for our signatures.

I didn’t bring up the question of whether all this could have been done a bit more simply – remotely, digitally or by registered post. It didn’t seem at all worthwhile to ask that bank clerk to explain something about which he would, as is not uncommon in France, think: ‘il faut vivre avec…’

[Polly]

That doesn’t augur well for us closing our CA account at Uzès, which we’ve decided to do, heading for 2 years since we sold our apartment.

Due to my husband’s health problems he can’t get travel insurance and I knew we didn’t want to risk him being abroad if his condition deteriorated when again, we didn’t renew our passports earlier this year. So closing our account will have to be done remotely.

Hughnique, I’ll look out for further news about closing your account.

[Hotrodder]

Anyone who gets CA's diabolical virus out of their bloodstream without a few more grey hairs is very lucky indeed. It took a full five months of form filling, interviews with their English speaking counsellor, and irate letters to every address I could find within the Credit Agricole organisation to get disentangled from their bureaucratic tiranny. It is easy as can be to open an account. Big smiles, handshakes, and a minimum of form filling. A stark contrast to trying to close one. Frowns, the need for a return visit because some critical employee who does this sort of thing is on holiday, you find the bulging file of documents you brought with you doesn't contain some vital missive, and finally the zombie-like irritant announces that its all finished.

Don't you believe it for one minute. The fun has only begun.

[exile]

@hughnique , the tax domicile thing is because banks are more and more beholden to tax authorities to show that they are not involved with tax fraud and money laundering.

And due to agreements it is not just the French authorities that might chase information. HMRC might equally want information and legally can get it - despite Brexit.

Real Estate purchases and sales and bank accounts being opened or closed are areas where tax authorities are likely to follow up. Firstly real estate is an easy way to clean large amounts of money. Secondly closing accounts is a way of disappearing if the sale was to launder money or if you want to play fast and loose with tax authorities, pretending that you are not within their jurisdiction. On the latter I remember cocky forum posts (elsewhere of course) back in the noughties about how the poster avoided income tax by telling the UK authorities he was in France and the French authorities, if they were to ask, that he did not meet the 183 day requirement. [There never was a 183 day rule that would have applied to them, but they never accepted that.]

[Polarengineer]

I have had to close my account with the cash bank of mattress since all this online vapour cash took over. Now I pay the banks to make money on interest from my cash. Biggest rip-offs since insurance. I am now panning for gold in the river. How does that work with the taxman?

[RobertArthur]

To be honest, I think it would be best not to claim the cost of all that gold-digger’s equipment as a tax deduction on your next tax return.

[hughnique]

exile, When we sold the French residence, possibly too cheap, the money was directed to our account at CA, after which is was transferred a week later to our HSBC account in the UK, no questions asked by either bank. Now we come to change of email address and mobile number another hurdle involving selfies for ID purposes, and then a live broadcast from here to the Britline offices, to make sure the picture tallied up, all fine if you are a 5 year old toddler and understand all this techno crap, being a 76 year old moaner it is way over my head, luckily my son was on hand that day to supervise things, again not ideal if you need to keep yor wealth private.
Polly it can be done remotely as I have proved but it is a long winded affair so start asap. I am now wondering about just asking the XE company to transfer the money direct to my account on Monday, but that still leaves me open to scurrilous debits made on my account by companies who do not understand the word cancelled.
BTW I have just had a disagreement with the NHS regarding a portal they wish me to join so as I can access correspondence etc. they wish to send me, again involving the generation of a selfie so as they can identify me, but they have nothing to compare it with, I was tempted to send them a picture of a chimp, but decided against it

[Hotrodder]

This posting a selfie thing has been a deal breaker for me more than once. The most recent, and most regretted was when my long term relationship with Transferwise had to end because I could not do one. All the burning hoops I had negociated many years ago were suddenly worth nothing. I had to provide more proof or walk. Several photos taken with my Nikon holding my passport photo and sent by email were refused. So it was adios amigo. I'm now wasting money in bank charges to do my monthly transfers.

[exile]

@hughnique
I am not surprised that CA did not question the arrival of the proceeds of sale. This will have come from the notaire's holding account and it might even be that he automatically informs the bank of the source of the funds. He will be doing many transfers every month. He will be treated as reliable with good reason or in some cases not. He is after all charged with collecting taxes due on inheritance and real estate deals. I have however heard of notaires being struck-off for misdemeanours, which are never publicly disclosed.

I am a bit more surprised that HSBC did not react unless they were in some way pre-warned, either by some comment from your good selves* or possibly CA informing them at the time of transfer. That proactivity does not sound like most CA branches however.
* "We are selling up in France and moving back to the UK." as an example.

The banks are required by law to automatically inform the tax authorities of any transaction above €10,000. When I transferred IIRC €15k, CA asked what the sources of the funds were and why they were being transferred. Subsequently I have pre-warned them of any large transactions about to land in our account.