Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

annsoloway

Hi Droop,

Thanks for that - you are right, I assumed that;

a. initial 'consultation' would be free, as in the UK.

b. if I was going to be charged this would have been made clear.

What's even more galling is I took this email address from a list of Notaries to go to for advice!

The fee is 180euros for three brief emails?

Do I really have no leg to stand on? The notaires has very little detail about me...? I.e I'm tempted to just stop replying to the emails...! Not fair I know...

annsoloway

Hi all - again,

Firstly thanks to Droop for getting back to me; now I really need to know where I stand re having to pay these fees...which stand at 180Euros for answering some very basic clarification questions. Please can anyone advise?

AnnSoloway

droopsnout

Me again, Ann.

Sorry for delay. I was driving all night and am now on a ferry homeward-bound. (Back to France). Have had a sleep, but no guarantees on the quality of my thoughts!

Bearing in mind that MSE is a responsible and law-abiding site, it would be foolish of me to say that you should "avoid" payment.

I really can't answer your question. I feel for you, as I'm sure anyone else reading this does. The legal profession is not well loved in either country. But in my case, I would be paying, largely on the grounds that if I got involved in a dispute with a notaire, it is very easy to predict which of us would be the loser!

No-one, I suspect, would disagree that 180 euros for three emails is taking the mick, rather. But did the notaire answer your questions and/or resolve your problems? S/he is paid not just for emails but for their knowledge and the ability to communicate accurately and clearly.

If your questions were not answered, then you may have a case for refusing or reducing payment.

I think this is a problem to which only you can decide on a solution! I'm really glad it's not me!

It would be interesting to read the views of other expats or folk with knowledge in this area.

gallygirl

Nothing to add to current conversation except sorry for your loss ann.

I was hoping to move to SE Spain later this year, turns out I'm going much earlier and a bit further S and E as moving to Middle East with Mr GG for a few years :eek::rotfl::T. Does anyone here have any experiences to share?

donny-gal

I suppose, it might be worth a polite phone cal to them querying the cost, to see if they are prepared to reduce it.

Sounds exciting GG.
DG

Biggles

Do they have a website, Ann? Maybe the charging is made clear there and they assumed you got their email that way. Was there a link to any T&Cs in their original reply?

Is there any reference at all to charging generally on the gov.uk site?

I would be inclined to reply initially pointing out that you were unaware that there was a fee involved and suggesting they might have advised you of this in advance and see what happens next. I would keep it to email for now.

zygurat789

annsoloway wrote: »

Hi all, I'm sorry if this isn't quite the right place but I hope someone can help me.

I emailed a recommended Notaire from the Gov.uk website to do with some matters in relation to my father's death in France.

Low and behold today I have received a 'bill' for the Notaires services. At no point was I informed I would be charged neither did I enter into a contract with the Notaire for services rendered.

Where do I stand here? It's quite a hefty bill for three, brief, emails!

Thanks in advance!

Do they say on their bill, presumably an invoice, what the work they did was?

annsoloway

WOW!

Thanks all for your help!! I'm going to try to sum up everyone's points in one go...

Firstly, thank you Droop for the point about me 'paying' for her knowledge and the ability to communicate accurately and clearly - I hadn't thought of it like that which, at least, makes me feel like, should I end up paying, I'm paying for 'something'.

Donny, I haven't queried her bill yet - merely the shock of the unexpected charges, but I have another email waiting in drafts folder to that effect, I was waiting to send, pending everyone's advice.

Biggle, no website and absolutely no reference to charges at all on the gov.uk website list (I went back and checked). No small print, no un-read T&Cs attached to any email. As above I've got my email ready to send, worded very similar to your point.

Zygyrat, the invoice states (in France) consultation via email...

Thank you again everyone, I think my next step has to be another email querying her charges and the unexpected nature of them and see where that goes. I understand that I may end up paying but I'm determined not to just to roll over and pay.

Interestingly...her charges only came up when I told her a camper van - to which I am entitled to some of profits of...?!

zygurat789

annsoloway wrote: »

WOW!


.

Zygyrat, the invoice states (in France) consultation via email...

QUOTE]

It's the............ that would be interesting. Then perhaps you could get a comparable charge for this work from a UK based legal person.

droopsnout

annsoloway wrote: »

WOW!

I hadn't thought of it like that which, at least, makes me feel like, should I end up paying, I'm paying for 'something'.

The tone of your posts suggests that the notaire didn't answer your questions (or explain how to proceed, or whatever) satisfactorily. Am I making a correct assumption?

It seems to me that if appropriate and accurate advice was given which allowed you to proceed with the French legalities, then you'd have to pay. On the other hand, if you were not given helpful and accurate advice, then I think you would be right to make things awkward, for a time at least.

annsoloway wrote: »

I have another email waiting in drafts folder to that effect, I was waiting to send, pending everyone's advice.

Are your communications with the notaire in French? If so, could there possibly be misunderstandings on either side? If not, could the notaire have misunderstood? Or expressed ideas in poor English? (I come across a fair few expat Brits upset by French bureaucracy when in fact there have been language difficulties, sometimes accompanied by an assumption that the French way of doing things is/should be the British way, too. No implication intended here that your own situation is similar - just saying that it happens. I have no idea of the fluency of either party in two languages).

If you would like any help on the language side, please let me know.

annsoloway wrote: »

I've got my email ready to send, worded very similar to your point.

Same thought as above. Is it in French?

annsoloway wrote: »

Thank you again everyone, I think my next step has to be another email querying her charges and the unexpected nature of them and see where that goes. I understand that I may end up paying but I'm determined not to just to roll over and pay.

I think you may be right, from what you have said so far.

annsoloway wrote: »

Interestingly...her charges only came up when I told her a camper van - to which I am entitled to some of profits of...?!

I doubt this made any difference. I think that she would have requested payment of fees at the end of her engagement anyway. They don't work for nothing.

One other thought: I obviously don't know the financial circumstances, not even UK tax law in this regard, but if you were to end up paying in full or in part, would the sums disbursed be tax-deductible?