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29/04/2009, 20:08 just john Joined on 28/04/2005 Dordogneshire/Charente borders Posts 1,485 French Inquisition A copy of the e-mail I received from my French bank today, anyone else experienced this?!? Bonjour, As you have deposit in cash xxxxx€ in 2008 and transferred xxxxx€ I have some more questions from my head office for you about laundering. I will need to see you and meet you next time you come as already agreed with you . What is your job : semi retired ? Have you always got an professional activity and income . If yes how much per year ? You have still some money in England for xxxxx€ ( is it always this or have you got some more since our last conversation?). Have you got an account in another banquet in France ? If you can send me your P60 and last statements of account . In fact they want to know and justify where the money comes from . Thanks a lot to give me those information. Best regards .  Thank you for choosing to bank with Crédit Agricole Charente  . Yours sincerely, L B  – Financial Adviser  CHARENTE-PERIGORD UNITED the real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, and blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday    Report

29/04/2009, 20:25 Callie Joined on 19/04/2008 Near Saumur (49) Posts 534 Re: French Inquisition Sounds highly fishy. For a start, that sort of letter would usually be in French. Did they quote your bank account number or anything else ? If I were you, i would go in to your bank and ask them about the letter. I would definitely NOT write back until I was sure it was a genuine letter.    Report

29/04/2009, 20:32 just john Joined on 28/04/2005 Dordogneshire/Charente borders Posts 1,485 Re: French Inquisition I have previously had a letter advising that there would be an english-speaking contact at the bank, as per name given; they then contacted me requesting information including passport detail, utility bills etc to prove my english address, and then advising me they might contact me by e-mail, so all details stack up. the real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, and blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday    Report

29/04/2009, 20:49 Callie Joined on 19/04/2008 Near Saumur (49) Posts 534 Re: French Inquisition We've never had an English speaking bank manager, so perhaps I've just got a nasty suspicious mind ! However, i would still prefer to do the business face to face than risk of any sort of misunderstanding ! Bonne chance !    Report

29/04/2009, 20:50 LEO Joined on 15/04/2006 Calvados,14 Posts 1,248 Re: French Inquisition This does not sound genuine to me and , I would delete it INSTANTLY! Leo. www.vianormandy.com ( I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure! )    Report

29/04/2009, 21:00 just john Joined on 28/04/2005 Dordogneshire/Charente borders Posts 1,485 Re: French Inquisition Don't be unsure about it, I can assure you the letters from CA were genuine and give the background to the enquiry; which was briefly explained to me at the bank last year that UK residents with second homes would be required to give proof of identity and origin of transferred funds, I have been with the bank 5 years and had several major transactions in France (all paid by cheque, funds transferred from UK). However the enquiries have become more persistent and detailed as per this last one despite giving all the answers requested. the real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, and blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday    Report

29/04/2009, 21:59 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 662 Re: French Inquisition As someone who works in financial services my advice is that you need to validate the letter by contacting your bank, but this sort of anti money laundering enquiry is increasingly far from unusual, as banks are required by law to identify source of client funds and their computer systems trawl through thousands of daily banking transactions for suspicious activity. The sort of activity looked for are regular payments into an account that are then transferred out again, especially if they are cross border payments and the bank's compliance officers will instigate an enquiry to find out more about the nature of the transactions. In the vast majority of cases there is a perfectly innocent explanation, but as previously mentioned banks are now required by law to understand where your money comes from, be it by means of employment or investment or retirement income. Also if there is a sudden material variation to your bank account activity, such as a large credit, again the computer system will throw up an exception report for follow up enquiry. Expect more and more of this type of enquiry as anti money laundering legislation, which extends to tax evasion, is being constantly tightened and the risk is if you ignore it then your account or payment under scrutiny will be frozen and a suspicious transaction report made to the police.    Report

29/04/2009, 22:30 woolybanana Joined on 27/08/2007 Vendée Posts 3,783 Re: French Inquisition You should print this off and go to your bank with it and give the answers there, not via internet whatever happens.    Report

29/04/2009, 22:47 Sprogster Joined on 23/08/2004 Var & C.I. Posts 662 Re: French Inquisition Another matter to be aware of is that French banks are now required to obtain documentation evidencing your tax residence and if you are non French tax resident, you will be asked to produce evidence of your country of tax residence, such as a letter from your tax authority,or copy of last tax assesment. I received another letter from my French bank recently in French and English asking for this, although I had responded by post to a previous request last year. This time I will visit the bank in person and ask for a signed receipt!     Report

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