My guess is that the easiest option would be HSBC in that they also operate in France.
We've had an HSBC UK business account for years and quote our prices in both sterling and euro but in practice nobody has actually paid us in sterling. I suspect that's partly down to people assuming that we would be applying some kind of rip-off exchange rate such as you get in the likes of Auchan who let you select your payment currency when you use a non-French card.
By far the simplest route is to accept credit card payments and to ask your bank to update your machine so that you can bill in both sterling and euro. This would eliminate any complications from your accountant in that you would always be receiving euro.
However, you should note that if you do this then you will be charging your customers the rate that your French bank use for currency exchange which is unlikely to be good. Also, some UK credit cards now apply a foreign currency conversion charge when you pay in sterling outside the UK so it's not free as many people would assume.
Jura wrote: I suspect that's partly down to people assuming that we would be applying some kind of rip-off exchange rate such as you get in the likes of Auchan who let you select your payment currency when you use a non-French card.
I suspect that's partly down to people assuming that we would be applying some kind of rip-off exchange rate such as you get in the likes of Auchan who let you select your payment currency when you use a non-French card.
Yes I got caught out by that one as well! I only accepted the option to see what (I thought) was the equivalent price in sterling, the interesting thing is the ticket (which is only printed out at the end of the transaction) said "I agree to pay a commission of 3% on the interbank exchange rate" - I agreed to nothing of the sort
Jura wrote: My guess is that the easiest option would be HSBC in that they also operate in France.
Yebbut
http://www.financemarkets.co.uk/2008/02/12/hsbc-puts-french-retail-branches-up-for-sale/
HSBC are selling the regional branches that came with it's purchase of CCF some years ago.
It's keeping the branches that are currently branded HSBC France (ie those with a big HSBC sign over the branch) but selling the various regional branches which are only marked by a small sign on the door.
I suspect that it will probably end up doing what it has done elsewhere which will be to open new HSBC branches in the various regions after it's gotten rid of the regional banks (although it probably won't be telling potential purchasers that!). This is basically because the computer systems and product offerings by the various regional banks just aren't compatible with the systems and product lines that HSBC France offer.
hi
just to say that credit agricole also offer the sterling account option and also offer interest rates in sterling.
lisa
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