Monday, 10 December 2018

Why is it almost mandatory to have a bank account?

  Contrary to popular belief, it is not legally required to have a bank account. Nevertheless, in practice, going without it becomes more and more complicated. Taxes, social benefits, reimbursement of medical expenses, particularly expensive purchases ... make it almost impossible to circumvent the passage through a bank account.

Why is it complicated to live without a bank account?

Bank cards, checks, one-off or automatic transfers are the dominant means of payment, especially in our relations with official bodies.
Your salary

If your salary exceeds 1 500 € net monthly, its payment must obligatorily be made by crossed check or by transfer to a bank or postal account. Below this threshold, payment in cash is possible at the express request of the employee. The employer cannot refuse.
 
Your social benefits

Social benefits, such as unemployment benefits, housing benefits, family allowances, RSA or minimum old-age benefits, are only paid by bank transfer and therefore require a bank account.

Paying your taxes

Regarding your taxes, payment in cash is only allowed for less than 300 €. Beyond that, you will have to go through a bank account.
 
Your medical expenses

The payment of your daily allowances following a work stoppage and the reimbursement of your medical expenses by your social security organization can only take place in the form of transfers. However, in the absence of a personal bank account and after authorization from the Primary Health Insurance Fund, the Social Security Code provides for the possibility of transferring the amounts due to a third party.
 
Your energy and water bills

Depending on your provider, it is possible to pay your bill by money order without charge and without limitation. This alternative is sometimes reserved only for customers in great precariousness benefiting from the social tariff or identified by the social services. Do not hesitate to contact your supplier for more information.
 
Telephony and Internet

On the other hand, telephone operators and Internet providers are only a handful to accept payment by money order. Access to these services therefore requires in the vast majority of cases a bank account.

 
Your important purchases

The amount of a cash payment between individuals is not limited, but requires the establishment of a written document for any transaction greater than € 1500. In the case of a purchase from a professional, you can only pay in cash for invoices less than or equal to 1000 €.
 
I am banned banking. Can I still open a bank account?

Good news, the law is on your side! Anyone of French nationality, whether resident in France or not, has what the law calls the right to the bank account. Even the banking prohibitions retain this right, but without being able to obtain a check book or a payment card. In this case, it is the Banque de France which designates the banking organization where the account will be opened temporarily.

The law strictly regulates payment methods and imposes ever-lower limits on the use of species. These will surely be reduced further in the years to come, because of the digitization of transactions.
Saisi

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