dave77f

Hoping someone has already come across this issue and can advise.

I can't find a credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee. Most cards are free in the UK, and many give cashback. But I just can't find a similar deal.

I plan to pay off the balance at the end of every month

My bank even charge me for the carte bancaire Mastercard. Then I have an AMEX which costs over 50€ per year, and is hardly accepted anywhere anymore.

If, as I suspect "free" Visa / Mastercards cards do not exist over here, any tips or pointers to a low cost card would be welcome.

dmu

Hi, your suspicions are founded, a monthly charge is shown debited in the Statement of Account, more or less the same for all Banks from what I hear.

Cards simply for drawing money out of DABs may be free but, of course, they aren't Credit cards...

Peabrain

Hi,
Yes French credit cards charge an annual fee, often somewhat opaque, in order to confuse the customer that wants to shop around. Big stores like Carrefour do credit cards charging around 50 euros for a Visa premier, enabling you to pick up points each time you use it. LCL's Visa premier also does a points system; I've had quite a few free bottles of wine out of it, which helps forget the (extortionate) cost a little.
Have you looked at on-line banking? If I wasn't tied hand and foot to my present bank that's the path I'd go down. All the major high street banks have on-line banking which is I believe, cheaper than going through a local branch.
pb

dmu

I get S'Miles points when I use my Caisse d'Epargne Visa card (for even cheaper fares with the Carte Sénior SNCF which in fact easily "reimburses" the annual CB fee).

dennerlymum

I dont really understand the term credit card in france as mine only really functions as a debit card; I have to have the funds in my account and its debited immediately???

Peabrain

Hi,

This presumably is because you opted for "une carte à débit immédiat" instead of "une carte à débit différé". The latter costs more (whoever would have guessed?) so get off down to the bank and ask them to change it into a proper credit card, whose bill is debited at the end of each month. This means that if you pay for something say, on November 27th, chances are it won't be debited until December 31st.
Pb

dennerlymum

AH!!! Thank you for that PB... I finally understand the system now! I don't want or need the credit option for the moment but it will be useful to know 'au cas ou' as they say!!

TinaBee

If you bank with Fortuneo (online) you can get a free card (conditions apply)

http://www.fortuneo.fr/fr/banque/for...nque-ligne.jsp

le plumber

Ing direct also give you a free card - Mastercard Gold. Again online but from what I've heard they're pretty good. However the French Ing direct dont (yet) do mortgages.

Peabrain

With the present financial crisis being what it is, it might be worth remembering that deposits in French banks are guaranteed up to € 100,000 in case of collapse, Northern Rock style. Hence, should you have more than that in savings, it's best to open accounts in other banks or insurance companies, since the ceiling doesn't apply to the individual saver, but to each of the banks he is a customer of.
PB

wetwang

I have a Facelia Card issued by Bank Populaire which doubles as a debit or credit card. Sticking it in the reader you either select Compte or Credit.
I don't know if all banks have a similar thing

Ka Ora!

With our account CIC we have about four days on larger transaction to turn them in to credit based purchases. It works for check and card transactions alike.

DEJW

I've found that with 2 French banks (CIC and Soc Marseillaise) that credit / debit card charges are negotiable. Talk to the directeur of you bank!


DejW

Im_and_Er

Ditto my CA 'cartwin' card although in 5 years I've yet to use it as anything other than a debit card.

My 'free' credit card is my Nationwide one which has had a great deal more use here since they introduced the charges on their Flexaccount debit card.

bullfrog1

French cards sold by banks are not "real" credit cards in the Uk sense (even the 'cartes à débit différé' which exactly that ie 'differed debit cards'), they are necessary tied to a bank account; you can get some for free, for example via Boursorama, the online bank, which provides Visa Premier free of charge (conditions apply).

Amex provided its silver card (a real credit card) free of charge if you spend enough on it per year and you can earn miles on Air France Frequence Plus program