INTRODUCTION TO HELPLINEFRANCE
Intermediary between you and the French system
We have no doubt all been in the following situation: to a well-rehearsed question in French we get an unexpected answer, be it instructions about pushing buttons on the telephone, a seemingly irrelevant counter-request, a long, half-understood explanation, or worse: “....send us a letter.”
The temptation would be to forget about our request or complaint, even though we would not have dreamt of giving up if we could have dealt with the problem in our own language.
To avoid this type of frustration, a quick call or mail to HelplineFrance would be the solution. The right buttons will be pushed, the counter-request or lengthy explanation translated or the dreaded letter sent.
Other situations where HelplineFrance might be useful would be: accompanying you on visits to notaires, agents or brokers, banks, the Mairie, Préfecture, the National Health, the Chamber of Commerce, shops or the office of a French utility company.
Rest assured that your business will remain strictly confidential.
HelplineFrance is set up by Caroline Bakker-Smith, a Dutch national and anglophone who moved to France 16 years ago, set up a small family business, has been the Dutch/English language liaison for a French insurance broker for years and spent 10 years as receptionist/secretary in an “agence immobilière” with an international clientele.
Experience teaches that “pushing the right buttons” and tenacity in seemingly hopeless situations will solve most problems.
The charges are as follows (plus eventual expenses):
- 26 Euro/hour
- 15 Euro/½ hour (minimum unit)
- Fees for lengthy interventions could be discussed
If you require any further information about the services offered, please do not hesitate to call:
(Fr) 05 53 60 32 72 or send an E-mail to helplinefrance@gmail.com.
Caroline Bakker-Smith. Email: helplinefrance@gmail.com