French banks applying ‘irregular’ charges on clients, fraud office check reveals

THE INVESTIGATION INTO 100 BANKING ESTABLISHMENTS FOUND BREACHES, FAILINGS, AND ALLEGED CRIMINAL PRACTICES Banks in France have been accused of “persistent failings” and of “irregular

charges” after an investigation into banking fees by the national consumer competition and fraud office. The DGCCRF conducted an investigation into 100 banking establishments between January

2023 and March 2024, in a bid to check that they were properly applying regulations on intervention fees and commissions.  The investigation found numerous breaches. The Economy Ministry

website reads: “17 professionals were found to be in breach and circumventions of the regulations were noted. 12 warnings and six criminal and administrative reports were drawn up.” Read

more: Letters: Free banking is so hard to find in France  DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND FAILINGS The investigation revealed the use several “deceptive” commercial practices, including: * Invoicing

of intervention fees for irregularities, when no irregularity was on the account * Ignoring the regulatory caps for intervention fees.  Regulations state that in the event of an

irregularity with an account, intervention fees must be invoiced at a rate of €8 per transaction, and €80 maximum. This drops to €4 and €20 respectively for customers benefiting from a

specific deal for financially vulnerable customers. The costs of rejecting a transaction are also capped and are included in these maximums. However, the investigation found that some

banking establishments did not combine these fees, and charged them separately. This is illegal.  Other issues found included: * Some banks were found to be failing to provide customers with

pricing information documents, despite this having been law since August 1, 2019 * One establishment received a warning for having increased the prices of non-SEPA (bank transfers outside

of the Eurozone) bank transfers by €1, even though it had said in its customer brochures that the fee had been frozen  * One bank was charging customers to call a premium-rate number for

customer service. This is despite the law stating that all consumers have the right to contact a non-premium-rate customer service to obtain information or to lodge a complaint * A

promotional offer where some consumers claimed not to have received the promised sum * Providing misleading information to customers regarding the change in the insurance linked to a bank

card (exclusions were broader than before meaning the new insurance was less advantageous). The establishments in question have now rectified these issues, the Economy Ministry report

states. Read also: Major French bank hits overseas clients with ‘admin fees’ of up to €300 a year  ‘MAJORITY HONOUR COMMITMENTS’ However, the DGCCRF said that “the vast majority of banks

have honoured their pricing commitments”. For example, most were found to be applying accurate rates for their package deals (which combine different services at a lower price than if

purchased individually). The Economy Ministry has a free comparison tool on its website that helps consumers to compare banking service prices, and avoid the highest fees charged by banking

establishments in France. Read more: Significant bank fee rise in France in 2025: how to compare and tips to save Read also: Tips for reducing your bank charges in France