Who should you complain to?

A RAFT of different mediators exists within France if you have a complaint against a body or business that has no EU dimension.

Several of these, however, are meant to be amalgamated by June in a new body, the Défenseur des Droits (Rights Defender).

This will be headed by a figure described as a souped-up version of the Médiateur de la République (to whom you apply if you have a complaint against a public body: details at: www.mediateur-republique.fr).

This “defender” will also absorb the roles of La Halde (ww.halde.fr), discrimination;
the Défenseur des Enfants (www.defenseurdesenfants.fr), children’s rights; and the CNDS (www.cnds.fr), for complaints against the police.

Usually you should have sought a response in writing from the body complained of first, preferably by recorded delivery letter, so you have proof.

Mediation and information services include:

Banking:
http://tinyurl.com/bankmediators or
http://tinyurl.com/infobanque

Insurance (and banking):
www.abe-infoservice.fr or
http://tinyurl.com/ffsamediator

EDF:
http://tinyurl.com/edfmediator

GDF/Suez:
http://tinyurl.com/gdfmediator

Electricity and gas (all firms):
www.energie-info.fr

Education:
http://tinyurl.com/educationmediator

SNCF:
http://tinyurl.com/sncfmediator