€36 French bank fees for UK pension transfers causes confusion

A couple in the Lot report that their branch of Crédit Agricole has been charging €18 each time it receives UK private pension money into their account since January.

The bank, Crédit Agricole Nord Midi-Pyrénées, told them it is due to Brexit and to cover a new charge that it faces to receive the money.

Susan Burch, 64, who is retired from doing accounts for her husband’s self-employed trade, said the fee was levied each time on two amounts sent in January to their joint account from Canada Life in the UK. On the statement, each was listed as virement reçu du Royaume-Uni – €18.

Nothing has changed says pension provider

Canada Life told The Connexion nothing has changed: it levies no new fees for sending pension money and payments are made via an EU Sepa.

UK state pensions were not affected but, since Brexit, payments to UK pensioners are made via Citibank, from its Dublin office (in the EU). A DWP spokesman said that even though the UK remains in the EU’s Sepa payments area post-Brexit, there is always a possibility of some EU banks deciding to charge for receiving money from UK sources from 2021.

Mrs Burch said: “Thirty-six euros is a lot of money if it’s coming out each month. It will make a big difference to us.”

We have asked Crédit Agricole about the charge, and if it is being applied in any other regions of France.

Other readers have also reported new fees, although others say there are none.

Have you seen any unusual charges on your French bank statements? Let us know at news@connexionfrance.com

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