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Is there an ombudsman for insurance claims in France?
Issues with insurers over claims can take a long time to be settled
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Is it possible to update the address of my second home via La Poste?
Many services need to be informed if you change your address
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Is a partial French pension available for working some years in the country?
Pension amounts depend on criteria including how long you worked in France, and your salary
Is it against the law to hold a tombola at the local fete?
I have been told it might be illegal to sell tombola tickets at our village fete - how could this be? SR
IT MAY well be the case, depending on the exact circumstances. France has strict laws relating to ‘lotos, lotteries and tombolas’. For a start, they can only be run by associations and even then there are rules to be followed.
A “lottery” is defined as an event open to the public, where there is a prize for the winner or winners and they are selected by a method relying mainly on luck. Some payment or purchase is involved to take part.
A “tombola” is the same, apart from the prize cannot be a sum of money.
A loto is a kind of bingo game.
To be legal a lottery or tombola must:
- Be for 'moveable' assets only (ie. not land or houses)
- The association should be involved in good works or encouraging the arts or sport
- Organising expenses should not be more than 15% of the ‘capital’ - this is equivalent to ticket price multiplied by the number of tickets issued. If the capital is more than €7,500 the association has to show evidence that it is run on a sound financial footing and that the money is for a specific purpose.
- You need to obtain authorisation from the mayor on form Cerfa 11823.
Organising an illegal lottery can in theory result in up to three years in prison and a €90,000 fine, and up to seven years and €200,000 if it is done ‘in an organised gang’.