Private loans, debts and banking in France
In France a loan between private persons is valid without writing, but above €1,500 it is proved in writing (article 1359 of the Civil Code), and a promise to pay a sum is proof only if the debtor writes the amount in words and figures by hand (article 1376). The private loan agreement and the acknowledgement of debt therefore leave that space blank for the debtor's own hand. A loan of more than €5,000 is declared to the tax office on form 2062. To settle a dispute without going to court, the settlement agreement records each party's reciprocal concessions (article 2044).
An unpaid sum is first claimed with a formal demand for payment sent by registered post, which starts interest at the legal rate. Up to €5,000, an attempt at conciliation, free with a conciliateur de justice, must come before the court (article 750-1 of the Code of Civil Procedure). A debtor in difficulty can propose a payment plan with a request for time to pay, and a judge can grant up to two years. Faced with an old bill claimed by a business, disputing a time-barred debt pleads the two-year limitation period (article L. 218-2 of the Consumer Code).
Closing a deposit account is free, and a new bank can do it for you through its free account-switching service. Otherwise, the letter closing a bank account is enough. To stop a creditor's direct debits, the revocation of the SEPA mandate goes to the creditor and the opposition to the bank. A complaint to the bank must be answered within two months, or fifteen working days for a payment service, after which the bank mediator can be approached free within a year. The documents are written in French, are up to date on 13 October 2026, and are not official forms.
The documents
11 forms available to fill out or download.
Acknowledgement of debt — reconnaissance de dette (France)
For someone in France who owes money to a private person or a business and wants to acknowledge it in writing: a loan received, an advance, an unpaid invoice. The document, in French under French law, states where the debt comes from and how it will be repaid, and leaves a space where the debtor writes the sum in words and figures by hand, as article 1376 of the French Civil Code requires. The debtor alone signs it and hands it to the creditor, who keeps the original.
Disputing a payment: card, transfer or direct debit (France)
For a bank customer in France who finds on a statement a card payment, transfer or direct debit they did not authorise or that was carried out wrongly, or an authorised direct debit they want refunded. The letter goes to your own bank, not the merchant: an unauthorised payment is refunded at once (Article L. 133-18 of the French Monetary and Financial Code), within 13 months of the debit; eight weeks for an authorised direct debit. In French, to send without delay, after blocking the card where needed, by registered post with proof of receipt or the bank's secure messaging.
Revoking a SEPA direct-debit mandate and blocking debits (France)
For stopping a creditor's direct debits from your account in France: a subscription, a supplier, a lender. The document, in French under French law, holds two letters to send the same day: the revocation of the SEPA mandate, to the creditor, and the opposition, to your bank, which then refuses every debit from that creditor (article L. 133-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code). A debit presented afterwards is no longer authorised and is refunded. Revoking the mandate does not end the contract.
Disputing a time-barred consumer debt (France)
For a consumer in France from whom a business or a collection agency claims an old bill: energy, a subscription, building work, a purchase. A business's claim against a consumer is time-barred after two years (article L. 218-2 of the French Consumer Code). The letter, in French under French law, pleads the limitation period, states that it does not acknowledge the debt and asks for collection to stop and the file to be closed. Pay nothing before sending it. Send it by registered letter with proof of receipt.
Settlement agreement between private parties (France)
For two private persons, or a private person and a business, who want to end a dispute in France without going to court: damage, poor work, a disputed sum, a quarrel between neighbours. The agreement, in French under French law, describes the dispute, each party's reciprocal concessions and the waiver of any action on the same matter (articles 2044 and 2052 of the French Civil Code). A standard form: it does not suit a dispute between employer and employee, or a divorce. Two originals, signed by both parties.
Written complaint to your bank (France)
For a customer of a French bank who disputes charges, a transaction, a refusal or a service: the letter to the complaints department, in French under French law, describes the problem, says what you ask for and recalls the response times — acknowledgement within ten working days and an answer within two months, or fifteen working days for a payment service (article L. 133-45 of the French Monetary and Financial Code). It is the step required before the free bank mediator. Send it by registered post or through the bank's messaging.
Formal demand for payment before court action (France)
For a private person in France who is owed money — an unrepaid loan, an unpaid invoice or rent, a promised sum — before going to court. The letter, in French under French law, states where the debt comes from and how much it is, sets a payment deadline, starts interest at the legal rate (article 1344-1 of the French Civil Code) and proposes an amicable solution or a free conciliateur de justice, a step required before suing for claims up to €5,000. Send it by registered letter with proof of receipt.
Request to a creditor for time to pay (France)
For someone in France who cannot pay a debt in one go — an invoice, a credit, rent, a sum claimed by a collection agency — and proposes a payment plan to the creditor. The letter, in French under French law, recalls the sum and where it comes from, explains the difficulty, proposes a number of monthly instalments and their amount, asks for collection to be suspended during the plan and recalls that a judge can grant up to two years (article 1343-5 of the French Civil Code). Send it by registered letter with proof of receipt.
Letter closing a bank account (France)
For closing a current account or a savings account at a French bank. If you are moving to another bank, its free account-switching service (aide à la mobilité bancaire) can do it for you. Otherwise this letter, in French under French law, asks for the account to be closed and the card, chequebook and overdraft ended, the balance transferred to the account you choose and a closing statement sent. Closing is free (article L. 312-1-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code). Send it by registered post or hand it in at the branch.
Private loan agreement between individuals (France)
For lending money to a relative or friend in France and keeping solid proof of it. The agreement, in French under French law, sets the amount, payment by bank transfer, a written interest rate or an interest-free loan, repayment in one sum or by monthly instalments, early repayment and what follows a late payment. It leaves the space where the borrower writes the sum in words and figures by hand (article 1376 of the French Civil Code) and recalls the tax declaration on form 2062 above €5,000. Print two copies, both signed by both parties.
Referral to the bank mediator (France)
For a customer of a French bank whose written complaint was rejected, or went unanswered for two months. The mediator the bank has appointed is free to use, often through an online form on its website. This letter, in French under French law, refers the matter by post: it recalls your complaint, the dispute and what you ask for, and shows the referral is admissible — a prior written complaint, referral within a year, no other mediator or court involved (article L. 612-2 of the French Consumer Code).
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