Complaint & Appeal: templates and forms
24 forms available to fill out or download.
Formal demand for back pay or unpaid overtime (France)
A letter from an employee in mainland France or an overseas department other than Mayotte to a current or former employer, claiming unpaid wages, bonuses or overtime: it sets out the amounts month by month, refers to the overtime premium (articles L. 3121-28 and L. 3121-36 of the Labour Code) and gives a payment deadline before the employment tribunal (conseil de prud'hommes) is seised. Pay claims become time-barred after three years (article L. 3245-1). Send it by registered post with proof of receipt. In French.
Complaint to or termination with a telecom operator, broadband or mobile (France)
For a broadband, landline or mobile customer in France who wants to complain about a failing service or a bill, or to end the contract. As you choose: a complaint, a termination, which takes effect at the latest ten days after receipt (Article L. 224-39 of the French Consumer Code), or a termination without penalty after a change to the contract, within four months (Article L. 224-33). If you switch operator and keep your number, the new operator ends the old contract for you. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt.
Request for repair or replacement under the legal guarantee of conformity (France)
For a consumer in France whose purchase from a business breaks down or is not as promised within two years of delivery: you ask the seller, not the manufacturer, to repair or replace it free of charge under Articles L. 217-3 and L. 217-8 of the French Consumer Code, within thirty days. The letter cites the 24-month presumption (12 months for second-hand goods) and the six-month extension after a repair. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt, with the proof of purchase.
Complaint to an electricity, gas or water supplier (France)
For a household customer in France disputing a bill, a meter reading or estimate, a cut-off, a price change or a connection with their electricity or gas supplier or water service. The written complaint is the required step before mediation: if there is no solution within two months, you can go free of charge, within a year of the complaint, to the national energy ombudsman (Médiateur national de l'énergie) or the water mediation service (Médiation de l'eau). The letter gives your supply point number (PDL, PCE) or meter. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt or through the customer account.
Disputing a contract made through cold calling (France)
For a consumer in France who was called without having agreed to it and is then, according to the business, bound by an energy, telecom, building-work or subscription contract. Since 11 August 2026, telephone canvassing without prior consent has been banned, and a contract concluded after such a call is void (Article L. 223-1 of the French Consumer Code, rewritten by Law No. 2025-594 of 30 June 2025). The letter relies on this and, as you choose, also states that you signed no confirmation of the offer (Article L. 221-16) or exercises your 14-day right of withdrawal. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt; also report the call on SignalConso.
Complaint after a package holiday (France)
For a traveller whose package holiday (flight and hotel, tour, resort) bought in France did not go as planned: a different hotel, missing services, cancelled transfers. The organiser and the retailer are strictly liable for performance of the package (Article L. 211-16 of the French Tourism Code); you ask for a price reduction for the period of non-conformity and damages (Article L. 211-17). The letter states whether you reported the problems on the spot. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt after your return.
Challenge to the yearly service-charge statement (France)
For a tenant in France who receives a high or poorly explained service-charge balance. The French letter asks to see the supporting documents — invoices, contracts, the apportionment key — which the landlord must keep available for six months (art. 23 of the French law of 6 July 1989), disputes items that are not recoverable charges and, if the statement is late, asks to pay the balance in twelve instalments. By registered letter with proof of receipt.
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.
Complaint to a hospital or clinic (France)
For a patient or relative unhappy with care in a French hospital or clinic: the written complaint to the establishment's legal representative under articles R. 1112-91 ff. of the French Public Health Code. In French, it sets out the facts and the request, and asks for review by the users' committee and a meeting with the mediator, who sees the complainant within eight days of being referred the case. Compensation for a medical accident is claimed free from the CCI on its own form. Sold blank, to complete by hand. Sent by registered post.
Formal notice for a hidden defect (France)
For a buyer in France of a new or second-hand item, from a business or a private seller, who discovers after the sale a serious defect that was not visible: a used car, an appliance, furniture. You rely on the guarantee against hidden defects (Article 1641 onwards of the French Civil Code) and choose between a refund against return of the item and a price reduction. Court action must be brought within two years of discovering the defect. In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt.
Appeal to the amicable appeals committee of the CAF, CPAM or MSA (France)
For a claimant or insured person who disputes a decision of their French family allowance fund (CAF), health insurance fund (CPAM), farmers' fund (MSA) or, overseas, general fund (CGSS) — a refused benefit, an overpayment, an amount — in mainland France or the overseas departments other than Mayotte. This appeal is compulsory before any court: it is made within two months of notification (article R. 142-1-A of the French Social Security Code), and two months' silence is a rejection. In French, the letter identifies the decision, your grounds and your request. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as the decision often concerns health. Sent by registered post.
Complaint to a supplementary health insurer about a reimbursement (France)
For a member of a French mutual, insurer or provident institution who has not received the expected reimbursement from their complémentaire santé. Check your online member area first, often the quickest. In French, the letter identifies the contract, the care and the amount expected, records the steps already taken and names the mediator in the contract, free, to be approached within a year of the written complaint. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data. Sent by registered post to keep proof.
Complaint to the CPAM about a reimbursement of care (France)
For an insured person whose care was not reimbursed, or wrongly, by the French local health insurance fund (CPAM) in mainland France, or by the general social security fund (CGSS) in the overseas departments other than Mayotte. The free route comes first: the messaging service of the ameli account. In French, the letter is for when a posted complaint is better: it identifies the care, the dispute and the request, and names the fund's mediator and then the amicable appeals committee. The social security number is written by hand. Sold blank, as it holds health data.
Complaint about a parcel not delivered or delivered late (France)
For a consumer in France whose order never arrived, arrived late or shows as 'delivered' without being received. The letter goes to the seller, not the carrier: the seller answers for the goods until you receive them. You choose either to give the seller formal notice to deliver within an extra period or, once that period has passed, to notify the end of the contract; the seller must then refund everything paid within 14 days (Articles L. 216-6 and L. 216-7 of the French Consumer Code). In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt.
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.
Request to end the sale or reduce the price for lack of conformity (France)
For a consumer in France whose faulty item was not repaired or replaced: the seller refused, did nothing within thirty days, the defect persists after repair, or it is too serious to wait. You choose between ending the sale, with the price refunded against return of the item, and a price reduction while keeping it (Article L. 217-14 of the French Consumer Code). In French, to send by registered post with proof of receipt, with the proof of purchase and your first request.
Referral to the departmental tax conciliator (France)
For a taxpayer whose complaint, request for remission or request for time to pay was rejected in whole or in part by the tax office, and who asks for a fresh look. The referral is free and can be made by simple e-mail; the conciliator's contact details are usually given on the refusal and on impots.gouv.fr. This French letter recalls the request, the decision disputed and your reasons. The referral stops neither payment nor the deadlines for going to court.
Complaint to the departmental council of the French medical association (France)
For a patient or anyone who blames a doctor for a breach of professional ethics: the written complaint to the departmental council of the ordre des médecins where the doctor is registered. In French, it identifies the doctor, sets out the facts, accepts the conciliation meeting held within a month of the complaint's registration, and asks for it to go to the disciplinary chamber within three months if conciliation fails (article L. 4123-2 of the French Public Health Code). Sold blank, to complete by hand. Sent by registered post.
Formal demand for repairs to a rented home (France)
For a tenant in France whose home has defects the landlord does not repair: damp, broken heating, dangerous wiring, leaks. The French letter describes the defects and when they began, recalls the duty to provide a decent home and keep it in repair (art. 6 of the French law of 6 July 1989, décret n° 2002-120), sets a deadline for the work and names the remedies, while confirming the rent is still being paid. By registered letter with proof of receipt.
Mandatory prior appeal (RAPO) against a post-parking charge (France)
For challenging a post-parking charge (forfait post-stationnement, FPS) in France, the appeal required before the parking court. It goes to the body named on the payment notice, within a month of its notification; many offer a free form, online or to print, that you can use instead of this letter. The letter, sent by the registered keeper, gives the notice, the chosen ground (parking paid, vehicle sold, plates stolen, special rate, mistake), the explanation and the enclosures. Sent by registered post with proof of receipt. In French.
Formal complaint against income tax, property tax or second-home tax (France)
For disputing an income tax, property tax (taxe foncière) or second-home council tax notice you consider wrong. The complaint can be made free through the secure messaging of your personal space on impots.gouv.fr. This French letter to the office named on the notice is for sending it by registered post: the tax disputed, the reduction sought, your grounds and documents (article R. 197-3 of the French Tax Procedures Book), and a stay of payment if you ask for one.
Compensation claim for a delayed or cancelled flight or denied boarding (France)
For a passenger whose flight departing from the EU, or arriving in the EU on an EU airline, arrived three hours or more late, was cancelled less than fourteen days before departure, or who was denied boarding. You ask the airline for the flat-rate compensation of €250, €400 or €600 per passenger under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, and for your expenses. Without a satisfactory answer, mediation has been compulsory before going to a French court since 7 February 2026. The airline's online form works too. In French.
Formal demand for the return of a rent deposit (France)
For a former tenant whose landlord in France has not returned the deposit in time: one month after the keys are handed back if the check-out inspection matches the check-in, two months otherwise. The French letter sets out the dates, claims the balance and the 10 % of the monthly rent per month of delay begun (art. 22 of the French law of 6 July 1989), disputes unjustified deductions and announces the conciliation commission, then the court. By registered letter with proof of receipt.
Administrative appeal against a decision — recours gracieux or hiérarchique (France)
For challenging a decision of a French administration — a refused application, a penalty, a decision of a town hall or préfecture — by asking its author (recours gracieux) or the author's superior (recours hiérarchique) to withdraw or change it. Lodged within two months, the appeal interrupts the deadline for the administrative court (article L. 411-2 of the French Code of Relations between the Public and the Administration), except in planning matters; two months' silence counts as rejection. The letter, in French, sets out the decision, your grounds and your request. Send it by registered post.
Can't find the document you need? Ask for it, free of charge — we write the forms and letters people ask for. Request a document