Addresses

The prefecture (Préfecture de Montpellier)
For   residence permits driving licences, and a 'carte grise' (vehicle document)  when you buy a vehicle.
Préfecture de Montpellier
Place des Martyrs
F-34062 Montpellier Cedex 2
Tel. : +33 (0)4 67 61 61 61
Fax.: +33 (0)4 67 02 25 79
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 4.30
communication34@herault.pref.gouv.fr
Préfecture de Montpellier: http://www.herault.pref.gouv.fr (in French)

The town hall (Mairie de Montpellier)
For justification of residence, registration of births, etc.
Hôtel de Ville
1, place Francis Ponge
F-34000 Montpellier
Tel. : +33 (0)4 67 34 70 70
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 to 5 p.m..
Mairie de Montpellier: http://www.ville-montpellier.fr (click on 'Mairie en Ligne') (in French)

The town hall also has annexes in 8 places in Montpellier.

Fixed and mobile phones

Information on subscriptions, reduced rate periods, useful numbers, etc.
Fondation nationale Alfred Kaslter : http://www.cnrs.fr/fnak/eletelea.html

Subscription for a fixed line:
It is necessary to go to a France Telecom agency with proof of identity (passport or identity card for EU nationals). The standing charge is €12.55 per month including VAT, invoiced every two months (the cost of connection varies: €46.12 inc. VAT for a new line and €30.75 for a new connection within a 6-month period). You can choose between several operators for calls.s de 6 mois).
France Telecom
Tel. : 0800 101 434
France Telecom agencies: http://www.francetelecom.fr/34/ (in French)

 Information about gas and electricity services for the home:
Fondation nationale Alfred Kaslter : http://www.cnrs.fr/fnak/eenergif.html (in French)

Subscription:
Contact the EDF (Electricité de France) agency in Montpellier. The rate includes the standing charge (variable according to the amperage desired) and the cost of consumption (variable according to the contract chosen: basic type, off-peak, etc.).
Tel.  : 0810 00 34 34
EDF: http://www.edf.fr/htm/en

Caution. The French network supplies current at 220 V, 50 Hz.

 

How to send mail:
Postage stamps are sold at the post office and tobacconists. A €0.50 stamp is required on letters weighing up to 20 g for France and the other European Union countries.

The post office
To send and receive ordinary and registered mail or a parcel (and also money), and to find postcodes:
Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler: http://www.cnrs.fr/fnak/elaposta.html
La Poste: http://www.laposte.fr (in French)
Montpellier post offices: http://www.laposte.fr/produits/courrier (in French)

Bank accounts

Information about banks, opening an account, means of payment, etc.
Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler : http://www.cnrs.fr/fnak/etypaiea.html

Help with opening a bank account
The Kastler Foundation can help you to open an account in branches of a partner bank in Montpellier: for the list of these branches, consult the Agropolis Guest Scientists Office or the Kastler Foundation:
Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler : http://www.cnrs.fr/fnak/dbanca.html

The euro :
The euro has been the official currency of the 12 EU countries since 1 January 2002.
. The 8 coins are of different colour and size, with a face common to all the countries and a national face
. The 7 notes are each a different colour and are identical on both sides in all 12 EU countries.
. Official conversion rate: €1 = FrF6.55957
. Examples: FrF100 = €15.24; 50 € centimes = FrF3.28

Ministry of Finance:  http://www.euro.gouv.fr (in French)

Information about taxes

Income tax, rates, TV licence, etc.
France Pratique : http://www.pratique.fr/argent/impot/ (in French)
Services du Ministère des Finances en Languedoc-Roussillon http://www.finances.gouv.fr/languedoc (in French)

The CAF (Caisse d'allocations familiales) can a provide financial aid called accommodation benefit that pays part of the rent. The amount depends on the family income and the number of persons : conditions and forms online.

ADDRESS :
CAF - Caisse d'allocations familiales de Montpellier
139, avenue de Lodève
34943 Montpellier cedex 9

Opening hours for public : Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To get in touch with an officer on the phone Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m : dial 0820 25 34 20

CAF de Montpellier : http://www.montpellier.caf.fr (in French)

CAF de Montpellier : http://www.montpellier.caf.fr

The documents involved in the purchase of a car:
. new cars: the sales contract
. second-hand cars: a certificate of sale (certificat de cession) and a certificate of ownership (certificat de non-gage) if the vehicle is registered in a different department, an inspection certificate (attestation de contrôle technique) if the vehicle is four years old or more
. in all cases: the registration document (carte grise) issued by the prefecture.
France Pratique : http://www.pratique.fr/vieprat/trans/ (in French)

By train, by bus, by air…

Travelling by train
To check out timetables and reserve seats:
SNCF: http://www.sncf.com/indexe.htm
Montpellier station: http://www.ter-sncf.com/UK/languedoc

Agence de Montpellier - 8 rue de Verdun - 34000 Montpellier
Tel : +33 (0)4 67 58 57 59 Fax : +33 (0)4 67 58 86 33
Horaires : Monday to Saturday 9h to 12 and 2 to 7 p.

Agence de Perpignan - 10, avenue du Général de Gaulle - 66000 Perpignan
Tel : +33 (0)4 68 34 11 46 - Fax : +33 (0)4 68 34 60 70
Opening hours : Monday to Saturday 9h to 12 and 2 to 6 p. m (Saturday 5 p.m)

Accommodation:
Check the following with the landlord or the agent: notice procedures (3 months), charges to be settled (water, tax, maintenance of shared areas), refunding of the deposit, date set for the final inspection.

Subscriptions:
Terminate the subscriptions at the address concerned: gas, electricity, telephone, water, pay-TV and your car and house insurance policies.

Change of address:
Register your change of address: post office (to have your mail forwarded for a year), the social security authorities and mutual insurance company, the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales, your insurance company, bank and your friends.

 
(see accommodation : http://www.agropolis.fr/english/guide/settling.html#top)