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If you are buying a property in France, whether for a permanent or a holiday home, it is important to open a French bank account. Although it is possible to exist on traveller' s cheques, Eurocheques and credit cards【C1】______by British banks, the【C2】______for these【C3】______can be expensive. The simplest way to pay regular【C4】______, such as electricity, gas or telephone, 【C5】______when you are not in residence, is by direct debit(a sum withdrawn from an account)from your French account. To【C6】______a current account, you will need to【C7】______your passport and birth【C8】______ and to provide your address in the United Kingdom. You will be issued with a cheque book within weeks of opening the account. In France it is illegal to be overdrawn. All accounts must be operated【C9】______credit. However, there are no【C10】______charges. Note that cheques【C11】______ longer to clear in France than in Britain, and can only be stopped【C12】______stolen or lost. The easiest way to【C13】______money from a British bank account to a French【C14】______ is by bank transfer. You simply provide your British bank with the name, address and【C15】______of your French bank account. The procedure takes about a week and【C16】_____ between ￡ 5 and ￡ 40 for each transaction, 【C17】______on your British bank. 【C18】______, you can transfer money【C19】______a French bank in London. You can also send a sterling cheque(allow at least 12 days for the cheque to be cleared), Eurocheques or traveller' s【C20】______. Finally, it is a good idea to make a friend of your French bank manager. His help can prove invaluable.