Help and information for English-speaking people living in France
Face-to-face meetings with French Wordsmith
This fixed-cost service allows you to book a remote or office meeting and get answers to your questions, without needing to become a client.
A good way to get a steer in the early days, stay in complete control of your budget, then either take the work forward yourself or become a client.
client review
“The service Jenny offers is invaluable. She is professional, efficient, approachable and sympathetic.
Everyone needs a Jenny sometimes and to potentially have one at your fingertips with such knowledge, experience and understanding is a precious thing.”
J BARTHOLOMEW-OATES, Charente (DepaRtment 16)
How can a face-to-face meeting help me?
An hour meeting with French Wordsmith is a great way to get answers and information on a few questions, or talk about what you - or I - can do to achieve your goals.
A longer session gives you more time to explore several topics or problems in more depth, or plan a way forward on a more complex issue such as residency, visas and taxation.
Please note, these meetings are for those who are not yet clients. Existing clients please refer to the meeting booking link provided by French Wordsmith.
Meet with French Wordsmith
-
Book a Power-hour
Great for those in the early planning stage of moving to France, or, for those already settled, looking for clear direction on next steps.
-
Book a Two-hour Info-review
Perfect for creating a check-list of priorities for a move to France, for new arrivals or for long-term residents facing one of life’s curve balls in the form of an unexpected challenge.
How it works
Read the terms and conditions first. If you’re happy with them, click your choice of meeting below. You’ll then be guided to choose a time using my online booking platform, and whether you’d like to meet remotely (on Zoom) or in person at the French Wordsmith office.
You’ll be prompted to share your details and pay for your meeting. All of the details will then be sent to your email.
Voila! As easy as that!
client review
“I was introduced to Jenny Smith by my nurse who was treating me due to complex surgeries and a Staphylococcus infection (MRSA) contracted from the hospital. My initial intention was just regarding income tax returns. Since then, Jenny has become, via her intensive and exhaustive research, and, working alongside my solicitor, a bit of a legal investigating detective. She is also the same with all other areas of the French social system.
Every single time I have contacted Jenny about a problem I faced, she makes the seemingly impossible task come to fruition.
She has been literally worth her weight in gold!!!”
M Bennigsen, vienne (Department 86)
Frequently Asked Questions
-
An hour goes by quite quickly but is usually enough time to get an overview of one topic or ask two to three questions; more than that and we may need longer. If you already have a good understanding of your subject area, then an hour is definitely enough for a steer. I can also look up – and send you – relevant online information or forms during on the call for example. Bear in mind, you will need a Two-hour Info-Review for more in-depth planning or for exploring issues related to the ‘big three’ of residency, health and taxation. In all case, you can always decide to become a client later for me take your work forward.
-
You have several options: you can see if there are any DIY Resources or Blog articles; you can book another meeting for me to check something with you on a call (make sure you know how to screen-share on Zoom or email the documents in advance – nice and legible please), or you can become a client for me sort things out for you.
-
Once booked you are welcome to change the time and day up to 24 hours in advance. The calendar shows availability for a rolling 45 days – giving you plenty of time ahead. Refunds are not available, but you are welcome to pass the purchased meeting on to someone else (just let me know their details by email jenny@frenchwordsmith.fr). Please read the Online User Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) for full details.
-
Over my 21 years living in France, starting my business in 2007, and working for over six years for French social services, I have amassed a wealth of information on the bureaucracy, rules and regulations of many topic areas. However, there is no way I can know everything (but I have not yet failed to find someone who does), so I can seek clarification or advice on your behalf as a client if necessary; or signpost you to a specialist advisor
When purchasing a meeting, do put your key questions or topic/s in the form as requested – this could alert me to do some checking prior to the meeting. And do bear in mind, that in complex areas, even the French civil servants working in one specific area often need to check the ‘rule book’!
-
All the instructions are shared at the time of booking. It is quite simple, but just check that you have an in-built micro-phone and camera in your PC, tablet or mobile phone before booking. No need to download any programmes or apps for PCs or Macs, but you do need the Zoom app for smart-phones. Just get it from google play or the apple app store.