Our solutions for businesses facing financial difficulties

Credit mediation is a public initiative created in 2008 to support businesses facing financing difficulties with a financial partner. The credit mediation system is fully operational across all regions covered by IEOM, following the same structure and procedures as in mainland France.

Why use credit mediation ?

Credit mediation aims to help businesses resolve issues related to bank financing or credit insurance by facilitating dialogue with their financial partners. This local service is free, confidential, and provided in the Pacific territories by the regional offices of the Institut d’Émission d’Outre-Mer (IEOM).

Who can access credit mediation?

Credit mediation is available to all companies, regardless of their size, sector, age, or legal status. It is also open to social and solidarity economy enterprises, provided there is an employment-related issue at stake.

When to request credit mediation ?

Companies can turn to credit mediation when they face various types of financial difficulties, including :

• Cancellation of overdrafts or other essential credit lines for day-to-day operations ;
• Refusal to reschedule debts or difficulty obtaining credit needed for cash flow, equipment, or leasing ;
• Refusal by financial institutions to provide a guarantee or surety ;
• Reduction of guarantees provided by a credit insurer.

What are the benefits of credit mediation ?

Credit mediation fosters close dialogue with a company’s financial partners . The goal is to find pragmatic solutions such as payment moratoriums, loan restructuring, or the renewal of credit lines. Throughout the mediation process, existing banking facilities are maintained to allow the business to continue its operations. Each case is reviewed individually to ensure a tailored and effective approach.

Steps in the credit mediation process

1Online submision
Companies must submit their mediation request via the dedicated platform : Médiateur du crédit.

2Case review
A response regarding the eligibility of the request is provided within 48 hours.

3Reassessment by financial institutions
Lenders have 5 days to reassess their initial position in light of the mediation request.

4Mediator’s intervention
If difficulties remain after reassessment, the mediator steps in to bring the parties together and help resolve the conflict.

5Agreement proposal
The mediator formulates a proposed agreement aimed at resolving the financial difficulties in a sustainable way and stabilizing the company’s situation.

It is mandatory for any business in France to open a professional bank account. It is also a legal right guaranteed by French law, which IEDOM implements through the ‘right to a bank account’ procedure.

If your business does not have a deposit account and a bank refuses to open one, you may exercise your right to a bank account through your local IEOM office. IEOM will designate a banking institution responsible for opening an account under the conditions set out by the legal framework.

Who is eligible for the right to a professional account ?

This right is available to any individuals or legal entities (such as companies, associations, etc.) residing in the Pacific overseas territories.

To exercise this right, two additional conditions must be met :

• You must not have a deposit account in France, also known as a current account or cheque account.
• You must provide proof of the bank’s refusal to open an account.

How to exercise your right to a professional bank account ?

1A bank refuses to open a business account for you

You must have submitted your request to open an account by registered mail or in person at a bank branch against a signed receipt. The bank will either send you a letter refusing to open an account or not respond. If you don’t receive a response from the bank within 15 days, its silence will be considered a refusal.

2Prepare your application

To submit your request, you must provide :

• A completed and signed application form for exercising the right to an account (available below or from your local IEOM office ;
• A certificate of refusal to open an account is issued by a bank in the name of the legal entity. If you have not received this certificate, you must provide a copy of the acknowledgement of receipt of a registered letter requesting the opening of an account. If you fail to do so, you must provide proof that you have submitted this request in person, dated more than 15 days ago ;
• A copy of a valid identity document ;
• A K-bis extract (less than 3 months old). If you are not listed as the legal representative on the K-bis extract, you must include a document proving your authority to represent the legal entity in dealings with third parties.

You may also indicate in your application the bank where you would like your account to be domiciled. However, please note that this bank will not necessarily be designated.

3Submit your request to IEOM

Once your application is complete, you can submit it :

• By mail to the address indicated on the right to an account form;
• At the counter of an IEOM agency.

IEDOM will review your request and, if your file is complete, will designate a bank to open your account within 24 hours.

4Account opening

Once designated, the bank must send you, within three days, the list of the documents required to open the account, along with the name and contact details of the relevant branch. You will then need to contact this bank to proceed with opening the account. If you provide all the required documents, the bank must open an account for you within three days of receiving them.

The FCC (Fichier Central des Chèques) records cheque-related payment incidents. If your company is subject to a banking ban, it is essential to understand your status in this register in order to regularise your situation.

Why might a company be listed in the FCC ?

Individuals and legal entities can be listed in the FCC (Central Cheque Register) for various reasons, resulting in a ban on issuing cheques :

• Unsettled bounced cheque : If a cheque issued by your business cannot be cleared and is not regularised ;
• Bank card incident : Issues related to the use of the company’s bank card ;
• Court decision : If a court ruling prohibits you from issuing cheques.

What are the consequences of being registered with the FCC ?

Registration in the FCC has significant consequences :

• General banking ban : Your business will no longer be allowed to issue cheques from any of its accounts, including those held at other banks. You will be notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt from your bank ;
• Return of cheque books : You must return all cheque books in your possession ;
• Duration of the ban : The ban remains in effect until the issue is resolved and can last for up to five years.

How to access your information in payment incident files ?

You have the right to access information concerning you in the payment incident files. These files are managed at IEOM’s headquarters in Paris. Due to the time difference, responses are not immediate, but will be provided as quickly as possible.

To exercise this right of access, you may contact IEOM in several ways :

• By mail : Send a written request to your local IEOM office.. You must complete the appropriate forme and include a copy of both sides of a valid photo ID.
• By appointment IEOM. at an IEOM office counter.

Once your request has been processed, you will receive a detailed list of the incidents recorded under your company’s name, along with the names of the financial institutions involved.