Five things they don't tell you about…
guichets in France
Exploring the unique blend of courtesy and obstinacy behind French counters
Upset the person behind that window at your peril
Tyler Olson/Shutterstock
Les guichetiers et
guichetières
It is well known that any French person finding themselves sitting
behind a small window, whether it be selling cinema tickets, collecting taxes,
or giving out tourist information, will instantly morph from affable Frenchie
into a condescending, toffee-nosed menace. Their only aim is to thwart your
every wish. Attention!
La politesse
It is acceptable to be as uncooperative as they can, if it is done with
impeccable manners. This is why disobliging behaviour is always preceded by the
word 'désolé/désolée' - or in extremis the phrase 'je suis
navré/navrée, along with a tight smile. Argue back at your peril. D'accord!
Read more: Five things they don’t tell you about entertaining in France
La pause
Naturally lunchtime is sacred, meaning staff are less likely to enter into
protracted arguments just before they knock off for the morning and head for
the canteen. Getting dodgy paperwork stamped is very often easier at 11.55 than
at 9.00 because a sharpened appetite tends to expedite matters. Bon appétit!
La dispute
If you are determined to get a result, be prepared to argue. Sometimes
rephrasing a request can yield results; if reduced tickets are not available
for children, are they available for under-12s? Or students? Or families? Or
residents of the commune? What about if you pay in cash? Ca chauffe!
Le charme
You can try charm and it might work as long as there is no hint of
desperation or weakness behind the smile. Try for the kind of ruthless,
ultra-courteous, smiling manners of a hungry cobra, or Marlon Brando as the
Godfather, or Macron explaining tax rises on diesel. Je
ne lâche rien!
