Subsection 1: Relationship between the payment service provider and the payment service user

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Article L133-15

French Monetary and Financial CodeIn force

Updated 8 Nov 2023

I. - The payment service provider issuing a payment instrument must ensure that personalised security data as defined in Article L. 133-4 is not accessible to persons other than the Payment Service User authorised to use the instrument.

The payment service provider shall refrain from sending any unsolicited payment instrument, except where a payment instrument already given to the payment service user needs to be replaced.

II. - The payment service provider shall put in place, free of charge, the appropriate means enabling the payment service user to obtain the information provided for in article L. 133-17 at any time.

On request, it shall provide users with the means to prove that they have provided the information provided for in article L. 133-17, in accordance with the conditions laid down by decree.

III. - The payment service provider shall prevent any use of the payment instrument after having been informed, in accordance with the provisions of article L. 133-17, of its loss, theft, misappropriation or any unauthorised use of the payment instrument or the data linked to it.

IV. - The payment service provider bears the risk associated with sending the payer a payment instrument or any personalised security data relating thereto.

Mariela Petrova

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Common Questions

Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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