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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How do you report someone for issuing false 'essential business' forms to fly abroad on holiday?

48 replies

P999 · 14/05/2020 19:56

Just that, really. My ex BIL has been doing this throughout lockdown to allow his friends and family to party at his luxury villa in France. I only just discovered it in time to stop my shit of an ex doing this (thereby fucking me and kids over. He is supposed to be doing joint childcare as i have full time job). Am livid

OP posts:
Humphriescushion · 15/05/2020 06:33

Al tara says you still need the form to get into france and is very restrictive. You also cannot travel more than 100 kms without a form and specific reasons. I would be very angry if this was happening so do report. I am desperate to get my children here but cant!

Humphriescushion · 15/05/2020 06:34

Missed your post booboo but yes exactly.

notimagain · 15/05/2020 07:25

I am also of the view that if the OP wants to resolve this then contacting the local Mairie, perhaps with a view to them contacting the local police/Gendarmes (as appropriate, depends on villa location) might be the way to go. I have heard of police/Gendarmes doing spot checks on holiday homes.

FWIW being a holiday home (i.e. second home owner) is not a reason for entry ATM.

To enter France currently you need to produce a completed " attestation de déplacement international."

It has various tick boxes where you indicate which category you fall in , e.g. French national, Individuals having their primary residence in France...on arrival you can expect Border Police to ask for the form and supporting documentation (e.g. professional ID).

As has been said "Essential business" in itself, on it's own, doesn't qualify though I can see some categories where it might be possible to blag entry if you are carrying a convincing letter:

This will make for a long post, but FWIW here's the full list as it applies to Brits the last time I checked:

" For European Union or assimilated countries nationals:

Individuals having their primary residence in France, accompanied by their spouse and children;
Individuals transiting through France to reach their residence, accompanied by their spouse and children;
Healthcare workers supporting the fight against Covid-19;
Goods carriers, including seamen;
Flight and cargo crews, or travelling as a passenger to their departure base;
Diplomatic mission staff, or international organisations staff working in headquarters or offices located in France,
who are holders of a special residence permit or a type D promae visa;
Cross-border workers at internal land borders.
French nationals, accompanied by their spouse and children"

P999 · 15/05/2020 11:06

corse it's illegal. er, haven't you noticed there's a global pandemic with lockdown in most countries. you aren't allowed to travel to france on holiday and pretend you are there on business. It's called falsifiying papers and it's also called fraud. And, yes, it my business, as it affects my kids. So, I am doing it now.

OP posts:
P999 · 15/05/2020 11:08

notimagain - thanks!

OP posts:
Thisisworsethananticpated · 15/05/2020 11:12

Annoying yes ! But to report ? Nah
I wouldn’t bother

P999 · 15/05/2020 11:15

very useful advice here - and I am going to go via the Marie route. thanks everyone

OP posts:
Chloemol · 15/05/2020 11:46

To all those saying op should mind her own business, I would wonder if you would say the same if your family was affected. Her ex is considering going abroad with unknown people, and then coming back and doing childcare! As are many others be the sound of it, how many would they be passing something onto?

On the one hand people want to be out of lockdown, then say it’s no ones business when something like this happens, which if lots do it, then the virus stays, we stay on lockdown and so on

She’s right to report

mencken · 15/05/2020 12:01

actually, playground types, if the shithead brings coronavirus into the OPs house then it IS her business.

eosmum · 15/05/2020 12:01

I keep reading time and time again on these types of threads to mind your own business. I read very early on in the lock down something like if 90% comply with the rules then we could be out of the crisis in 3 months, if 80% comply it would be 6 months if 70% comply then we won’t be out until there’s a vaccine. So the more people who don’t comply have an impact on everyone, so it is everyone’s business, I can’t see how it’s not.

CoachBombay · 15/05/2020 12:10

Do you rely on the ex for childcare to work? If not, I wouldn't bother, he would just have to enter a 14day quarantine and be symptom free to have the kids back. I think reporting it could lead to serious criminal charges and I don't think I'd like to be involved in the mess of a multinational fraud case.

My viewpoint is probably off as a lone parent who has her kid all the time with no break, so not being able to hand him off for the weekend or whatever wouldn't bother me unless it affected going out to work.

notimagain · 15/05/2020 12:16

If not, I wouldn't bother, he would just have to enter a 14day quarantine

Which 14 day quarantine?

BeetrootRocks · 15/05/2020 12:20

I think you should report him as well that's bang out of order.

MN is interesting. 2 weeks ago people were having a go about people buying choc in weekly shop.

Now it's all, well he's breaking another countries laws, going to fuck up childcare for op, so what, leave him to it.

Coffeecak3 · 15/05/2020 12:54

@CoachBombay as a French resident I find your attitude completely selfish. Why should our really strict lockdown be compromised by uk residents who feel entitled to turn up and potentially infect us all because they fancy a bit of sun and cheap wine.

P999 · 15/05/2020 13:57

I should add that he has an army of staff at his villa. And chauffeurs for whom distancing will be impossible. These staff are presumably not being given much choice here. I called the Mairie and they told me to call the police. The police are only open til midday (except in emergencies, obvs) and I will need to call them on Monday.

OP posts:
CoachBombay · 15/05/2020 15:21

coffeecak then perhaps a French resident who has suddenly become aware of the situation living in France could report it, should they happen to be passed some information privately. I'm sure it would be far faster than international beurocratic tape getting involved, and international crime agencies. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Booboostwo · 15/05/2020 15:27

international crime agencies. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The local mayor is hardly interpol!!!!

CoachBombay · 15/05/2020 15:35

BooBoo true. But it will still need to be investigated, and if this person is as wealthy as they sound. It's probably going to get messy. Can you even be deported from France under free movement, or if you hide there does a international crime warrant for arrest need to be drawn up 🤔 also where is he forging the papers UK soil or French soil or both so UK papers to get in to France and then French papers to travel around France to the villa?

This is why I personally couldn't be bothered, but yes of you have the times and means to do so and don't mind being drawn in to it go for it.

Booboostwo · 15/05/2020 15:43

It's a false declaration made on French soil which itself is reason enough for him deported. As far as I know that is the recent law passed by the French parliament. It's not very complicated. They recently turned back some tourists who tried to come in for a holiday using a private jet and onwards with private helicopters. The aviation companies facilitating the breaking of the lockdown rules were fined.

Devlesko · 15/05/2020 15:53

You don't, ffs mind your own business he's your ex.
Don't send your children to him, if he can't be trusted.

CoachBombay · 15/05/2020 16:06

BooBoo so in this scenario, the travelling parties get fined, the airline that transported them, the forger of papers/villa owner and any associates. What a mess.

Like I said I'd stay clear before I'm interviewed by police/agencies as a worst case scenario. Because this isn't the type you can do "anonymously" with so much collateral damage.

It's not exactly Barry going for his 3rd walk in Wales or operating a food van without social distancing in place. 😳

I mean if OP wants to do it and thinks she can get away with it, not cause a family fall out, possibly loose any support financially/physically from the ex, pushing herself in to hardship then yeah no problem.

I mean I just wouldn't, but I have anxiety and prone to catastrophise 😳

P999 · 15/05/2020 17:01

The thought of him being deported is making my day Grin. Well, i had a long chat with someone at the Mairie so if they are a bit gossipy it might come out without my involvement. Its a posh but small village. Am also going to call local police on Monday. I honestly couldn't care less about the ex in-laws. We're not in contact anyway. When i split from my ex they waded in and got v nasty. So no love lost there. The ex and I have co-parenting relationship. Nothing more, nothing less

OP posts:
CoachBombay · 15/05/2020 17:14

Well, best of luck with it all OP.

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