Paris postal service?

Question

I have been living in Paris (I'm English) for the past month and so far no post has arrived at my apartment, although my family and friends have send me cards / presents. Is there something i need to do in order to receive my post??

Answer 1

According to the Michelin guide "Poste restante mail should be addressed in your name and then as follows

"Poste restante, 52 rue de Louvre, 75100Paris RP Take your passport as identification when collecting your mail."

If you haven't seen it already don't miss the chateau and especially the gardens of Vaux le Vicomte. My favorite place in the world.

http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/accuei...

Answer 2

WELL WHEN I WAS VISITING MY GRANDPARENTS IN PARIS LAST SUMMER, MY MOTHER SENT ME SOME LETTERS FROM CALIFORNIA AND IT TOOK A WEEK TO GET THEM. I STAYED IN A FLAT SO THAT I HAD TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO CHECK IF THE CONCIERGE HAD THE LETTERS. SHE DIDNT RECOGNIZE MY NAME, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FRENCH SO SHE KEPT THEM. I ASKED FOR THEM AND SHE GAVE THEM TO ME. IF I WERE YOU, I'D GO SEE THE CONCEIRGE(IF YA HAVE ONE) AND ASK ABOUT YOUR LETTERS ASAP.

Answer 3

If you have a concierge you need to check she is not holding back mail which I doubt unless she is living in another building and is not aware of you having moved in., if you have a mailbox, is your name clearly indicated on one of them ?, if so you should go to your post office and ask them for help.

If you are subletting maybe indicating c/o after your name with the name of the original tenant could help until you have solved the problem

Based on my experience I received  many parcels sent from all over Europe, the only parcels that never made to me where for various cities in the UK and Belgium, when I investigated it appeared that the UK Post Office was using a private company for the parcel deliveries and obviously there was a problem, the only way to try and trace anything was to have the exact date and tiem and weight etc and for the sender to file a complaint in the UK as the French PO could not do anything.

But mail is sent via the French post office so you should be able to get help.

Answer 4

Maybe you could just check that the address you gave is the right one. Normaly there should not be any problems.

It is true that some letters arrive 10, 20 years or more after being sent but that many time for the same person can't be happening.

And have the presents be send back to the UK or not?

Answer 5

I lived in France for many years and never had a problem getting mail and parcels but I lived in the country and had a great service. I don't know what kind of apartment you have - is there a box downstairs for the facteur (or indeed facteuse!) to put mail in and does it have your name on it. It might be worthwhile leaving a note for the facteur to tell him that you have moved in, or visiting your local post office. If you do, Good Luck! as I always found French post offices to be the most frustrating places in the universe!