Francine Chaffard, an 82-year-old retired from Cagnes-sur-Mer in the Var, won a showdown with the state, which refused to reimburse her for Treasury Bonds subscribed in 1996.
It is an investment that belongs to the past. Since 2013, Agence France Trsor no longer issues Treasury bills with fixed rates and annual interest (BTAN). Previously, however, these French government debt securities were available for purchase by individuals. They even had certain advantages: in particular, that of being guaranteed by the State.
This certainty is what convinced Francine Chaffard. In 1996, this Varoise transformed the savings of a life into 72 Treasury Bonds, reports The Parisian. At the time, these titles a lifespan of 30 years. The saver therefore has in mind the deadline of 2026 to recover her bet. Alas: in September 2017, the Toulon Treasury refused him a withdrawal. And for good reason: in June 2008, a law reduced to 5 years the period of validity of Treasury Bonds. The last BTAN arrived lucky on July 25, 2017, specifies the site service-public.fr.
It’s obviously a disaster for Francine Chaffard: she still had almost 90,000 euros withdraw. However, no time at retirement was informed of this change in regulations. Between 2008 and 2017, she made three withdrawals, three occasions, therefore, for the administration to warn her of the new chance. Nothing.
The decisive intervention of the Defender of Rights
Supported by her daughter Christine, Francine Chaffard tries to defend her case. But the administration remains inflexible: any withdrawal is impossible. The two women then decide to contact the Defender of Rightsan independent administrative authority responsible in particular for ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights.
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The institution, chaired by Claire Hdon, came up against the same intransigence and then decided to make the case of Francine Chaffard public, thanks to a publication at Official newspaper. In the crowd, the case is publicizedby The Parisian but also by LCI. In November 2021, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, was questioned on the subject by the news channel. Faced with the TV cameras, he agrees that if she has not been informed (of the change in law), the subject must indeed be re-examined.
He keeps his word: in a new article published Wednesday, June 1, The Parisian announces that the octogenarian will be able to access his 90,000 euros, after 5 years of proceedings. A decision, however, which will not set a precedent: This solution does not bind the administration for other cases, even apparently identical, explains the president of the Defender of Rights, Claire Hdon.