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Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) - Greek Style
"Bureaucracy" is a Greek word, and with some 3,000 years of a continuous legal system, and resulting contradicting laws, modern Greece uses the Ombudsman concept and local government through the K.E.P. network of offices to help cut through official red tape.
At the grass roots level, K.E.P. is your likely first contact with local government and the Greek national government departments.
The main objective of K.E.P. is to simplify the procedures and bureaucracy related to the Greek Government. Staff help with supplying the correct forms for various Ministries and government departments. The list of available license applications, tax forms etc is increasing year by year.
There is a K.E.P. office in most municipalities, usually quite close to the local Town Hall or part of it. K.E.P is Crete /Greece's version of the UK's Citizen's Advice Bureaus.
The K.E.P. national telephone hotline ( at local call rates) throughout Crete and Greece is 1564. Usually a customer service representative speaks English.
Other Useful Reference Pages on Ex Pat Living in Crete:
Schools for Foreign Children
Being part of the EU, Greece through state organisations has sponsored Schools for Foreign Children, including the EU, European School Heraklion. A true experience of bringing the kids over in "Making the Leap with Kids".
Public Utilities
Public Utilities - Electricity and water. Explanation of billing.
Living in Winter is Different
Crete - you know the weather is good that is why you come to Southern Greece but Crete also has a winter climate and its house heating implications.
PTT - Post and Telecoms
Telephone, Internet and Postal Services - what you need to know.
Healthcare and Medical Services
Essential reading, including the private Cretan Medicare Centres.
Cretan Culture
Retaining language and customs yet making foreigners feel inclusive along with choices in local TV Viewing.
Updated Cost of Living Details - February 2008
More important information for calculating the cost of living on fixed income on a monthly basis.
Stores and Supermarkets Grocery Shopping
From small village stores, to large supermarket chains, like Carrefour and Lidl, Crete has it all. A Quick guide to what is available.
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