Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) - Greek Style
( Κέντρα Εξυπηρέτησης Πολιτών )
Modern Greece uses the Ombudsman concept and local government through the KEP network of offices is a gateway for residents of all nationalities, including the Brits and Irish expats to help cut through official red tape. In fact, come to think of it, "bureaucracy" is a Greek word, and with some 3,000 years of a continuous legal system, and resulting contradicting laws, there are some amazing contradictions in the ways to get things accomplished when dealing with government at al levels. That is where K.E.P. offices and staff come in to their own and are proving to be most useful.
At the grass roots level, K.E.P. is your likely first contact with local government (Municipalities and Prefectures) and the Greek national government departments.
KEP, by the way, is part of The Ministry of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization (MIPAD) - ΥΠΕΣ.
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.
Facilitating Payments Through KEP Citizens Service Centers
As part of the Greek National Policy on converting the workings of the administration into e-government (part of the epactice.eu project), KEP has piloted an electronic payment scheme through their network of branches mnaged by Piraeus Bank. On the island of Crete, Chania Prefecture is one of the 23 KEP centres nationwide with the electronic payment service. MIPAD is rapidly moving to installation of electronic cash payment equipment in the entire KEP network
Payment Services Already Provided For
Payment of DEH - electricity, OTE (telephone) bills
Payment of insurance charges toward IKA and OAEE (TEVE) (social insurance)
Income tax payment
VAT payment
Payment of private telephone charges toward companies of fixed and mobile telephony (Vodafone, Cosmote, Tellas)
Renewal of talk-time on mobile cards (Cosmote, Vodafone, TIM, Q-telecom, Frog and MoMad)
Credit card payments of all Greek Banks
Piraeus Bank loan re-payments
Dial 1564 - KEP National Hotline
The K.E.P. national telephone hotline number (at local call rates) throughout Crete and Greece is 1564. Usually a customer service representative speaks English.
Reminder of the URL of the main K.E.P. website in English (also in French and German, as well).
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 - July 2010
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.
Custom Search on BritsinCrete Websites
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