Q. Is it traditional to tip and if so how much is an acceptable tip?

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Q. Is it allowed to go into Greek Churches wearing shorts?

A. No, some respect should be shown! Many churches will have signs outside, but its best to dress appropriately in all churches. In some churches on the island clothing is available should you not be wearing suitable attire. Also it is frowned upon to be seen walking through the main town half-naked (which happens), as it is disrespectful to the older generation and the local people.

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Q. Can I use my credit card everywhere?

A. The Greek way is still to pay cash, so do not expect to be able to pay with credit cards everywhere.  A lot more shops and restaurants are now accepting payment by cards but to be on the safe side ask before you decide to purchase or dine!

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Q. What is the VAT rate in Greece?

A.The standard rate of VAT - Value Added Tax on goods in Greece is 18% but there are also reducted rates of 8% on food, water, services, transportaion, medicines and 4% for books, theatre tickets etc.

VAT is known as FPA (Fee-Pee-Ah) in Greek!

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Q. How do I phone home from Greece?

A. Dial 00 followed by your country code, then your area code, then your number.

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Q. Is there a foreign consulate on the Island?

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A. Yes there is a British Consulate in Zakynthos town, Tel. No. 26950-22906

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Q.Are there ATM cash points in all resorts in Zante?

A.  So far in the following locations.

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Q. What are the bank opening times?

A. You will find branches of all the above banks (except for the Citibank) in the main town of Zakynthos and they are open from 08.00 – 14.00 Monday to Friday

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Q. Toilet Habits?

A.Yes, the rumour is true! The plumbing system in Greece can’t cope with any paper etc being flushed down the toilet - you must use the bins provided for all paper waste..
Don’t worry it will become second nature and you’ll be looking for the bin once back in the UK for a couple of days!!!!

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Q. Will my electric appliances work in Greece?

A.The plugs in Greece are two pin and the electricity level is 220-240 volts which means European appliances will work but you will need an adapter which can be bought quite cheaply in Greece.

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Q. Can I drink the tap water?

A. Although the locals often do drink the tap water, the standard of the source and the water tank varies and sometimes it isn’t so safe especially if you are not used to it.
The best thing to do is to drink and make tea/coffee with bottled water, which is very cheap in Greece. It is usually safe to clean yourteeth with tap water but to be doubly safe you could again use bottled water.

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Q.When is the siesta time?

A.During the summer months, the Greeks traditionally take a nap during the day from around 2pm until 5.30pm. Out of courtesy you should try to keep quite in built up areas during this time, as there will be people trying to sleep. Everything comes to life again after around 6pm when it starts getting a bit cooler. Get used to the siesta time being referred to as midday and 6pm onwards being referred to as the afternoon.

This is confusing sometimes and can lead to misunderstandings over when someone actually means you to come to see them!

Q. What are the shop opening times?

A.The shops in the main town of Zakynthos are open every morning from 08.30 – 14.00 except for Sundays and on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday afternoons from 17.00 -20.30 / 21.00. The shops in resorts tend to stay open all day until late at night.

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Q. Are there lifeguards on the beaches?

A.There are no lifeguards on duty at the beaches of Zakynthos, as the bays are not considered to be dangerous. However you should be cautious at all times. Even the strongest swimmer can be caught unawares and of course children should be watched AT ALL TIMES!

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Q. How will I find a doctor’s surgery if I need to?

A. Most of the resorts have a doctor’s surgery in resort which will be usually in quite a prominent position for you to find it – otherwise ask the local shop owners for directions.. Sometimes, however, they may charge more than the fee in the main town (because of the convenience of having a doctor on your doorstep) Don’t forget you may also visit a doctor in the hospital, which is in the main town Zakynthos. This will cost next to nothing as long as you have an E111 form but you may find yourself waiting for quite a while to be seen and you need to check the days and hours of surgery before you go. There is of course an emergency room, which is manned 24 hours.

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Q.What is an E111 Form and where can I get one?

A.An E111 form is a document of proof entitling you to free or reduced emergency medical treatment with the European Economic Area.
E111 forms can be collected from your local Post Office Branch in your home country for free. The completed form must signed and stamped in order to be valid.

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Q. Why do many houses have iron rods sticking out the top?

A.The iron rods are used as extra reinforcement to the cement columns in compliance with the strict anti-seismic regulations which have to be adhered to when building in Zakynthos.
The Greeks tend to build their own home as and when they have the money to do so, and will often complete the first floor and then leave the rods sticking out so that the second floor can be continued when they have the financial means to do. Incidentally 80% of Greeks own their home outright, Greece does not tend to have the same mortgage system as exists in the UK.

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Q. Is a foreign driving licence valid for driving in Greece?

A.Driving licences issued by European Union member states are mutually recognised in Greece but if you intend to live here permanently i.e. over six months then officially you should exchange the licence for a Greek one by making an application at the Department of Transport but Europe's transport ministers agreed in October 2004 to phase in new credit card-size licences.  The plan is to gradually replace over 110 different styles of driving certificates currently used in the 25 EU member states.

The new driving licences might be ready as early as February 2005.  The aim is to combine greater freedom of movement, stricter anti-fraud measures and increased road safety.

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Q. Can I open a bank account while living in Greece ?

A.In order to open a bank account, you need to produce your passport and give an address (the temporary one where you are staying is acceptable) to the bank of your choice. You will be asked to deposit a sum of money in order to open the account (this amount varies among banks.) This of course can be withdrawn again at a later stage, but bear in mind that most banks charge for accounts with a balance less than a certain amount or if the account isn't used within a certain period of time (this again can vary from bank to bank.)

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Q. Can I send money back home through the bank?

A.You can only send money through the bank (from Greece to UK ) if you have a bank account. As you can see from above this is very easy to do. Bank charges for this service vary depending on which bank you use.

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Q. Are there any other churches other than the Greek Orthodox on the island ?

A.There is a Catholic Church in St Mark's Square in the main town of Zakynthos . During the summer months from about the first week in June onwards, there is a bilingual service every Sunday at 7pm . For more details you can contact Mercy on 26950 45141.

There is also a Bible Baptist Church in the main town of Zakynthos which holds a weekly service on a Sunday morning, further details can be obtained by calling the Minister Takis Korianitis on:
26950 222

Other facts & information on Greek Laws & Traditions

CIVIC RIGHTS

EU trouble-shooter a phone call away

Having a hard time getting your professional qualifications recognised in another European Union country? Need advice about living, working or retiring in the EU? Answers to all these questions and more are just a phone call away.

Quick, easy and free of charge, the European Commission's Citizens Signpost Service (dial 00-800-67891011 - the same number applies throughout the EU) answers your questions and helps you overcome any hurdles you encounter along the way.

And to make things even easier, the European Commission has set up a new problem-solving network called Solvit, which handles complaints involving the misapplication of EU legislation. All EU citizens and businesses can contact Solvit centres directly by calling the number above.

These services are part of the EU's Europe Direct programme, which started as a pilot project in 1996.

EU citizens can seek free advice and problem-solving services in any of the official EU languages. Questions are answered within three working days or less by an EU law expert.

Answers include clear and concise explanations of EU legislation relating to the problem and advice on where the citizen can go for further information and assistance (at European, national, regional or local levels). The Signpost Service also follows up with further guidance if the citizen has additional questions or finds discrepancies between theory and practice.

The Solvit service deals with cases of misapplication of EU law by public authorities in each of the EU member states. EU citizens and businesses can call on this service to solve cross-border problems and intervene in instances where they feel their rights are being violated.

There are Solvit centres set up in each of the member states. In Greece, this centre is located at 5 Nikis St, Syntagma Square. For more information, call 210-333-2797 or e-mail them at solvit.greece@mnec.gr.

Signpost services in practice

The Citizens Signpost Service can work to help people get the information and advice they need. Below are a few examples.

* After moving to a different member state, you've been trying for some time without success to get a job in your own profession but haven't been able to get your qualifications recognised in the new country of residence. The Signpost Service can tell you exactly what your rights are and who to contact to make sure those rights are enforced.

* You feel you have a better chance of finding work in another EU country. Will you be eligible for unemployment benefits in that country while looking for work? Will you need a resident's permit? The Signpost Service can answer these questions based on your personal situation. And if you find that the host member state is not enforcing the rules, you can contact the service again for advice on what to do. Legal experts may refer you to a local Solvit centre, which can work on your behalf with the responsible authorities.

* After living and working elsewhere in the EU for a number of years, you wish to return to your country of origin to work and later retire there. You've accumulated many years of pension contributions during your time abroad and have no longer been paying contributions in your home country. Is there a European Union system to facilitate transferring pension rights back to the country you plan to retire in?

* A family moves to another EU country for 10 years. The wife works while the husband looks after the children. During their stay, the wife spends two years working back in her country of origin, but the rest of the family does not follow her there. A couple of years later, the host authorities ask the family to pay back two years of the social security allowances they have been receiving for the dependent children on the grounds that the breadwinner was not working in the country during that period. The wife contacts the authorities in the country where she had been working for those two years and they tell her she is not eligible to receive allowances there either. Where, if anywhere, is the family entitled to receive the allowance over the period concerned? Do they have to reimburse the money they have received?

At the local polls

European Union citizens who reside in Greece and are over the age of 18 may vote and stand in municipal elections. All they have to do is register at their local municipality and have their names included on the electoral roll.

EU Directive 94/80/EC grants citizens of any EU member state the right to vote and stand as a candidate in local elections in the member state in which they reside. The same conditions that apply to nationals of the country also apply to EU citizens. This directive was passed into Greek law in 1996.

Non-Greek EU citizens were first granted the right to vote in Greece's municipal elections by a 1997 presidential decree. The decree, however, did not establish their right to be elected as mayors or heads of municipal councils, as EU law requires. They were also denied the right to vote in municipal elections unless they had lived in Greece for at least two years. In 1998, the European Commission accused Greece of discriminating against non-Greek EU nationals. Greece was forced to revise the legislation.

According to a tally conducted by the interior ministry last year, some 1,500 non-Greek EU citizens are registered on the country's roll for local government elections. The next local elections will be held in October 2006.

For more information about EU citizens' right to vote and stand in municipal elections ring the interior ministry's election office (2 Evangelistrias, Mitropoleos Square) on 210 322 3736.

Navigating Greek general elections

A nationwide voter information campaign was recently launched to educate voters about the voting process and to avoid confusion on election day.

The following Q&A is based on information obtained from the interior ministry.

Who can vote?

All Greek citizens who are at least 18 years old on election day can vote. Their names are automatically registered on the national electoral roll.

I'm an EU citizen. Am I eligible to vote?

No. You are only entitled to vote in the local government elections.

Why should I vote?

Voting is compulsory for all Greeks over 18.

What is an electoral district?

Every municipality is divided into electoral districts. Each district has up to 15,000 voters.

Where do I vote?

You may ring the interior ministry's citizen information hotline (1564) to find out where you must go to cast your ballot. You may also check online (www.ypes.gr), or contact your local municipality. Polling stations are usually set up at schools and other public buildings.

What if I'm registered to vote in more than one municipality?

If your name appears in two or more lists, you must vote in the municipality where you were last registered. You will be asked to sign a sworn statement at the polling station stating you are aware that you are listed more than once and that you will vote only once. This will be cross-checked by interior ministry officials. Voting more than once is prohibited and punished by up to one year in prison.

I have an election booklet. Do I need to show this at the polls?

Law 2623/98 abolished the booklet. You may throw it away or keep it as a souvenir.

The Greek ombudsman

The office of the Greek ombudsman deals with citizen grievances against public agencies and bureaucracy. This non-judicial mechanism for the resolution of differences between citizen and state opened its doors in October 1998.

The office received some 7,300 complaints during its first year of operation. This is a record number of complaints for the European Union. France's ombudsman, for instance, received only some 6,000 complaints during its first three years.

The lion's share of grievances each year is against social insurance foundations, such as IKA, and local government, namely municipalities and prefectures.

Below is how you can ask the ombudsman to help resolve your complaint when hampered by maladministration at public offices and state agencies.

* Write a letter of complaint. This should include personal details (name, address, telephone number) and a brief outline of the facts and other important details relevant to the complaint. The letter should be dated and signed by the complainant.

* The letter can be submitted to the ombudsman's office in person. The office is open to the public 8.30am-2pm, Monday to Friday. Or you can send it by fax to 210-729-2129. Or mail it to 5 Hatziyianni-Mexis St, Athens TK 11528.

* The complaint should be lodged within 6 months of the event that prompted it.

* The ombudsman's office will send a letter to the complainant to inform if it is accepting the case. If so, the complainant will be provided with the contact information from the person who will be investigating the matter.

* Each complaint submitted to the ombudsman is reviewed by deputy ombudsmen in one of the five departments: human rights (deals with cases involving individual, political or social rights), health and social welfare (deals with cases involving social insurance, health, public health care, welfare of elderly, children, jobless and people with special needs), quality of life (cases involving land use, urban planning, public works, culture and the environment), state-citizen relations (general issues of maladministration and lack of adherence to legal principles) and children's rights.

The ombudsman may request public sector services to provide him with any information, document or other evidence relating to the case and may examine individuals, perform an on-the-spot examination and order an expert's report. All documents must be made available, unless they involve national defence and state security confidentiality.

The refusal of a public functionary or civil servant or member of the administration to cooperate with the ombudsman during an investigation constitutes a disciplinary offence of breach of duty and a reason for their replacement.

Senior and junior investigators for the ombudsman also provide information on various matters including how the office operates. They also direct people to the appropriate government agencies in cases that fall outside the ombudsman's jurisdiction. No appointment is necessary. The public reception office is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 2pm.

For more information ring 210-728-9600 or 801-1125000

The EU ombudsman

Mistreated or cheated by a European Union body? Let Nikiforos Diamandouros come to the rescue.

Diamandouros - the former Greek ombudsman - is the champion of citizens' rights in the European Union. His job is to look into complaints of maladministration by institutions and bodies within the European Union.

Institutions and bodies that come under the European ombudsman's jurisdiction are the European Commission, Council of the European Union, European Parliament, Court of Auditors, Court of Justice (apart from its judicial role), Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions, European Central Bank and European Investment Bank.

Ombudsman Diamandouros does not accept complaints concerning national, regional or local administrations of the 25 EU member states. These should be registered with the national ombudsman. The Greek ombudsman is George Kaminis.

Just like the local ombudsman, his EU counterpart accepts complaints about poor management in the activities of the above mentioned institutions and bodies of the European Union. These activities include instances of administrative indiscretion, unfairness, discrimination, abuse of power, lack of, or refusal to provide, information and unjustified delay. The EU ombudsman will not deal with any cases set to go to court or that have been settled by a court.

Many of the complaints made to date concern administrative delay, lack of transparency or refusal of access to information. A number of complaints concern work relations and the recruitment of staff.

What does the European ombudsman do?

Diamandouros will investigate and report the reason of complaint to the institution or body concerned, which are obligated to provide him with the information he requests, as well as access to pertinent files. Officials of the member states are also obliged to provide Diamandouros with relevant information.

If the case is not resolved satisfactorily during the inquiry, he will try to find a friendly solution. If this fails, the European ombudsman may make a recommendation that, for instance, the institution in question change its policy. And, if this is not accepted, he can submit a special report on the matter to the European Parliament.

Write a letter

To make a complaint to Diamandouros, write a letter in any of the official EU languages clearly stating who you are, which institution or body of the European Union you are complaining about and the grounds for your complaint.

Note: The complaint must be filed within 24 months after the incident. Before turning to the European ombudsman, make sure you've contacted - in the form of a letter - the institution or body concerned. Send letters by post, e-mail or fax.

The office of the European ombudsman is located at 1 Avenue du President Robert Schuman, Strasbourg, tel + 33 (0) 3 88 17 23 13, fax 33 (0) 3 88 17 90 62, e-mail euro-ombudsman@europarl.eu.int

Citizens' service centres

No more shuttling between government agencies to get your paperwork done. Citizens' service centres are up and running across the country to make it easier for people to obtain all sorts of official documents.

These free-of-charge centres are devoted to making the often arduous, time-consuming process of obtaining government documents a little bit easier. They are designed to take on the bureaucratic legwork for you.

How it works

One needs only to call the serviceline number 1564 (there are also foreign-language speakers on staff) to see if the Citizens' Service Centre can assist with the paperwork needed.

You can either schedule an appointment through 1564, or simply show up at the centre. A staff member will take on your case, either providing paperwork from online services, or filling out the appropriate electronic application. The staff member contacts the appropriate government service(s) and in a matter of days, weeks or months, acquires the necessary paperwork.

The client either returns to the centre to pick up the documents, or goes to another agency or government organisation to receive the needed paperwork.

The citizens' service centres are opened 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and Saturday 8am-2pm

Over the telephone

Or call 1502 (8am-8pm Monday-Friday) to apply for government documents over the phone. The call costs 2.20 euros. Greek citizens must have their ID card number and immigrants their residence card number at hand when calling.

Over 150 different types of government documents can be requested over the telephone. The documents available range from a photocopy of one's university degree (only for those who have graduated from a Greek state university) and certification of one's business licence to certificates stating one is a pensioner and documents verifying that they are insured, as well as Greek passports.

The centres also service clients with paperwork for the following:

Prefecture issues

* Social welfare benefits

* Vehicle Inspection Centres' (KTEO) official papers

* Certification of health professionals' licences

* Driver's licence and licence plate-related issues

* Issue, renewal or replacement of passports

* Business-related licences

Municipality Issues

* Birth, family residency and other registrar certificates

* Voter registration

* Municipal roll

* Insurance issues

* Related to the Social Insurance Foundation (IKA), Greek Professional Workers and Craftsmen's Fund (TEBE) and other public insurance groups:

* Pension fund applications

* Family and individual health booklets * Payment receipts

Greek legislation on matters like divorce, marital property division and child support has changed considerably over the years for the better. Greece's family laws have come a long way over the past 30 years. Today, unlike in the past, both men and women are encouraged to share marital and child-raising responsibilities under evenly-balanced parental roles.

A 50-page booklet published by the interior ministry outlines the major amendments to Greek family law. Equality in the family was established by Law 1329 (published in the Government Gazette on 18 February 1983), which rendered Greek family law "the most democratic and modern in the European Union".

The information in the booklet (only in Greek) is free of any legalese. Each topic, from baby's name to property rights, is divided into two parts: provisions in previous legislation (before) and provisions in the current legislation (now). Below are some interesting examples of how family law has taken a step forward.

Marriage

Before: Only church weddings were permitted - the bride had to be at least 14 years of age, the groom 18

Now: Civil weddings (at the municipality or village council) are also recognised by the state. Both bride and groom must be 18 or over

Baby's name

Before: Children would always take their father's surname

Now: The couple has the right to declare (before the wedding) the surname for their yet-to-be born children. The surname can be the father's, the mother's family name, or both. The child, however, cannot have more than two surnames

Dowry

Before: It was socially acceptable and legally binding for the groom to demand dowry (proika) from his bride's father (or in the absence of the father, from the mother). It was deemed necessary because the groom would take on the role as the sole provider for his new family. If the bride's family unjustifiably refused to provide a dowry, she had the right to take her father to court and demand that he present the groom with property

Now: All property brought into marriage by a woman was automatically rendered into the wife's ownership in 1994. The state also established property tax breaks for newlywed couples as an incentive for them to purchase their own property

Property ownership

Before: Each spouse held exclusive ownership of property acquired before the marriage and property purchased by one of them during the marriage

Now: Couples have the right to draw up prenuptial agreements in case of divorce. If there is no premarital agreement, each spouse has the right to demand a fair division (at least one-third) of property acquired during the marriage, even if the ownership titles are in the other's name. This does not include property gained through inheritance or donation. The reasoning behind this is that even housewives, who do not bring an income into the household, have contributed to their husband's wealth and strengthened his purchasing power

Divorce

Before: Under previous legislation, divorces were only filed by the "blameless" spouse. The grounds for divorce were limited to adultery, bigamy, miserable living conditions, abandonment of more than two years, a serious disruption to the marital relationship, insanity which lasted for at least four years, leprosy and impotence that has lasted for at least three years and continues to the day the divorce papers are filed

Now: Two different types of divorce may be filed. The first is in the case that both husband and wife consent to the divorce and, the second, when the marital relationship has undergone a severe upheaval

In the first-case scenario, the marriage should have lasted at least 12 months and the couple must agree on the custody of the children. In the second case, the couple must go to court and convince a judge that the marriage is literally in shambles and that they are beyond the stage of reconciliation. The court decides on the custody of the children

Alimony

Before: If the husband was to blame for the divorce, he had to pay alimony to his ex-wife when she did not have a source of income of her own. The amount was estimated based on his income. If the wife was to blame for the divorce, she was obligated to pay alimony to her ex-husband only if he was incapable (physically or mentally) of supporting himself

Now: Both spouses have the right to demand alimony, even if they are to blame for the breakup, but only if they are not able to support themselves, are caring for their children and cannot work, are unable to work due to health reasons, cannot find stable work or need to continue their education (but not for more than three years)

Paternal power

Before: The father had absolute authority over his children until they turned 21. He had the sole right to legally act on their behalf before all public and state authorities and decide on matters concerning their schooling, residence, property ownership, medical treatment and punishment. The mother had no right to contact the children's school or travel abroad with her children without the father's written consent. If the father was dead, the mother still could not make decisions for her children. She required consent from a court and an opinion from a so-called family council, which consisted of three relatives of the deceased father and three from the mother's side

Now: Both parents have equal rights over their children and each decision taken must be in the best interest of the children. If the parents disagree about a serious matter, the courts are called on to find a resolution. If one parent is dead or cannot exercise his/her rights for various reasons, the other parent has the sole responsibility

Child custody

Before: The spouse who was not to blame for the divorce was always granted custody of the children. In the case that the grounds for the divorce were neither parent's fault, the mother would always be granted custody of the children

Note: Custody of male children was automatically transferred to the father when they turned 10. The court, however, retained the right to decide otherwise if it was in the best interest of the children

Now: The child's best interest is the guiding principal to decide which parent should be awarded sole custody of the children. In some cases, older children are asked to decide for themselves

For more information, contact the office of the general secretariat for equality on 210 331 5291 or e-mail them at gsequality@otenet.gr.