agence en ligne

English translation: online service

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:agence en ligne
English translation:online service
Entered by: Rob Grayson

14:01 Oct 18, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Internet, e-Commerce
French term or phrase: agence en ligne
I seem to be having a mental block with this one. It's taken form a description of the services provided by a major French utility, and they talk about the new "agence en ligne" that they've recently opened, which allows users to access and manage their accounts etc.

I just can't think of the right term - it's not an online store as such, and none of the other obvious translations for "agence" seem to work (agency, office, bureau etc.).

Surely it's something obvious....anyone feeling inspired?

TIA
Rob Grayson
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:18
online service
Explanation:
A suggestion
Selected response from:

Maureen Wilkins (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:18
Grading comment
Thanks for all your suggestions - I suggested this one as being the most generic and it seemed to fit well with the rest of the text.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3online account access / management
Martin Cassell
4on line facility
Mark Nathan
3online service
Maureen Wilkins (X)
3Online branch
Rosemary Harvey (X)
3branch, outlet, (local) office
Charlie Bavington


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
online service


Explanation:
A suggestion

Maureen Wilkins (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks for all your suggestions - I suggested this one as being the most generic and it seemed to fit well with the rest of the text.
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
online account access / management


Explanation:
's a thought ...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2006-10-18 14:06:40 GMT)
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BT, for instance, invites you to the equivalent facility in these terms: "See itemised call details and pay your bills online for easy BT account management."

Martin Cassell
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maria Constant (X): I prefer the online account management personally.
3 mins

agree  Natasha Dupuy: yes to online account management
2 hrs

agree  divas
5 hrs
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
on line facility


Explanation:
commonly used

Mark Nathan
France
Local time: 14:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Online branch


Explanation:
Une agence is often a branch so this is perhaps appropriate in your context.

Rosemary Harvey (X)
Local time: 13:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
branch, outlet, (local) office


Explanation:
As I'm sure you must be aware living in France, "agences" for EDF/GDF are the places you can go to pay bills (e.g. in cash), discuss issues, arrange to be connected, etc. I never needed to use one myself when I was living there, but I accompanied a friend once, when she had trouble with her electric - turned out the landlord hadn't paid the bill, so they'd reduced here supply (given they're not allowed to actually cut you off in wintertime - very civilised!)

Over here, British Gas used to call 'em "shops", but they all closed a few years ago. I would say a "branch" is fine, but any term that encapsulates the services that an "agence" offers ought to work.

Charlie Bavington
Local time: 13:18
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 23
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi Charlie, Everything you say is right, although online branch/office/outlet/shop all sound odd. Iguess it's one of those many "funnies" that has no direct equivalent. You know exactly what it means but just can't convey it in English! Isn't language marvellous...

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