Getting a drivers license in France

We finally applied to swap over our drivers licenses.
To get a French license, all you need is to provide a separate ID with a photocopy, your long term visa with a photocopy, 4 photos but they only need 2, a currenty valid license, a stamped official translation of it, and a stamped self addressed envelope. Then you go to the sub prefecture in Grasse, 33km away. Parking is about a k away if lucky, or closer if you pay. There's a queue out the door to get a ticket to be served, and finally you get to wait.
Eventually getting to the counter, the lady looked over my translation for a while, but eventually there must have been a clanger in there, and she asks who translated it? I admitted a friend at work. Things really stop when she says you need your electricity bill. It wasn't on their list, but still, I can't believe I left home without that. Feeling like an idiot, I drive the 50kms to work, knowing we'll have to try again another time. Second time around, and a 100 euro trip to the translater, with Marie making a few panicked trips to the photocopier, while we're served, we got 2 hand written notes in exchange for our licenses.
A week late, we've received a note in the post saying that we need a statement from the RTA which gives the issue date of the license. You can just walk into a branch of the RTA, show you ID and pay for the statement. Or you can get it sent to your home address in 7 days in the post, then get your mum to post it over. It's normal.