Holedigger

Today the US government is being shut down by a petulant Congress over the prospect of affordable healthcare. Never mind, people can use their own money to make passports, run courts and manage the national parks. That wouldn't be the French way but then, we do pay more tax.

The US health system is the most expensive in the world but was only ranked at position 38 in the world by the WHO. French socialist governments have at least got something right here. France and the US have different social objectives, expectations and attitudes. I don't think that dick-waving about how little tax some people pay brings much to the table.

"Tax freedom day for me in the US is 9 April :)" Since we're including social charges how would you consider the prospect of needing medical attention in the US compared to in France? Generally I think you do get a feeling of getting some value for money from the French tax and social charges.

I have a trip back to the UK next week and need the CEAM. Went to the RAM office in Limoges today and presented my Carte Vitale, It's too late to be issued with a card so they printed certificates there and then for my wife and myself. There was no queue, you speak to a pleasant lady at a desk, not through a glass screen and the whole procedure took 5 minutes. French bureaucracy eh?

At the risk of digging myself deeper into my hole why on earth is a UK taxpaying resident using a French issued CEAM? A French CEAM is intended for temporary visits outside France for holidays or short term work/study displacements. I wish idun the best of luck with the her endeavours but I'm surprised she's getting any joy at all from officials dans ce coin.

I've obviously been very lucky If you became resident in the UK 5 years ago why aren't you covered by the NHS? http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1087.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=162 I can't see how you are entitled to CPAM cover if you are resident in the UK and paying tax to HMG.

I guess your tax office is now in Southampton and that your local tax office won't know you personally and will provide you with a shrug and a telephone. My affairs here are fairly simple but I've found engaging with French state and local officials relatively straightforward. CEAM takes 3 weeks, if you need one earlier go to your caisse and get an attestation. I have had quite a bit of contact with the French medical service and the difference in effectiveness and attitude between that and the NHS is remarkable. Rather than use the CEAM in the UK I'd prefer to crawl back here to use my Carte Vitale.

I've had tax errors in France, usually my fault. I drive to the tax office 15 kilometers away, speak to someone who has my tax file and it's sorted there and then. I don't find the ladies in the tax office here the least bit unhelpful. On the other and, leaving the UK tax system took ages. The telephone person didn't know anything and wouldn't connect me to anyone who did. Has anyone in the UK EVER talked face to face with an income tax inspector? When I was working, my tax office was always conveniently located at the other end of the country. As former subjects of HMG I think we are in a very weak position to lecture anyone on poor service in general and on official incompetence in particular.

I take it you've never dealt with HMRC or the 'security' goons at Stansted. This sounds so familiar I would guess that French fonctionnaires are training in the UK.

It's a shame that the Rust Belt piece doesn't allow comments. While Beziers is scruffy the comments about the decline of the Languedoc region are contradictory and inaccurate. The fact that the author specifically mentions bankrupt Detroit as a model to follow shows either a warped agenda or plain ignorance. Who is France's 'neighbour to the west' by the way?

I asked a French friend why so many pre war French cars in French museums were RHD. His answer was that in the days of prioritie a droite it made more sense to be sitting on the right.

I can't even cut my logs the same length. It really is frustrating to see how far from the standard my sorry woodpiles are. Best stack it all out of sight, framboise.

"How I wish I was dynamic and decisive as well.[:-)" Good one. After all the trouble with Teleconnect I've got into the mindset that if it is 'sort of' or 'mostly' working then just don't touch it. A comms service shouldn't be like this. I'm definitely off to the Neuf office now. Thanks for the kick up the whatsit.

I've nearly had enough of Teleconnect. Our main problems are with the VOIP that only works half the time and the Teleconnect number for us has never worked - our calls come in through FT. We also get problems with the router rebooting itself and we've never had any real apology for the severe outage last year.I have tried to get in touch with them by email and they never responded. I'd give them 5 out of 10. I've noticed that Neuf have a better deal which includes TV and avoids the FT line rental - the local town has an office with an English speaking agent. It's nearly adieu Teleconnect after 4 years.