Mrs B

Here is a bit of good news. This is a link to a Ministry of Finance press release dated 30/11/10 which confirms that no CFE is payable in three cases - one being if there is no turnover. http://www.economie.gouv.fr/discours-presse/discours-communiques_finances.php?type=communique&id=4806 It says that if you have already received a bill, you can get it cancelled.

Cancer Support France – Mayenne Branch Today, one in three people’s lives are touched by cancer. CSF is run by English speakers for the benefit of English speakers regardless of origin. The objective is to compliment the excellent work provided by the French medical service. Being diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer is hard enough without the added stress of not being able to understand or be understood, especially when medical terms are being used. Add to that the fear of the unknown in terms of how the system works and you have one of the most stressful scenarios a fellow human being is ever likely to face. CSF is a non-profit organisation relying on donations alone. Everyone supporting CSF is a volunteer. Therefore, all monies raised are used to assist volunteers to support our client members of which there are already a few. We already have five trained active listeners with six more being trained in the coming months so the branch is already well placed to support anyone affected by cancer and needing to either talk or find more practical help. CSF - Mayenne will support people any way they can be it with translation issues, providing companionship at appointments, help with practical issues or ongoing phone, e-mail and one to one support as and when needed. Dawn Campbell, President CSF - Mayenne Email: [email protected] Tel: 02 43 90 24 11 www.cancersupportfrance.info

I found this today on  http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/ Avec la publication en 1995 des "Dix propositions pour l'accès aux soins pour tous", Médecins du Monde réaffirme la priorité des soins avant tout examen administratif, qu'il s'agisse de personnes sans couverture sociale ou d'étrangers résidant durablement sur le territoire français, bloqués par le contrôle de leurs papiers. Cette idée est reprise en 1999 lors de la mise en place de la Couverture maladie universelle (CMU). I have emailed them to check if they are aware that access to the CMU is being withdrawn from some of us and what advice or help they can give.

I went back to John Bowis to asked if he had signed the Written Declaration and here is his response: Yes I have - and shall do everything I can to persuade the British Government to accept its responsibilities in this area.  As I say, it is a UK, France and bilateral issue and they must not hide behind the (ineffectual) method of written declarations in the European Parliament rather than take action with the French Government. Best wishes. John Bowis

I got this email today from John Bowis MEP, Conservative Spokesman on Health Issues, in response to my reply to my MEP Syed Kamall: There is no breach of EU law.  There is of course a human problem, which is why some of us have signed the WD.  But essentially it is a matter for the French Government - after all they choose to live there, rather than in their own country - and it is also a matter for the British Government who should be protecting the interests of their citizens abroad.  That is why the UK Conservative Party at Westminster has been gunning for Labour Ministers and not the European Commission!

I've received two replies today from MEPs. First one from Conservative MEP Syed Kamall who used Robert Atkins' letter word for word. I have responded using Makfai's response. Thank you Makfai. Second one from Philippe de Villiers, Independence/Democracy Group for Ouest France. Briefly translated as 'Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I note the difficulties you have to overcome. I have sent a copy of your letter to your local area CPAM office and I will let you know the results of my enquiries."  Although he hasn't confirmed that he has signed the petition, this is a much more sympathetic response than any from my UK MEPs.   

Thanks Clair, I've posted a question too!

Done. Let's hope they do something. Having written to 23 MPs and MEPs in the UK and France over the last 3 weeks, I've only had one reply and that was negative so I don't hold out much hope.

I have written to all my UK MEPs asking them to support Mary Honeyball's declaration on healthcare provision and I've had the first reply from Dr Charles Tannock MEP for London: "I regret that as I understand the legal situation under EU law provision of Health Services is the primary competence of EU member states and the only requirement is non discrimination against resident EU citizens on their territories which does not apply in this case ie French nationals under retirement age who retire early will also be expected to pay or have private insurance to cover their costs. I am not a lawyer but believe this situation has been checked by the French government and is in line with EU law. In the UK we do not apply reciprocity only non discrimination so French nationals (not many as it happens) who retire and become long term UK residents will be entitled to the NHS along with any other foreigner permanent resident in Britain. Best wishes Dr. Charles Tannock MEP London Region Deputy Coordinator Foreign Affairs Committee for EPP-ED Group UK Conservative Foreign Affairs Spokesman" I thought that French nationals who are early retired still have access to the CMU or have I got this wrong?

I have just received the attached email from the British Embassy on potential numbers of people looking for health insurance and I have forwarded to Kurt Harper:   "There are potentially 7420 'early retirees' from the UK who are resident in France and whose E106 will expire over the next 2.5 years. We are unable to give figures regarding the number of UK 'early retirees' in France who are not E106 holders, or indeed any figures regarding persons with pre-existing conditions. Kind regards. British Embassy Press and Public Affairs Section"

Thanks Makfai. I'll have a look at these links.

I don't know whether I can shed any light on this. My understanding is if you are resident in France, you have to pay tax in France unless there is a specific requirement for you to pay tax in the UK. In our case, we are resident in France with a business is in the UK which we manage online. We are non-resident landlords so we have to pay tax in the UK on our rental income. We have to declare the UK income and the tax paid in the UK on our French tax returns. We then pay tax in France on our investment income. Our tax band in France takes account of our UK income. Our E106s run out in January 2008 and we want to register our UK rental business in France so that we cease to be classed as 'inactifs' and can become 'loueurs en meublé professionnels' and pay cotisations to the Régime Social des Indépendants. We went to our local Chambre de Commerce yesterday who seem to think that this might be possible but weren't really sure. Has anyone got experience of registering a UK-based business in France?  

Cancer Support France - Mayenne Branch is holding a Garden Party on Sunday 23 September from 3pm to 6pm at: La Haute Farinière, 53270 Torcé Viviers en Charnie. You, your family and friends are warmly invited to join us at our launch event. Find us between Torcé Viviers en Charnie and St Suzanne on route D9. Opposite a small lake. Follow the balloons. Please bring books / videos / DVDs / CDs to swap. http://cancersupportfrance.info/index.html    

I have a bought a TV a few months ago with a built in TNT tuner which works fine.  The other day I bought a DVD/HDD recorder.  The problem is as the recorder is plugged into the ariel, when I set up the new recorder it only finds TF1,2,3,4,5 and M6.  Does anyone have an idea how I can record the channels available on TNT. Many thanks

I have now spoken to an agent who has confirmed that FAI, HAI and HI all mean the same thing - agents fees included, notaires fees excluded.

Thank you very much for your responses.  It's amazing how the price for the same property can vary so drastically between agents.  At least now I know I'm comparing like with like.

Hi Can anyone tell me the difference between estate agents prices marked FAI and those marked HI (honoraires inclus) - do they mean the same thing?

Hi Can anyone tell me the difference between estate agents prices marked FAI and those marked HI (honoraires inclus) - do they mean the same thing?