Jon02

[quote user="rmelrose"]I feel I was hard done by because I'm an etranger.[/quote] Unfair, a low offer with no paperwork has no status anywhere.  

OK but how does one 'process' a cucumber?

[quote user="mike"]write or speak to your local mayor.[/quote] I will. But what actual power does he have? And what's the sanction? If you persist in doing this then . . . .? Personally I'll tell him that I'll pay the tax (no options there) but I will take the tax plus some percentage out of what I spend in the state economy. Not the local economy, why should the locals suffer?

[quote user="mike"]whats just the opposite?[/quote] If it isn't available for letting all the year round then the tax applies.

[quote user="just john "] Why should these owners be exempt, contributing only dereliction to the local economy.[/quote] Because they can vote against such measures?

[quote user="Siptea"]I found this post by accident, I was Googling Pinot Noir[/quote] And that absolves you from netiquette?

[quote user="Jane and Danny"] Again, it is not aimed specifically at foreigners, unless I have misread something. I would guess a lot of  people (foreign or not) do rent them out and don't declare the income.[/quote] The 'not aimed specifically' is correct but, IMHO, that's just the fig leaf to avoid EC complaints. And ensure that Franch domestic second homes aren't caught up in it (because those owners can vote). And the 'unless it's available to let' aspect is just clever. Those who are letting but are currently off the French fisc radar will claim exemption. And then get a vist from the fisc.

[quote user="idun"] However, what on earth are these posts about that say, 'I'll show 'em, I'll spend less in France if they do this'? If someone cannot afford to spend what they ususally spend in France, fair enough, but if anyone does this deliberately, then why?[/quote] In my case it isn't a case of afford or not. I can more or less afford another Taxe Fonciere. But what I do strongly object to is a tax (anywhere) that is specifically directed at foreigners who can't vote against it. Which this very much is; all the rest is a fig leaf against the inevitable EC accusations of discrimination. I pay taxes, make little use of the facilties provided and support the local economy. Whatever happened to Liberté, égalité, fraternité?

Ownership via a UK private company is certainly possible and does by-pass French inheritance; it's the regime that I use. There are a couple of downsides. first the CGT regime is different, essentially the tax is double that of a private individual. And it's almost impossible to get bills set off against CGT. And finally, the cost of the original purchase (for CGT calculations) is depreciated by 2% each year. That said it does what it says on the tin, the assets are now UK shares that can, should you wish, be left to chartity on the survivor's death under UK law. But get proper advice.

[quote user="Quillan"]But then who really knows, it's only just talk at the moment, the 'bill' has not even been drafted it seems. it's a bit too early to stamp your feet and throw you teddy out the pram.[/quote] It has been drafted, it was passed in Cabinet on May 11. No reason why it shouldn't get through in June/July. Then maybe the EC will say it's discriminatory. If so it will be twiddled and enacted. Raising €180m from a constituency that can't vote back? Of course they will. My view is that if I'm to be charged an extra amount of about my current Taxe Fonciere then I'll make sure that I reduce my input to the french economy by that plus 10%.

[quote user="pachapapa"]The technical characteristics are precisely detailed on pages 3-6 of the pdf document with active link in the post above; I commend those pages in particular to your perusal..[/quote] OK I have perused and I know what it's made of, volume, pipe diameters and stuff. Intermittent usage as well. Nothing on power.

Bill, BioRock sounds a bit like the Holy Grail. Can you confirm that, as far as you know it is approved, is a toute eaux system, requires no other bits (like a lit de sable), no power and can cope with periods of inactivity. Any idea where one would find a French qualified installer? I'm in Dept 24.

[quote user="cooperlola"]PC is a great innovation in my book if it prevents even one person, one time, in one situation, from hurting another human being by their thoughtless use of offensive and meaningless epithets.[/quote] Que? Are you really saying that all dumbing down of social interaction in the Western world is exonerated by avoiding just one case of verbal abuse?

So here we are on December 7th and, as far as I can see, western civilisation seems to be holding up quite well. Though it's a bit cold.

[quote user="ericd"]Rond point des Champs Elysees is the only one in France (i believe...) to have kept the old right of way to those that arrive from your right as all other roundabouts give priority to those already engaged (ie. those that come from your left).[/quote] There's a right priority roundabout in Auch as well. And in Berlin somewhere by the wall. Both very confusing the first time.

[quote user="sweet 17"]I think a girotoire is a big rond point.  At least, the ones I have seen designated as such have multiple exits and entrances.[/quote] If you head south from the aforementioned squareabout in Angouleme by the time you get to Carrefour you will have been through two small roundabouts. Nothing fancy, four turnings, smallish centre with a mound, trees and flowers, standard stuff. But both have a little nameplate saying Giratoire XXX. Maybe that's how they do things in Charente but I can't tell them from a regular roundabout.

I second the sighting of a square roundabout in Angouleme. Only the French could design something so sylish and useless. And can anyone tell me the difference between a rond-point and a girotoire? 'Cos the French can't.

The former. She sounds to me like Germaine Greer being interviewed in the days of Maggie T. Pension reform demonstrations as manifestations of a deeper cultural malaise? I don't think so.

Thank you for that Frenchie. I think that I now have a better understanding of how the reforms impact 'ordinary folk' in both the public and private sector. My question remains though. How do the reforms affect those in the 36 or so special regimes? Do they have a period of adjustment in which to join the real world? Are there really situations in which a 53 year old who was expecting to retire at 55 discovers that he has another 5 or 7 years? And what sort of percentage of the working population are the special regimes in total? I understand that you're busy but I would value your input as and when you get the chance. Lots of opinions on this forum, rather less actual understanding IMHO. And I never, ever read the Mail.

[quote user="pachapapa"]Forgetting the pénibilité exceptions, cheminot etc, the minimum legal age for retirement is increased from 60 to 62; however note that the age "sans décote, taux plein" ie a full pension without reduction for retiring early will be progressively pushed from 65 to 67. The idea in this thread that the age for full pension rights was up till now 60 is erroneous. Yes up till "now" retirement at 60 with a reduced pension was possible. Come in frenchie![:)] [/quote] But my original question was exactly about the exceptions! I also wonder what the total number of workers in the exception regimes is. In the brave new post reform world what is (if it exists) the taper process for someone who works at the Paris Opera and, until this whole can of worms got opened up, expected to retire (on some healthy final salary percentage) at the ripe old age of 50. Have they seen their retirement horizon move to 50 plus two years? To 62? to 67?

[quote user="Chancer"]I am pretty sure that under the terms of this reform no-one is looking at working any more than two additional years. I would like this confirmed. [/quote] Chancer I agree with you. The only 'information' that I've seen to the contrary is this post (Nogues http://midipyrenees.angloinfo.com/forum/topic.asp?page=4&topic_id=14607) from AI Midi-P. And I suspect that she’s ill informed or not doing an apples with apples comparison. But one would hardly say that on AI. It also occurs to me that if your assumption was wildly wrong someone with a better chance of knowing the detail might have intervened by now. Frenchie?

Thank you for your various inputs. As I read it the striking core was (and still is) special regime foncs, possibly with some private sector help for the sake of solidarity. So does anyone know of (either first or second hand) a taper process designed to slide the reforms in gently. If not does anyone know of any 54 year olds who have suddenly seen their horizon move back by 5 or 7 years. Sorry to bang on about this but as I said at the outset, I've seen nothing on the detail of the implementation.

Braco, I don't believe in money trees any more than you do. I agree that the French are going to have to join the real world at some point. Soon is best or it just gets worse.. . Chancer, thanks for that. Agreed that they have a life style that they can't maintain. I've seen an equivalent clip for the cheminots but haven't yet found a copy on the web. Do I take it then that all the strike emotion stems from the special regimes? And if so are there genuine cases of an abrupt change of qualifying age? Or is there a taper somewhere which is designed to wean them off?

May I ask a simple question? I ask it because it hasn't been addressed in any press or posts that I've read here or indeed anywhere. There are a number (36?) of special retirement regimes, strange but that's France for you. These regimes seem to cover the likes of primary school teachers, employees of the Paris Opera, SNCF?  Marseille crane operators?. Etc, etc. People enlisted in these professions, I assume, as a lifestyle choice on the lines of do this job (maybe the pay isn't too hot) and then retire at 50 (e.g. for the Opera). My question is what happens to the retirement age of the folk in the special regimes once the reforms are activated? My own view is that the changes to 60 to 62 or 65 to 67 simply goes in the 'life's a bitch and then you die' bucket, the demographics simply won't let the State do otherwise. But if I had enlisted in a profession with the specific aim of retiring at 50 or 55 or whatever and the State unilaterally revoked my contract and added 5 or 7 years to my term I would probably be amongst the first to the barricades. Does anyone have a simple anwer?

Tiens Lotdor, did you think that AI was ever conceived for your/our benefit?