BobDee

The French forms seem quite logical compared to the "FD5" or what ever its called. The form seems only to have a declared purpose of proving to the UK tax authority that you are actually tax resident in France. All the stuff about UK royalties, pensions etc., is all known to the UK tax police. Double stating it, is, I suppose, yet another check that you are playing the game. In the section at the end, "I Claim repayment of...", I have entered all the tax that I think I have had deducted since being in France, and hopefully that is what I will get back. On another related point, I received a P810(T) (Tax review form), from Liverpool HMRC. I 'phoned the Liverpool number as the form says you can telephone in any changes to your tax status, and the very helpful man at t'other end of line said he had never heard of such a form, but would annotate my record to show that I had  telephoned in a no change status. Who do they employ these days? Makes you feel really warm about the running of the old country. As I type, one of our cats has just puked up on my desk, narrowly missing the "FD5". As least someone knows what they are doing!

Sounds a stupid question, but given the repeated references in this forum to the FD5 form, it is interesting to note that the FD5 form according to HMRC is this form HERE  which is actually a Company Claim form, note the FD5 reference at the top. The tax claim form for individuals is known only as "Form France Individual", no reference to FD5 appears anywhere on this form. (Latest version Aug 2007). Quite bizarre that no real reference number is allocated to such an important document. This may be nit picking but anyone making their first French tax return will find the whole process initially daunting and will take all the "sticky" FAQ's as absolute gospel.  

Thanks guys. All clear BobD

Tried really hard to get this straight from previous postings and the ever helpful FAQ's, but can someone explain again the correct way to enter UK savings interest? The FAQs say enter Gross amount in column 5 of. 2 - REVENUS DES VALEURS MOBILIÈRES ÉTRANGÈRES ET REVENUS ASSIMILÉS (2047) but this column is headed NET. Do you make any adjustmnets to this figure before carrying it over to the TS box on the 2042? A blow by blow explanation would be appreciated. Sorry if this has been covered before. BobD 

Busy filling in 2042 etc. Can some kind person say where on the 2047/2042 one lists home improvement expenditure? All work has been done by "Artisans" and duly invoiced. I understand that energy efficiency improvements (like replacing an old wood burning stove by a modern equivalent) are tax deductable, but what about new fencing, new bathroom etc. Is there a site that lists the "allowables" and the approprite rates? Regs BobD And thanks again to all the folk that put up all the helpful info here.  

Hi Guys, Its not all doom and gloom. As of this morning Stirling seems to be clawing its way back a tad (.7965 as I type),. The strong euro is only based on 2 countries within Euro land that have positive balance of payments, Germany and The Netherlands, the rest  aren't a lot healthier than the UK and some far worse, though the UK has the problem of massive home ownership as the norm and therefore has more subprime possibilities. Berlosconi wants a reduction in the value of the Euro and its only the fear of inflation increases that keeps the ECB holding the Euro rate stable. There has to be traders looking for possible future Euro weakness and buying Stirling. I would bet on a decent improvemnt in Stirling in a few months time. I need to move money to France but am personally holding off for a bit. As someone said, the only real test is to look at this forum in 6 months time, Regs BobD

Hi Bob et al, Twas the CAA medical group that told me a French Medical wasnt OK in the UK. Much confusion re the whole issue, but getting a Spanish or German or belge or Lithuania medical is acceptable to the UK CAA. If the UK accept the medical then France must and they will allow you to fly F reg craft. I have this in writing.  If you want to email me , I will give you more details. That was the outcome of the interchange between me and the CAA and the top man in Paris. If you look at PPRUNE (private flying), you will find the whole sorry tale. Regs BobD

A late update to this thread. Have now joined the Club at La Garenne (LFBA). There was an initial problem getting my license accepted. I had to go to Spain to get a Class 2 that the CAA would accept, and the folk at SIA Paris told the club that UK JAR PPL(A) with a Spanish licence wasnt on. I came back home and called CAA medical section in UK and they gave me the name if head chap in Paris. I called him and explained situation. A few days later the club had an Email from SIA saying all was now OK. Had my first flight last week. Just have to get my 12 hours in now before my UK license expires. The bottom line is the French Class 2 is not JAR and not acceptable to the UK and other JAR states. You can change your license to a French one for a cost of around 250 Euro, but you would have a problem if you wanted to return to UK and hire a plane. (Thats if the local club knew the rules!). I have heard that there is an AME at Toulouse that will do class 2 JAR within the Airbus group, (You dont have to be an employee). Havnt checked this out. Next year maybe. BobD  

I can also testify that the modified bulb method for changing the beam pattern works really well. I have used it on two UK cars here now and no CT problems. I have also had the opportunity of trying various combinations of reflector and lens assemblies, and whilst the changing the bulb alignment is the major factor in beam direction, the fitting of a correct LHD lens really sharpens up the beam pattern. Of course separate lenses are a real rarity these days, but on the older mercedes, separate lenses were the norm. BobD  

For umpteen years I have used ordinary white matt emulsion paint as a primer for gloss top coats, on bare wood and rubbed down pre painted surfaces. Works really well, dries very quickly, can be sanded off in a matter of hours. I would perhaps think twice about exterior use but for skirting boards, interior doors, no problems at all.  The cheap white emulsion as sold in most French supermarkets at around 9 Euros per 2.5 litres is great. And before all the tradesfolk out there tear me to bits, the top coat dosnt fall off in months and results are just as good as using purpose designed wood (or metal) undercoat products. BobD

Clair and Ron... , Many thanks for that. BobD

I understand from previous postings that this can be done at some Pharmacies. Do you have to take any documentation with you or do you just put it into a machine? None of our details have changed other than my wife now has taken out complementary cover. Thanks BobD

Thanks folks for the responses. Couriers can find the hamlet, but then they get on the phone. We are on the edge of the Landes forest and the Pompiers say they have a plan in the "station" with names on. Havn't had cause to try this out though. Claire's helpful post will be investigated, . Some folk have made their own signs but that must be 'gainst the law. BobD

Our house has no name, no number and the lane on which we live has no signed name (Chemin Rural). The poste always finds us but couriers have a problem. We went to the local Marie to ask about getting some signs made for our place, assuming we give it a name and to my surprise they scratched their heads and didnt know what the procedure was. I had expected a form to be produced and money demanded, but no. They said they would find out but no response to date. Its clear that there is a norm for such things. All about the same size, same font style and all white with a black arrow at one end. A typical location might be an aluminium post with maybe a dozen of these house signs attached. We have tried asking the locals but most bought their houses already "named".  Local Bricos dont have anything. Any ideas folks?   BD

Dosnt have to be an overhigh ceiling to trap all the hot air at the top. Just try getting on a step ladder and sampling how warm the air is at ceiling height compared with floor height. The extractor fan idea sounds excellent. A standard ceiling fan must be beneficial especially as they are just about all reversible and could blow the hot air from the ceiling down. Circulating the air has to be the answer. BobD

Good job there wasn't a UK 13 amp socket anywhere. The insurers might not have paid out if there was a fire![;-)] BobD

Getting back to the original question... Nick I now know what you are refering to. I found A France Telecom publication here: http://www.francetelecom.com/fr/groupe/initiatives/savoirplus/documentation/spec_techniques/att00022723/ITS01-ed8_EN.pdf that describes in english the wiring of the subscriber installation. The RC device is used for line tests but interesting enough quite a few French enthusiast sites that endeavour to get the best out of ADSL connections, reckon its a good thing to remove it from the line, by cutting it out, literally. So I guess it isnt used by FT too much theses days. This is such a site (In French): http://www.echosdunet.net/dossiers/dossier_944_optimiser+votre+installation+telephonique+-+partie+1.html Research will continue... BobD 

Thanks Anton & Nick. Nick what do mean by mandatory RC network. The UK master socket has a inclusive high resistance component that BT can use to see if the line is present up to subs premises. It used to be 33K ohms. Not sure if it still is plus a link system that the engineer used to disconnect the subscribers wiring and to provide a means of plugging a tester or "Butt" in as neccessary. Does the French Telecom master have similar facilities? OK on the lightning protection. Legrand do a telecoms cct protector that could nicely be fitted in the Tableau, but dont know weather FT would like that. This present system has some sort of gap discharge component plus some pluggable devices that go from A and B legs to ground. These are only a bout 5 years old (Judging by the date code) so I guess thats what blows or shorts the line out under strike conditions.  Regs BobD

Is there such a thing? In UK and Spain Telecom terminate the incoming line on a box that has test facilities and from where you can run your own wiring. We have in 47 a Tel line coming in that goes straight to a FT lightning protector (Quite a large 25 year old box containing 2 circuit devices). From here a 2 wire cable goes to another box that, as far as I can see has just a ringing capacitor, but 8 wires go from there to other sockets in the house. My question,, Can I take out this old lightning protector and replace it with a smaller modern one? or do I have to call France Telecom and get them to do it given it directly terminates their line. Can you buy a FT master socket if such a thing exists and do get you get Guilotined if you fit it yourself? Regs BobD

John, While you are on line, what does your FT master socket look like ? Ours is 20 years old and has a slide up cover in which are twin lightning protectors. 2 wires go off from this to another box that seems to have capacitors in it and then 8 wires off to the sockets.  Maybe FT dont always fit lighting protection . BT used to as standard many years back. BobD

Thanks for the info folks. The glued to the wall wires will now be chopped. John,  Hope you have a normal phone as well. Walk abouts arent a lot of use when the power fails! BobD

How does France Telecom react if you rewire the telephone system within a house? Is it like the old days at BT when the engineer would go bananas if you dared to add an extra socket?   Our telephone connection comes into the house in the same conduit as the incoming electricity feed, goes to a sort of master connection box that seems to have lightning protectors built into it as it has a large earth wire going off to the main Tableau Earth. The rest of the wiring is all 8 wires off to a couple of sockets around the house. All modern wiring schemes seem to show RJ45 plugs and sockets and a lot of the standard France Telecom 'phone sockets have RJ45 sockets built into the molding. Can you therefore extend a 'phone socket using 4 wire instead of the 8 wires that France Telecom seem to have used in the past? I know about the third wire for bell current, but even that dosnt seem to be used by French 'phones given that pulse dialling is a thing of the past. I worked in the UK telecoms industry in a previous incarnation so understand telephone systems, but am not sure if France Telcom get super upset if they find you have ripped their 8 wire system out, (of course leaving the master connection box alone). BobDee 

Just a thank you to those you responded to my original question. Through being obliged to dig a bit deeper and noting the comments to my original post, I learnt a lot and will proceed with my upgrade armed with some extra knowledge. Incidently, the Schneider (Merlin Gerin) publication on the new norms is most useful. I think you have to write to them to get it for free. Regs BobD

Hi Nick,  me again! I reckon this is probably a hair splitting exercise and ideally a glass of wine or two is needed to oil the discussion. Disjoncteur (D?)= Circuit breaker. Viz Legrand 060 20 or Merlin Gerin 16727. This definition from any dictionary or indeed the glossary at the head of this forum. Disjoncteur Differentiel (DD) = Circuit Breaker with built in sensor to detect unequal current flow in phase and neutral wires. Trips on over current or out of balance current. Interrupter Differentiel (ID) = Switch that trips on detection of unequal current flow in phase and neutral wires. Does not trip on excessive current. One of the most useful ways I have found for sorting all this out is to type the words above into EBAY France and see what comes up.. Pictures as well! I have no problem at all with the "Norms", indeed I am coming to love reading them, but my situation is I am sure typical of so many. An old house that is not unsafe, but not conforming to the standards of a new build. If I want to add say an extra power point (we have been here before), I assume if I call a French electrician in to do this, he will not condemn the existing old but safe installation. He will make the addition using equivalent materials. All the hard ware shops are brimming full of "Fusibles" and complete distribution systems that dont meet NF C 15-100. Someone somewhere uses all this stuff. On the 2 pole / 1 pole stuff, its just interesting that the old Fusible system only had one fuse in the live phase leg yet both P&N are broken when the fuse holder is pulled. Cant see the logic here. I dont think the UK records millions of deaths throgh commoning all the neutrals together. (Old chestnut here. Best not go down this road!) Just a point on the forthcoming inspection system. We have just been inspected re our Fosse Septique. Twenty five years old but passed muster with "Not conforming but satisfactory" I suspect a lot of electrical inspections will be the same. How many French houses fully confirm to the new electrical standards? I would guess less than 5%.  BobD    

Hi Nick and others. Point taken, a confusion of terms. I dont think Nick that you mean that every device is fed via a disjoncteur differentiel, Surely just a straight disjoncteur. As far as I can see you normally only use Disjoncteur Differentiels on specialist devices such as freezers, pool pumps etc. This is based on the examples shown in the Schneider Electric catalogue. My question was given that a disjoncteur differentiel is a combined out of balance detector and current trip device, would using them to feed a series of normal disjoncteurs be allowable instead of an Interrupteur Differentiel? I realise that is not the way to put in a new installation, but what I have at the moment is just twelve fuses fed directly from the EDF breaker. This property has suffered greatly over the years at the hands of "Electricians" and with out doubt, there a good guys out there but I would like myself to get as fuller understanding of the system as possible. My background is in radio and computer / electronic engineering and consider myself capable of safe electrical work, but understanding all the French regs is another matter. I have to say though. I am getting a heathy respect for French practices other than the insistance of double pole switching everywhere.   BobD