Fitzsie

I accept your comments and have heard of similar advice being given. We were initially concerned as well but I think that as the fire was caused by the previous owners not installing the woodburner correctly, ie the flue fitted was too short then I think it was not issue for us. In fact the insurance company is even going to pay to have the work done correctly! My mouth is still open as we speak!

Thanks for everyones comments, much appreciated. The cause of the fire was similar in that sparks were blown back down into the chimney (with all the high winds we had yesterday) and set alight the insulation above the woodburner. We also had no idea that the conduit above the woodburner was only a few metres in depths. The Pompier even left a diagram as to what we should do have done to prevent it happening again. No damage done to the house etc so insurance claim necessary. We have a french artisan coming out tomorrow to give us a devis for work required. Can't get this service in the UK. We will be buying an expensive calendar this year but it is over 10 months away so that is why we wanted to show our appreciation sooner. Maybe a crate of beer or something similar will suit. Thanks again everyone.

To cut a long story short we have just had to call the local pompiers to put out a chimney fire (mind you by the time they turned up we had managed to do most of it ourselves!!)  However, despite the lack of fluency in the language on my part ,they were absolutely superb and they ended up removing the woodburner from the fireplace (no mean feat on it's own) and clearing the chimney etc. They left the area completely clean and I had to stop them from even wanting to wash the floor themselves! So my question is, what is the protocol to show your appreciation for the work they have done. As they are all volunteers both myself and my partner feel we should do something, but what?  We know thay have a training day on Sunday morning when they will all be at the station, but what could we do? Any comments gratefully received.

Thanks for everyones comment. When I went to the local Tresorie office to pay the Fonciere tax we had this initial trouble in tracing the actual bill! I had to make a second trip with the attestation of the original house purchase and they eventually found the bill under my maiden name. The lady in the office then run off a computer printout to advise me of the amount that I had to pay. I have never been able to obtain a copy of the original bill and I am now wondering as to whether she would have included the habitation tax in the amount due as well. Surely if the habitation tax hadn't been paid something would have been sent to the french address (ie to the person residing there who must pay). I guess at the end of the day we will have to visit the office and actually confirm with them what bills have or have not been paid. Only in France would they send bills to your previous address!

Can someone please explain what exactly is the difference between the Habitation Tax and the Tax Fonciere. What sort of amount can we expect to pay?  When and where are they sent? I've already had the Tax Fonciere sent to an address in the UK which unfortunately wasn't forwarded on as it was sent in my birth name and the Royal  Mail did not include it in the forwarding service!! As I was expecting that bill I managed to hunt it down at the local Tresorie ! Will the same happen to the Habitation Tax? I hope someone can answer all my questions.

It is easily done as I confirm as someone who just made a return journey to England and back, alone, via the toll roads . I was driving my Vauxhall Astra, with no electric windows and at each toll booth I would apply the handbrake, slide across to the passenger seat, wind the window down and collect my ticket or give the appropriate payment. At no time did anyone feel that they had to express any impatience or complaint. Driving an english vehicle, obviously alone was more then enough explaination to the car behind!

If the vehicle is described as a Van on the registration document and I know we will need a Cert. of Conf. from Ford for the chassis.The conversion was done by Explorer in the UK ( I don't think they have an office here in Frence) and they have already sent me a Cert of Conf for this part of the vehicle stating it has been made to UK and EU regulations etc.  Would the authorities here accept this Certificate together with the one for the chssis. If we only present the Ford Certificate to register the vehicle what sort of problems could we incur at a later date. Feel like we are just entering a minefield.  I know the easiest solution is to take it back to the UK and sell it & buy another over here but we do love our motorhome and selling it would no doubt mean losing money on it. We want to be legal but it is a struggle trying to get everything together!  any suggestions gratefully received.

We have a motor home - two years old and an astra car - 8 years old. I have been searching through this forum as to how you go about registering the vehicles here in France. I have picked up snippets but I amnot entriely clear on the matter. Can any one give me a web page or point me in the direction of exactly how to go about it and in what order to do it ?  PS With regard to the motorhome the Registration document only descibes the vehicle as a Ford van so we are hoping this will make the job easier!

Has anyone had a problem with a local tradesman ? We engaged a French  plumber( who had been recommended to us by some friends) to install a new boiler and radiators. 5 hrs after he had left, the boiler stopped running and we were left without heating and hot water.This was four weeks ago, when we do get hold of him,he promises to come round and fix it but never turns up.  We feel that the only way to get his attention is to go after him legally can anyone advise us as to the steps we should take over here.                                                                           Desperate :  

Thanks to everyone who replied. The Birth certificates are OK and I shall certainly be taking the EDF bills etc. I know I may have a slight problem in that after I left my ex I changed my surname to that of my mothers maiden name (nothing sinister - I just love the name!). I have a certified copyof the deed so I shall take that with me as well and see what happens!  Angouleme is only a 20 minute drive away so I think we will still head for the main CPAM office. I guess an early arrival is best! Thxs again to all.

Somewhere in the forum someone posted a list of all the documents that are required when registering with CPAM. Can I find it now? ! I have the E106s, birth certificates, divorce papers & passports. I want to make sure I only have to go once (don't laugh) so could anyone point me in the right direction or let me know of anything else I should be looking for. Also, has any one had any dealings with CPAM in Angouleme, can they give any tips or advice which could prove useful. TIA

I often use to make profiteroles back in the UK filled with whipped double cream. I expect this question has been asked before but is it possible to buy such cream in France? Or what is the nearest equivalent?  

Thanks, I thought that he will have to apply on his own right. Just a bit annoyed that the DWP didn't advise me of this in the beginning when I asked them. Have even tried to ring them today but constantly engaged! I'll have to keep trying though just to another E106 applicaton. We live southern Charente so I guess CPAM in Angouleme will be the place to get in touch with. Don't have a phone book at the moment so will have to ask some friends for contact number & full address. We will get there! thanks for the advice anyway.

Having acquired our humble abode on the borders of Charente and the Dordogne, we have also taken possession of a few vines in our garden - about a dozen in total. They haven't been looked after very well in the past although we know they produced a reasonable amount of grapes last year which were left unpicked on the vine. Can anyone recommend a book or point us in the right direction where we can find out how to properly look after them. I've always wanted to have a go at wine making and if I can't give it a go now when can I !!

It has taken two months but I have just received my E106 from DWP, Newcastle. Before sending off the application I was told by them that I could include my partner and so provided all of his details on the form such as NI number etc. However on receipt of the E106 it doesn't mention his name , although there is the box to include one family member's name when giving the form to CPAM. As we are not married can he be classed as a 'family' member in France or should he have applied for an E106 in his own right? If that's the case then I guess it will be another 2 month wait for him to be covered. Any advice would be greatfully received.

As a UK citizen and now living in France I am still waiting for a reply from the DWP regarding my E106! My partner holds an Irish passport although he has resided and worked in the UK for the past 35 years. He has also applied for the E106. It has just occurred to us that as an Irish passport holder there maybe different rules for him when applying for inclusion within the French healthcare system. Does anyone have any infor regarding his situation. I'm about to check out the Irish consulate but would appreciate anybody elses experience.

We are taking our motorhome which is 18months old to France with us. We need to decide whether to re register the van or return it to the UK and sell it. Hearing all the problems that other people have gone though registering their own cars we were wondering whether anyone has managed to register a motorhome with the French authorities?

We were thinking of taking paint for out shutters - just going alighter shade of the same colour. is it the norm that you have to ask the Marie if you want to change the colour?

We have had conflicting information about whether it is better to buy the paint in the UK or in France. Are we correct to believe that the paint is cheaper to buy in the UK and a better quality. If that is the case are we being sensible in buying the paint here and taking it over with us when moving to France. (We need to buy a large amount of external paint as well as interior). Can anyone advise of any problem or issues of doing this?  TIA

Thanks for everything. I did understand all you had said, I had a brief senior moment and typed in the wrong numbers! Thxs again....

If you are having trouble with the French mobile system have a look at the webpage www.0044.co.uk. You are still billed in the UK but at least its a cheaper system on offer

Thanks for everyones input. Quillan, I really feel for your friends and I hope that since that posting their situation has improved.  My partner is not eligible for state pension so I guess we will need the E121. Can I just confirm that this is the only form that CPAM will accept to be part of the French healthcare system?  Then once this is accepted we will need to take out the top up insurance. Having read the previous posting on this , that seems to be another minefield!!  We have been recommended to use the insurence offered by our bank - Bank Agricole. Is this a good move? Judging by the length of time it takes the DWP to work we will be definitely still be taking the E111 but I would emphasise that this is purely as an emergency measure until we are all legal etc. We do want to do everything by the book. It's not worth the hassle in future years.      

Quillan, you seem to know a great deal about this subject so I am hoping you can help me as well. As time goes by we seem to be getting so much information about what we should do for healthcare that I am starting to feel really confused about it all. Our circumstances are that my partner and I are moving to France at the end of the month and purely as a temporary measure we are applying for the E111. He is at retirement age (60 years), however I am quite a few years younger (so no retirement for me yet!!). In simple terms, if possible, what should we be doing with regard with healthcare as soon as we arrive in France? There is reasonable pension coming in but we are not hugely wealthy Any help gratefully received.