DaveLister

When they moved the meter into the road did they liaise with you? Have you any paperwork from that time? My understanding is that the company is responsible for everything up to the meter, the customer for everything after it. By moving the meter into the road they have effectively given you more to be responsible for. I think you may find the answer to your question in the paperwork that accompanied the 'upgrade'. Have you talked to your neighbours? Perhaps they can shed some light.

For those who have hardly worked in the UK, it's also worth paying just enough to get the minimal pension if you moved to France pre-brexit. If you're covered by the withdrawal agreement you'll receive an S1 regardless of when you retire.

Hey, ALBF How's your hand?

An image comes to mind of an extinct rebellion protester tied to the front of the carriage like a scene from mad max. Now that would be worth watching 😀

The two benefits you mentioned are entirely dependent on age, not number of years of employment. Someone who has never worked in their life can still get a bus pass, even if they never paid National Insurance. Same with the winter fuel allowance. If you're asking whether or not I think all age related benefits should be means tested, well no. I know there have been campaigns in the past to means test the winter fuel allowance, lead by pensioners themselves but, as you have pointed out ,the administration costs would probably outweigh the benefits. Same with the bus pass which has the double benefit ( excuse the pun ) of helping to keep those too doddery to drive off the roads😉

According to the Annuaire Mairie website you're in luck. The commune of La Boissonnie comes under the Mairie of Champagnac la Riviere with it's english speaking Mayor. http://www.champagnaclariviere.fr/

I'm sorry, if that's addressed to me I don't understand the question.

Not if the default was no pension. As I said I would replace the 'state pension' with a workers contributory pension. That would leave you with essentially three groups of people, your friend who can afford to finance himself, those who are two ill to work or have family commitments for which the state would provide, and the workshy for which the state would also provide but you could argue they do that already with universal credit. Looking at it from another perspective, why should those people with good jobs pay higher national insurance contributions when they don't get a better pension for it? Also, as far as I'm aware, you don't stop paying national insurance contributions once you've paid 35 years worth.

I don't know, how are means tested benefits normally calculated? I think the problem is, when the state pension was set up, a political decision was made to fund it independently by creating the national insurance fund. Pensions were paid for by the then employees who, in turn, expected future workers to pay for their pensions. Over the years public perception has shifted and now most people think they are paying in for their own future not paying for someone's present. People are living longer and the national insurance fund is going bust. Something need to be done. In my opinion, national insurance should be scrapped. A properly set up employee/employer contribution scheme should be introduced and 'the state pension' should be a safety net paid for by general taxation. As an aside, if you've not worked much in the UK it's worth checking whether or not you can pay voluntary contributions to get up to the ten year threshold. A UK pension ( even a tiny one ) gets you an S1 if you were here before Brexit.

I think its 35 years at the moment but it doesn't mean it won't change again. Like the rates themselves it's a movable feast.

That's because there are still people that think their national insurance contributions are directly linked to their state pension. They are not, the money goes to pay the pensions of todays pensioners not saved for future pensions. IMHO it's time the government got rid of the whole NI scheme and integrated the state pension in with the rest of the benefits and made it means tested. Regarding compulsory private pensions, what I said was, if you are going to force someone to pay in " from the very first day a person starts to work" you're going to need strong regulatory oversight. It would be cheaper just to set up a new government scheme. Perhaps like the old serps ? Then those people who wanted to and could afford it could add additional private pensions/investments as required.

I agree with the principle that the state pension should be means tested. Why should the rich be subsidised in their retirement? As to a compulsory private pension, how is that different from the state pension apart from the fact that private pension providers have to please shareholders. There would have to be some government oversight otherwise it would be open to mismanagement.

Congratulations. I gave up on fully comp insurance years ago after driving our new car to the supermarket. On coming out of the shop I discovered that some bar steward had driven between the spaces rather than around them and ripped off the rear bumper, probably with a trailer. We duly put in a claim and our insurance said it was up to us to prove the damage wasn't self inflicted. If we didn't accept at least 50% of the blame they would blacklist us. Rather than moving insurance to another company that could be just as ruthless, we downgraded the insurance to the bare minimum plus windscreen. Nowadays I'm happy driving tatty cars with low premiums. Scrub that, I'm just happier driving tatty cars😁

Just google Mairie ( followed by the name of your commune ) and the address will come up. If your property is actually in Champagnac la Riviere as opposed to just near it you're in luck as the website for the Mairie includes a newsletter from the Mayor in English😀

Fingers crossed for your mum Lori. Post when you have the time ( fosses are a regular favourite 😉)

No real surprise and I suspect this is now the beginning of the end for the protestors. The turnout is smaller on each day of action and the media are becoming bored. It'll end in a whimper.

Apparently the plan is to pump water up from underground into these basins at the start of winter with the expectation that rain will then fill the subterranean voids. Those against the mega basins believe the water is better off staying underground until needed since as much as 20% could be lost in evaporation in a year. What ever the pros and cons the black block have jumped on the issue to make trouble.

First mortgage I ever had was a simple repayment with variable rate. Only problem was, we completed on Black Wednesday

Frankly I wasn't thinking of your sensibilities. I would have thought, as a matter of courtesy to other forum members, you would have done everything in your power to stop this 'pond life'. As you appear happy to allow this troll to post in your name I, for my part, will continue to abide by my new years resolution.

To be fair the National Insurance fund was in a much better state in the mid 90's. Women were also able to retire at 60.

that's a serious claim Ken. I assume that you have changed your password

I think the responses on this forum have shown that the opinion in France nationally is more divided. As anotherbanana has said something has to be done to address the pension deficit and Macrons reforms were in his manifesto so people can't say they weren't warned.

I've been monitoring the comments section of the local paper. The vast majority are appalled by both the violence and the actions of the unions. Most point to other countries where the retirement age is even older and the benefits are less. No one is asking for Macrons head, quite the opposite.

The French always hate their Presidents. It's a national sport.

Thank you for providing context. I came late to the debate. I'll take a look at Hansard later. I just hope the right wing press are as measured in their reporting.