Graham & Brenda

Yes I remove the pump but I do it when the water is 15°[:)]

In November 2005 our Magiline dealer had a forfait hivernage of €110.50 plus tax plus hivernage liquid . When I saw how little time it took I queried the amount and he knocked off €40. Since then I have done it myself. (Our pool is 10 x 5 saline).

We paid €12.50 for a tree just under 2m. The price then doubled for the next size up, so we put it on a low table so that it still reached the ceiling. The lady at the garden centre said the prices were the same as last year.

We live in France and "do France" for our holidays. We still use gites, as we did when we lived in the UK. Lots of choice in style and in budget.

Just checked, also OK

I'm afraid that site didn't help, so I am still looking for any recommendations please.

Can anyone recommend a site for unlocking a SAGEM MY C5-3 'phone please? Preferably one where I can pay by credit /debit card as I don't have Paypal. Thanks,  

As with most things it is always a good idea to "shop around". However, in the case of French bank charges, I fear that you will find them fairly similar overall. Do let us all know how you get on!

I am with CA Charente-Périgord - all CAs aren't the same. From the tariff leaflet included with my statement, the charge appears to be €3.14 plus 2.25%. Previously it was€3.06 plus 2.25%. It doesn't say specifically "outside the EU" but I've quoted from the "all other cases" column.

Despite having spent all my working life in banking, I have to say that the banks have lent much too freely. I fail to understand the sense in providing mortgages without a deposit being necessary, let alone mortgages for more than 100% of the property value. To me, that is tantamount to pyramid selling - which I believe is illegal. Sure enough the almost inevitable collapse has followed. The situation is not helped by people who borrow and/or remortgage to the hilt, ignoring the fact that interest rates may rise, making their repayments unafordable. Again, it has to be said that they couldn't have done so if the banks had had tighter lending criteria. 

Update.....   The lady 'phoned back today and said it was an error "informatique". She checked that I had received my notice of cotisation and said in that case everything was OK and I had to do nothing. She also said that many of these letters had gone out.

I had the letter today, so I 'phoned and said you have had the copy of my Avis d'impot and calculated my cotisations - so what's the problem? She said I still needed to sund a utility bill, so I pointed out that my address is on the Avis. She took my 'phone number and said she'd 'phone back tomorrow after she'd checked my dossier. I know I can just send it all off - and probably will have to but a) it's a hassle and b) it incurs unnecessary postage costs.

If youdon't want to pay the same each month, you can pay by direct debit just based on usage - a mix of estimates and actual readings. As I'm not a great fan of estimates I use Relevé Confiance. EDF e-mail me before the bill is due (bi-monthly) and ask me to submit a reading by e-mail. They send an e-mail by return acknowledging receipt and confirming the figure I have submitted.  This way I keep up to date with no nasty surprises.

What ID do the Post Office require for an Electron card please?

The person we bought from kept to our deal done on a handshake even though he was offered more the same day - albeit by a Parisian he didn't like who wanted it as a maison secondaire.

I don't think that looking at other people's averave income will give you any idea at all. Many people have asked on this forum before how much it takes to live on and whether things are more or less expensive than in the UK. You should be able to find some examples by searching. There are too many variables to generalise. Where you live, what size of house (and consequent taxes), lifestyle, tastes, type of cooking (doing your own, buying prepared food, growing your own), where you shop - one supermarket or buying special offers and going to Aldi/Netto/Lidl, owning a car (petrol/diesel, size of engine), holidays or not, entertainment - the list is endless. I would start by saying that you will need about the same as in the UK as a general guide but others will no doubt disagree!! Just bear in mind that you will have to pay for healthcare, depending on your age (again, all the info. can be found on the forum). Also allow for the exchange rate if your income is in Sterling.

I've never known it to change. After all, at the time of withdrawal a calcuation has been made to see if you are inside the daily £300 limit. My withdrawal of €380 this afternoon was at 1.2798.

You should read the terms and conditions. Have you received notices of bonuses, guaranteed or otherwise, Is there a terminal bonus? etc.etc. As Ernie says, a surrender value will give you an idea of its current value.

I wonder what proportion of the "panickers/worriers" in the UK have more than the currently guaranteed amounts in their bank accounts. Given the increase in borrowing and reduction in savings, the rise in re-mortgaging - often to clear credit cards ready to run them up again, not that high a proportion I would think. Probably the same people who complain of paltry credit interest on their current accounts, when most of the balance disappears the day after payday to pay all the standing orders and direct debits. What is needed is some sense of proportion or the continued collapse of the financial system and the economy will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Given the more cautious French attitude to debt, I do not know but I would not have thought that the position here was as perilous.

I am ALD for my diabetes. My visit to the doctor yesterday, plus prescription,  was "as usual". 

Thanks Ernie - I gave up after it didn't work and didn't realise I had posted!

Yes, mini ovens are good enough. We have a SEB - sold as Tefal by Lakeland in the UK. Widely available with different specifications and prices. Look in Google.fr under "mini four".

This article in the Telegraph today gives some more info. Link repaired by a mod

I don't think it's just the French. We have been resident in France for 4 years. Just before we came here I made a building society account joint with my wife. Last year they wrote to ask for a copy of her passport and French tax ref. for the UK tax authorities.

Leclerc Cognac were out of the 'phone I wanted, said they'd order it - delay may be a couple of weeks. Received call the next day "your 'phone has arrived"!