Evianers

Although there is a section devoted to driving in France, thought I would post here as many more people view the post bag. There are apparently 13 States in the US where drivers' licences are automatically accepted in France.... the other States, for some reason, are not. Does anyone know for certain how long one must be resident in any of these 13 States to comply with French Law to automatically exchange a US driver's licence for a French one? All knowledgable replies gratefully received. TIA

Thank you very much. Very informative. Now we know where we stand. Should be read by every forum member perhaps?[8-)]

Can some kind forum member point us in the right direction to find comprehensive consumers' rights please? English or French but relating particularly to French supermarkets. Always, but always, check your supermarket bills. Not quite every single time, but almost and twice in the last two days there has been a mistake in the bill. It goes without saying that it is always in "their" favour, never yours..... and they are not best pleased when the mistake is pointed out, always blaming "the computer". We took a packet of dried dates from the shelf marked at €0.85 - it went through the till at €2,15 and when we pointed this out, manager tore off the 85 cent ticket from the shelving, saying the price had increased. INCREASED, you're not kidding! Nearly 300%! Do they have the right to do this? Natrally we declined to pay the extra. Unlike some supermarkets in the UK when the price is wrongly marked, it does not seem the policy hereabouts to give the article free. Any help most appreciated. Genuinely Fed-Up of Evian

Just in front of where we live, there are little one bedroom chalets which are for rent: we are above Evian-les-Bains [Neuvecelle] in the HS. If you need further information please send private em and will try to assist you. It's a stunningly beautiful area 11kms from CH

Our good American friends may well want to come and live in France from next year. They have asked us whether we can find the equivalent of a surveyor to view any prospective properties in which they express interest, i.e. structure, electrics, wiring etc. In the US as in the UK this goes is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but here in France we have never actually known anyone consult the services of a surveyor. What would be the equivalent in France please? Would one find them in the Yellow Pages? TIA

Read recently that so-called E-Cloths are super for all kinds of household cleaning, especially granite work surfaces. Been on to several UK websites including Tesco, etc. and of course they sell them but question is, does anyone know, or can even recommend a similar product here in France and if so, what is the name please. Thanks in advance for any information.

Well... you know what they say? What's the best thing out of Croydon? Fast train to Clapham Junction. I should know, I was born there er.... rather a long time ago that is.

Interesting reading everyone's experience and should I venture to say....... happy that everyone agrees....... or not? If we lived in an ancient old French farmhouse or cottage, then it would all be understandable. But we don't; we live in a newish villa built in 1992. Don't they possess plumblines here in France?

Norman............. thou jesteth, of course

Just finished tiling our buanderie: oh boy, what a nightmare! Not only are none of the walls perpendicular or even straight but the ceiling is like the ocean - wavy! Cutting around light switches, sockets, in- and outlet pipes for the washing machine and other sundry extraneous piping has proved time-consuming, frustrating and enough to make anyone throw a frothy. So our advice is........... if possible, paint it instead!

My pen-friend, American born and resident in New Jersey at present, is undergoing the lengthy procedure of obtaining an Italian passport through her Italian [deceased] grandfather: it is taking an inordinately long time because on entry to the US in the 1930s, officials were not careful in spelling the names correctly so there is a discrepancy in the spelling of the Christian names. My question is: can she and her husband [and possibly mother] immigrate to France whilst undergoing this procedure, or do they actually have to wait until the passport is issued? We/they know about the 90 day temporary entry but is it possible to acually come and live here? All legally correct answers greatly appreciated. TIA

Try putting a couple of photos on LE BON COIN - free advertising - or am I not allowed to publish this on the forum? Just trying to help!

Our heartfelt thanks to one and all - although we do not perhaps agree with all the comments but that's life. Today we have signed the compromis de vente. The rather obnoxious and arrogant estate agent was present. We smiled sweetly at each other: when the question by the notaire came "how much are the agency fees"? he replied immediately "5%". Que sera sera!

Two points: this is definitely not a maison secondaire - it is our principal and only residence. Secondly, would that Evian were like the rest of France and the buyer has to pay the agent's fees. But it is not......... so a huge amount comes out of our pockets. Oh well, better to have sold than not!

To those kindly souls who have taken the trouble and time to respond: looks as thought we have sold..... the fun begins at the Notaire's office tomorrow. Will post again and let you all know what happens. Definitely, but definitely us [sellers] who have to pay agent's fees of 5%!

This is the original poster here: firstly, this is definitely not a wind-up = perhaps we wish it was! No, it is deadly serious. I cannot for the life of me imagine how many of you who also live in France, have the BUYER pay the agents' fees. Certainly not in this neck of the woods! Unheard of. Perhaps it is the influence of being sandwiched between two borders of Switzerland but it is ONLY the seller who pays the agent's commission hereabouts, between 5-6%. I hear what you have all said, have taken it on board. Some of you have rather missed the point, or perhaps it was not clear enough. Anyway, the prospective buyers are coming in 1.5 hours and then we have to see what happens from there on. If there is an outcome, obviously will post again.

It has taken some three hours to calm down: we signed with an agent to sell our property only 10 days ago. In addition, we also signed with 6/7 others in the area, having had no luck under exclusivité [3 months]. Not long after a prospective buyer came to view who is now thinking of putting in an offer. Another agent also has someone on tap. Second agent is willing to reduce his 5% agency fees in order to secure much needed sale for both himself and us. First agent, whose buyer hopefully will offer the current asking price, absolutely refuses point blank to even negotiate a reduction on the 5%. So far he has only had to visit the house once, had to make a certain number of telephone calls and has provided two cups of coffee when we signed. He is arrogant, unbending, and is "shocked that we should even suggest a reduction, as we signed to pay 5%" [this despite that all other agents in our town are willing to reduce their agency fees even after running around for 3 months+]. So who is right and who is wrong? We maintain with so little done, he could afford to make a concession: he maintains we signed an agreement and have to stick to it. It is creating a very bad taste and his parting shot was, if we don't like it, it's no skin off his nose if we don't sign. OH thinks we will be forced to sign otherwise we might not get another buyer for months. Crux of the matter is, we have bought elsewhere [which this agent knows]: our new property's agency dropped their fees to 3% in order to satisfy both buyer and seller. Seeming this does not apply to him. Sorry...... am very upset.

A question received this morning from American friends thinking of retiring to France in 3 years time with obviously no previous health cover in any EU country: would they have to pay up front - say for an operation costing 10,000 euros under their private health cover and only thereafter receive reimbursement? If so, approximately how long is the repayment likely to take. If anyone knows, would be most grateful for a comprehensive answer TIA.

Have asking for feedback on this forum - to which several helpful folks replies, we went about asking the notaire who is handling the purchase of our new house for the cost of changing our marriage regime. Back came the answer 560 euros. Now, we had heard that ca. 300 was more normal, but that was a couple of years ago. This morning, apropos the future signing of the Acte de Vente, we mentioned that 560 euros was rather high - she departed but returned immediately, crossed through the written 560 and wrote 450 euros! So our advice is, never take anything at face value, and be prepared to negotiate!!! Good luck. BTW 450 euros is enough, isn't it?

We would like to change our Regime Matrimoniale [we are shortly to buy a new house] and called one of the local avocats. We were quoted a horrendous 1000 euros hors taxes. Surely this is excessive? Would anyone who has done this recently please advise what they paid. TIA

Our sympathies. Hasn't happened [yet] to us but it must be awful! Did you not have the 3% additional monthly insurance payment for just such an eventuality?

You don't say which part of France you want to start job hunting. An indication would be a good idea. Perhaps you would like to be a little more specific. TIA post edited by the moderators. Please do not advertise or post your personal details, products or services on the message boards. Any advertising without permission will be removed.

We have let our house to three different sets of tenants in 4 years: each had to sign a 3 year lease [if the house is unfurnished] but none stayed that long: rights in France are invariably in favour of the tenant so even if you have to sign for three years, as long as you give 3 months notice, you are free to move out at any time. Generally speaking two months rental has to be given over to the estate agent which is refunded as long as there is no damage to the property, and the house has been kept in generally good condition.

If it's any consolation, Classic FM TV is still transmitting FTA on Astra 2 on its usual channel. Sheila's OH

Steve, Does your PC's operating system recognise the USB card? If the answer is yes then it may be the configuration of the Netgear software that needs sorting out. The Netgear instructions can be a bit opaque and I had to try a couple of things before I got ours right. If your o/s is not recognising the card then that's where your first problem is and you may need to re-install it using the CD supplied with the card. Cheers, Sheila's OH