Evianers

Good question...... she means after she has emigrated from the US to France/Italy Thank you in advance.

My pen-friend, born in the USA but now [after an incredibly long and painful journey] an Italian citizens via her grandparents, wants to come and live in Europe, probably France but maybe the northen part of Italy. Question is, can she open a bank account in France/Italy without being penalised as an American-born citizen? Tricky, but not insurmountable problem. Thank you in advance for all knowledgeable answers.

[quote user="alittlebitfrench"]Gowan...I will ask. Why French citizenship ? Is it really necessary ?[/quote] No..... not strictly necessary but our commune here, our neighbours, our friends etc. are a super group of people and it would perhaps give a greater sense of belonging. When we go back to the UK we are both like a fish out of water. Becomes worse each time we are there, so why not?

Thank you very much Norman for your quick response. Sometimes one receives a sensible answer, other times............................... {where's the "groan" button}?

This may seem a rather bizarre and unusual question but if anyone has any ideas [legalities] please would they be kind enough to let us know? Having lived here for 10 years, I am thinking of taking out French Citizenship especially as over the age of 70 we understand a language test is not strictly necessary.  But the difficulty might be that the name on my birth certificate is no longer the name I am [legally] using now. How will this affect the procedure please?

Please does anyone know for certain whether the rumours we have heard regarding the abolition of Taxe d'Habitation comes into force during 2018 and if so, it is across the whole of France? Thanks for all serious replies and HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

You may think we should already know what this means, but unfortunately there is conflicting information on the sainted Google, so we are unsure. What does PPPM mean when purchasing a property please? Thanks for all sensible and knowledgeable answers.

We were not sure whether this question comes under the Gardening section, or the Legal section, so are posting under General: Please can anyone confirm whether the same rules apply with regard to fencing as they do in the UK? That is to say, if one looks from the front door of a property, is the fencing/boundary on the left-hand side your jurisdiction, and that on the right-hand side that of your neighbour? Or is it that in France it is viewed legally as 50%/50%? Thanks for a prompt response.

Thanks to both for the information [private and public messages]

Hi everyone We have unfortunately just had a rather unpleasant experience in a British-owned apartment on Lake Maggiore [Stresa]. More information if anyone needs it. So from now on, we are going to be more careful. Can anyone please recommend a self-catering apartment, gite, B+B in the Douanenez/Quimper region of France for a week during the month of September please? Should have a bath if possible [not just shower]. Clean and comfortable without any noise is what we are searching for and of course not too expensive [pensioners]! All serious responses gratefully acknowledged

Please can some of you kindly people help? Have now had confirmed 45% hearing loss in both ears. Technician today tried very hard to "convince" me that I should only go to her, but the cost is horrendous, principally because we do not have mutuelle. It seems that no-one on the site has mentioned this option, meaning that the cost to us would be some 3200 euros. Have been looking at Hearing Direct and heard good things about them and their service. But what happens if the aids do not fit? What about putting on spectacles whilst aids are in place? Has anyone ever sent them back from France to Hearing Direct? Please help........have a head like a football after today's high frequency testing, then total bombardment by technician's tactics, and subsequently reading various pros and cons on various websites. Realise only we can make this decision, but having no mutuelle makes a huge difference. Profound thanks in advance to those willing to assist. Sheila

There was a very old house being emptied by the inheritors yesterday advertised as "Vide Maison". Loads of old rubbish, but amongst the bits and pieces, a rather lovely, modern, suitcase on wheels. Very usable. BUT it smells horrible! Has been in ancient bedroom for yonks. Put it outside and there it has been overnight, but still smells this morning. Does anyone please have any tips how to get rid of the pong? Don't want this permeating our clothes en route from A to B! thanks everyone for ideas

Thank you everyone, for your support and positive responses. We are contemplating our next move as we do not want to upset anyone in the neighbourhood, especially one who wears a uniform! Today all is peaceful and quiet - oh what a relief! Either he is at home so the dog is quiet, or he has taken it with him to work. Very interesting and informative replies so once again, many thanks to all contributors. Keep 'em coming......

Long story, will condense : we live in quiet cul-de-sac. Opposite there are small chalets, one of which obliquely opposite was recently sold. New owners moved in two weeks ago, and made a huge noise on a Sunday. But since that time, their 2 year old cross Alsatian howls continuously throughout the day [we are retired so are at home] when it is tied up and no-one is at home. When he is not howling, he is barking non-stop. Talked to our of our neighbours today who tells us the dog is young [see above] and that the owner is a policeman!!!!!!!! Alors, she says, il y a rien a faire. Cannot believe this, but obviously he would die laughing if we threatened him with the police. Have thought to go to the local vet and ask their advice. Is there an RSPCA in France [we have no animals]. Can anything practically be done? For all sensible replies, many thanks in advance as we are going mad here!!!!!

AFAIK once you are legally married you can apply for British citizenship which would entitle you to live anywhere in the EU, including France of course. Having just returned from a lovely visit to Cape Town and Hermanus, we wish you well and if there is anything we can do to help [we used to live in Randburg]! just send us a private message as we have helped many Saffers across the years.

Well, you would be very welcome to come and visit us here - absolute paradise [except for the high prices]. Lausanne/Vevey/Montreux right opposite, beautiful Lac Leman in front with an uninterrupted view, Dent dÓche and Les Memises on the southern side of the house with the Jura in the far distance. Beats Harrow, that's for sure!!!

And I agree, much of the Alpine region is lovely, although there are some areas that are truly awful, in spite of the views. Really?Not around here...... wonder where you mean?

Just pausing to reflect on the fact that so few residents in the Haute Savoie, and in this idyllic corner of the world, post so infrequently? There are quite a large number of English speaking expats hereabouts. We continually find more and more, and yet so few of them actually contribute to our section of the website. Come on folks, put in a little more effort and let's hear from you!

Very many thanks to both. Have already passed on the information

Once again, a question for those in the know from our American friends hoping to relocate to LBF. They realise they will have to have an expensive Mutuelle as they have not been paying into the European system, and therefore will not be in possession of a Carte Vitale. Will they have to pay "up front" for medical/hospital care and then reclaim the amount paid? Additionally, will there thus be a whole swathe of forms to be filled in pertaining to this exercise. For all knowledgeable answers, many thanks in advance, on their behalf, and also from us in Evian.

Hi folks How does one find a contributor to this forum to whom one has not written for 2 years please, having forgotten their pseydonym. Is there a register somewhere? I am referring to the lady who lives at Clos Langranat. Please contact us. TIA

This has happened to us too, in Cora, when after we also kicked up a fuss, the shop admitted liability and as this had happened numerous times before, they gave us a free bottle of Champagne. However, regarding the "life is too short" policy, we are beginning to think this is what supermarket hope, in that if you give in halfway through the fight, they get away with their higher pricing abuse. Although it always a great deal of time [and energy], having found numerous mistakes, always in their favour, our resolve is now to "screw our courage to the sticking place". It always pays off eventually.

Time then, to start checking on a regular basis probably. We felt obliged to start this business as once having bought 5 items in Lidl the bill came to an astronical amount. Checking the receipt carefully, we found that we had been charged €14.50 for a round cheese instead of €1.45. The woman behind us in the queue at the till could not believe it when she noticed the cashier having to refund more than €13.--!!! Since that time, we are mega-careful, and unfortunately we have to say that [probably because we shop there more often] Lidl are the worst offenders. Take Care

One shop has electronic price tags and during busy periods the manager puts all the prices up by sometimes 30% with a few keystrokes on the computer, they have even gone up between me picking up the item and getting to the till. I should imagine that this above practice would be absolutely illegal! Yes, we have to admit that Lidl are not alone in "mistaking" the prices. Cora around here do it habitually as well. Name 'em and shame 'em is now our motto as we are becoming utterly fed-up with this continual overcharging. Wonder whether a missive to Lidl Head Office in Deutschland would do any good - probably not!

We tend to shop in Lidl because of value for money, as well as high turnover, meaning fresh. But after repeatedly warning other forum members to be careful and check their receipts, we had yet another nasty experience yesterday. Bought 12 items with TWO mistakes [in their favour of course] in the bill : on special offer 1 kg Lasagne = normal price €2.45, special offer €2,39 - so far, so good. But upon checking the bill, price was put through at €2.75. Another item on the same bill was put through the till at €1.69 whereas it should have been €1.59. So not the end of the world for 46cents in total, but it is the principle bearing in mind that this happens time after time after time, in fact, in almost every bill. It has now occured to us to question whether this is in fact fraud by Lidl, who hope that customers are either too distracted or too idle to carefully note what is being charged. Who puts the prices into the computer anyway? How does the price on the shelf ticket - especially those marked "Special Offer" tally with what is charged at the till? Has anyone else had this experience? Please share