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JeanS

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Posts posted by JeanS

    Tax Habitation

    in French Finance

    Posted

    For once, I's just like to receive my bill - Taxe Fonciere arrives every year to our UK address, but Taxe d'habitation to the French address - I've written, emailed, telephoned, visited the local tax office BUT after 8 years they still can't get it right. 

     

    Dental implants

    in Health

    Posted

    I'm still undecided. I have lost all bar one of my top teeth - the last two were taken out in May and I have a 'nice' NHS denture.

    The quote is to replace the denture with a smaller metal denture to be held in place with 3 implants and an implant using the root of the one remaining tooth.  The original quotation was just over £6000 plus the cost of the gold for the caps.  However my own dentist has quoted £5000 using ceramic caps. I have an appointment next Friday - decision day!!!! 

     

    Using a mobile phone in the USA

    in French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone

    Posted

    I've got a Samsung C3030 using Vodafone pay as you go.  It's worked ok the three times I've been to the USA over the past 3 years. Twice to Florida and once to New York. As a note - you'll need a good adapter for the charger. The first time I used a car charger but the second time tried a normal adapter and it wouldn't charge.  I was fortunate because the hotel had a draw full of chargers and we managed to find one which worked, so they let me have it for a dollar - bargain.

     

    Contacting Orange by email

    in French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone

    Posted

    Just received my internet invoice and notice I've been charged for phoning for assistance which I didn't get because they told me, after I'd been holding on for ages,  they were closed till the following day.  The English help line is only available between the hours of 9am and 5pm - so don't call at 4.45pm because they won't talk to you.

    I sorted out the problem myself in the end.

    So - anyone know the email address for me to query the charges on my invoice.  I've searched the ORANGE website and can only find telephone numbers.

     

    Oven Cleaning.

    in Earning a Living

    Posted

    You'd be surprised just how many( younger) people use this service.  I used to work for an estate agents who had a large lettings section. Many of their landlords used them.

    Each to their own I suppose.

     

     

    Oven Cleaning.

    in Earning a Living

    Posted

    An idea for a small business/franchise.  Oven Cleaning.  I've just spent the morning cleaning my oven, a job I'm sure not every one enjoys.

    In the UK there are loads of small businesses who will come and do the job for you - at a cost depending on size etc. The last time I paid £50.

    I said to my OH - if I were younger and was living in France full time - certainly something I'd consider setting up.

    However, they may be out there - if so, and if anyone knows of one in 36, please let me know.

     

    Secondaires - would you do it again?

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    We've had our maison secondaire for 8 years.  For the first five, we spent all available holidays in France. Now it's a few weeks in the Spring and 3/4 months in the Summer.  We've now decided to sell - at first we had lots of visitors but now it's only been my daughter who came for a week in June. She loves the place but her husband and son find it boring.  We're 6 kms from the nearest small town, so a bit remote.

    So - if the house you have found, ticks all the boxes, is within walking distance of amenities, has neighbours who are friendly, then go for it. I'd probably rent just to make sure it was what I wanted.

     

    Bon chance!!

    Help Mice!!

    in Wildlife/Nature/Environment

    Posted

    Considering we live opposite a farm, we get very few mice. We use just old standard traps -last bought from Bricomarche 2 for 1.70euros, bait them with chocolate spread and hey presto - dead mice.

    Also, we used to have a lot of farm cats about which helped keep them down.

     

    Your maison secondaire

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    We bought our 'pad' 8 years ago with the idea to move to France when we retired - this didn't happen, we just come for the summer. For the first 5 years we spent all our holidays - Winter & summer in the house. Lots had to be done, some by us. We had the usual ups & downs and nearly came to blows but we came through. At first family & friends would visit and help but now - it's too much trouble.

    We're too remote - nearest small town - 6kms, nearest town - 15kms.  So we've put it up for sale - not that we envisage it will sell in the near future but not to worry, we'll still make full use of the house and have no regrets.

    On reflection, we should have done more research on the area, not bought such a big house with a barn and a big garden, but then hindsight is a wonderfull thing.

    Rendering

    in House Renovations

    Posted

    I've searched for the answer to this but to no avail.

    OH needs to repair the rendering the end of a barn.  To me it just looks like concrete but he assures me it's not.

    What is the word for 'Render' - is it a mix and if so what of? 

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