andy c

We have had an IFA look at this, and they recomend the VIE. I think the various opinions above prove that there is no right or wrong answer. Thankyou re the website, I'll have a look! Cheers Andrew

This has been very usefull. I think for me the take home message is that you can earn as much from an internet account and to be frank its safer than bonds etc. The up front costs of a vie detract a lot from the tax benefits that a vie may have, unless you can leave the money to grow, ideally as long as poss...eight years even! I'm not even convinced re the succession advantages as there are ways around that too at the notaires. I think, I will leave the money in the internet account until we are in France, and then decide. Thanks for all the advice. Cheers Andrew.

We are moving to France and have to invest some savings. It could be an internet account in the UK and pay the tax in france, or, an assurance vie. Ive done the sums, being paid the interest gross here and then paying tax inc social charges in france versus the vie and, they dont seem that different in terms of income. Why??? Oh I know why, the charges on a vie can be a LOT, if you check out all the small print, and the terms etc are complicated, the moneyh is tied up etc. Wheras the internet account couildn't easier. I'm not persuaded yet. This vie is the Lombard bond one . Does anyone have a better idea or has anyone had bad luck with a vie? Cheers for any advice you lot out there! PS we move in two weeks .

Dear Teamed up, you made that sound straight forward enough, thankyou very much I'm going to keep paying GB Nat Ins. Here goes with the CAF website then! Cheers Andrew

We are moving to the Dordogne start Aug this year. For a year hopefully not more then two, I will not be working except that is for renovationg the barn, anyway, no earned income. We have income from the sale of our Uk house that will last us. My questions are, a) I will pay french tax and social charges on the interest on our capital. Does this pay towards a French state pension?? I could continue to pay UK class 3 but thats around 700 quid a year for me and my wife which I'm happy to do, but won't I be payin g twice ?? Also. we have two kids aged ten and twelve. How do I claim the child benefit over in France?? I bet this has all been asked before,but any advice would be very welcome. Cheers.

Dear Guru, thanks for that advice, it's all clear now. Cheers Andy

Dear Christiane, thankyou for your helpfull advice. I will look at past threads(new to all this) My wife had rubber shavings in the UK and it wasn't cheap but it was excellent. Hardly any maintenence at all...I just used to kick down the banked edges twice a year on her manege. I can understand that sand gets hot and baked without a covering..I did wonder if rubber would stand the heat of the sun but it does on car tyres. It is something I will look into further as in the UK we didn't have to irrigate at all. Kind regards Andrew

Can anyone help us as we are moving to the southern dordogne this summer and need a manege built on our land for my wifes two horses. Have had one eye watering quote already, but are there any manege building companies that specialise that anyone knows of? We will be near Monpazier and it would be nice to hear from anyone horsy near there as we'll also need a farrier, advice re where to buy horse food etc. Any help most welcome.

Does anyone know how to get a shot gun licence in France? We are moving to the Southern Dordogne near Monpazier and although I don't shoot I am about to inherit three shotguns. I am arranging a licence in the UK already so they will be legal here before the move. We will have a few acres out there. I asked about decomissioning as I want to keep them for sentimental reasons but that costs shed loads. Advice most welcome.