zrx1100

After reading some info on this forum about the payg NRJ mobile sim card we decided to get one for our uk mobile. So after a visit to Carrfour and 30 euros later we have the new sim with a few minutes call time thrown in. But now the problem - we can call ok on it to a french landline but cannot be called by one (have tried 2 different landlines), will not get through even to leave a message. A recorded message can be heard when trying to call from the landline but not being very good with the lingo yet we cannot tell what the problem is. It doesn't make sense that we can call though. We can even send a text to the mobile from that same mobile and it receives ok. Confussed!

Thanks to all who contacted my parents-in-law about this lovely dog and I am sure you will all be pleased to here that a good home was found very quickly and she has now settled in nicely. zrx1100

A beautiful female cocker spaniel type free to a good home, rescued from her present owner. She is 3 years old and tan in colour, very friendly and gentle. She is in need of a lot of love and attention as she has been neglected and is very thin and matted. This little dog has a lovely temperament and would no doubt make a lovely companion. A good home desperately needed. Please call Janet or Derek on 05 46 26 20 91. Email [email protected] Dept 17, near St Jean D'Angely.

I would agree with Will too, have just bought a cheapy siemens from Virgin (19.99), will have that unlocked from a small phone shop for a tenner and then get a french sim (will be over on the 14th - can't wait). But like you, I would like to know which french network to go for, like you we would be looking at a low usage payg sim. Any good ones out there?

Hi, Sorry to barge in on your discussion about BM's but was interested to read that a couple of you seem to have kept or going to keep their bikes on a uk reg, is this because of the hassle/cost? Do you have to keep them taxed/mot'ed to keep them in France as an insured bike? Just wondered what I will do when I hope to move over next month with mine.

[quote]But it's not big.[/quote] no, spose not (signing off, holding wrist, after being slapped)

"... byeeeee, enjoy the queue!!" (as my Kawasaki flys past alcazar waiting in his soon to be overheated car cos of the searing heat) Now that is clever

Thanks dinks, that sounded like a good deal. Did you have any problems re-registering your fjr in France (if you have that is)?

We are hoping to move to France next month and having read a lot of the posts on here about tax/social charges on savings interest and endowment policies I am starting to get a bit worried. What I mean is, we like to think that this move will work out for us, but you never know, after a couple of months we/the kids might not like it, something might happen in the uk to prompt our return etc, you don't know. What I am concerned about is while we are initially here (staying with family while house hunting) we will get a bit of income from our house sale money and will be cashing in some endowments; will I have to pay tax/charges on these even though this might not be a permenant move. Basically, is there a period where your stay here changes from say a holiday/visit to permanent residency, if so when do I have to declare these to the tax office in france? Sorry for the long post, hope it makes sense.

There might be a couple of things out there to help you, don't know much about them but there is freeware (I think) called 'GetMail' (try a search for it) that will forward hotmail and others to another mail address. Also something called 'Mail Forward'. Good luck!

I will definately keep the bike, had it since new 6 years ago, couldn't let her go now. I also think the equivilant (condition & low mileage) bike in france will be alot more to buy than the uk compared to what it will cost to re-register (I hope). Back to the tyres though, anyone know of costs (fitted), thanks.

Looks like those sneaky Sky people check that the box is connected to a uk line occasionally and can stop the service if found not to be, found this link on google with some info about sky plus used abroad. http://www.satelliteonline.co.uk/sky_plus_receivers.htm

Sorry, probably didn't make myself that clear, we will be in France (November) but staying with relations but not working, so are we tax resident? Thanks.

Hi to all the fellow bikers out there. Moving to France soon and the bike needs 2 new tyres soon, just wondered whether to get them here in the UK or in France, is there much of a price difference and are there quite a few places that will fit them. Wont bother saying what the bike is, as you might of guessed!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Thanks also Steve for the offer but .... no thanks! The premium bonds idea sounds quite good for part of what we will have but the term 'tax resident' is confusing me a little (never been very good with financial stuff!). Does that mean living in france and paying tax because of earnings? If so before we buy a house we will not be working at all so any premium bond winnings would be free from tax wouldn't they? Also (a bit cheeky I know) but if any winnings simply bought more premium bonds instead of a cheque to me, then who would know, especially in France?

We hope to complete our house sale in November and will be moving over to France (staying with the outlaws!) to then start to look for our ideal property. Do most people just put the money from the sale in a instant access high interest account (egg or ing etc) ready for the eventual house sale? Does this attract the attention of the UK/French taxman to take a big chunk or will I just pay the tax on the interest earned. I have also heard of currency companies (moneycorp etc), is it best to get a good euro price fix with them instead and leave it there, but of course no interest is then earned? Helpful advice please! Just want to know what you would do/did do? Would be about 140k if that makes any difference, thanks.

Just wondered what kind (age/condition) of car we can expect to get for 3000 pounds. We require a diesel family car or estate (2 kiddies on board and sometimes a collie), possibly with air con if the budget would stretch. Have looked here (UK) for a lhd but there are not many around in our area (somerset), I am aware that prices are higher in france but wondered if anyone would be able to give us an idea of what we would be able to buy. Anyone want a rhd focus? 8-)

Sorry, didn't mean to offend, just trying to put a bit of light hearted banter into a posting, lifes too short to be too serious all the time, isn't that why we move to France! Yeah, Brands Hatch is still very much in existence, has been since 1927!

Two new tyres and new brake pads after 5000 miles!! Was that 5000 miles around Brands Hatch! ;-)

Hi, We have been offered a property in the Charente Maritime (17) for a sum of 198,000 euros. We are cash buyers so no mortgage, and also it is a private sale so no agents fees, we are trying to work out if we can afford it and wondered if anyone would have a (as near as) figure for the notaires fees. I take it these would be our only purchase fees? The house is detatched with about 2000m2 of land if that makes any difference. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the replys. We will be happy to see you Babnik if we can pull it off. Although the idea of a kennels would probably bring in a lot more business I don't think we would like the constant barking (our single collie x is bad enough).Will, thanks for the detail but regarding the separate registrations for the different businesses, surely that doesn't mean we pay more social charges than having just one business type does it? Hope not :-(

Hi all, My family and I are looking to move to France this year (house currently on the market) to stay near my wifes parents. We have a number of ideas of making our living, cattery (see recent post), property/garden maintenance, computer maintenance/training and possibly, if we get the right property, a Gite and run occasional pottery courses. Can we register for these as one business stating maybe one activity as a main business and the rest as sidelines? We do not want to pay for multiple cotisations. We do not see ourselves earning a great deal, would a micro business setup work for this? Back to the cotisations, I know these can mount up initially but surely, if say we earn 10,000 euros per annum would the fees still be about 3-4000 every year (just a figure that seem to be banded around forums from what I have seen!), or is it in relation to what you earn. Finally (sorry!), if I register would my wife and 2 children be covered for health etc. Thanks in advance for any help

My wife and I are considering moving to France to set up a cattery (boarding) within the Charente Maritime region. We are finding it difficult to get information regarding this and would like to know what the regulations are/ restrictions etc with the setup and running? Are they the same as what we would find here in the UK. Is there an organisation in France that regulates businesses like this? Is there much demand for a cattery? Any help would be much appreciated,