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Mr C

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    Compost

    in NEW - Money Saving Expat

    Posted

    Maybe it is just in my department, but I thought it was national...   the Decheterie does free compost here, it comes from the food waste bin we have collected every week, and you can get as much or as little as you like.  Some people take vans-full of the stuff...   and I also heard of one local garden centre that sells it...

    They say it is well treated - and I trust it because everyone uses it so no-one will abuse it (by putting nasty plant-killing things in their brown bin!!)

     

     

     

    Be Very Aware!

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    Good old Watchdog!!  On the ball again!!

    The trouble with Watchdog is that it takes so many people to complain over such a long period of time, that often by the time you and I hear about a story, it's all done and dusted...

    In the UK I was (am?) a Driving Instructor, and have dealt with this matter many many times since it came up just over two years ago, when the people passing their tests in cars were being sent new licences automatically without the need of a Pass Certificate.

    One by one, customers were calling and saying they had lost their bike entitlement...

    As the Chair of a very active Driving Instructor Association, I made contact with the DVLA - to receive a standard response of "we are not aware of such an issue, and suggest that the customer checks again..."

    But eventually, the Driving Standards Agency (the people that run the tests) took the matter up, and it was confirmed as a problem!!

    A few months later, everything was solved and now I truly believe that it is not happening any more.

    HOWEVER - anybody that exchanged their licence for any reason, or passed a driving test for a car (Cat B) from about the summer of 2006 until around the same time in 2007 - should check that they still have the correct entitlement on their licence.

    Remember that passing a test no longer gives you automatic entitlement to drive vehicles in other classes, and so if you have passed a test since 1994 you may find that your licence only shows the categories of vehicle for which you have been tested.  Passing a test prior to 1994 should mean that you have certain other categories also - such as A, C1, D1, etc.  These should not be affected by this story - it only seemed to affect people that took motorcycle tests prior to testing for a car, lorry or bus (B, C or D).

     

    So panic not - but do make a quick check.

    How to get an EU certificate of conformity

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    I don't wish to advertise - and if it's not allowed, then I'm sure someone will delete this post!

    For my car, I used EuroCOC (at eurococ.com).  I think it cost more than if I had gone directly - I paid 70€ for my Ford plus 10€ for "delivery by courier"...  but it came with my regular postie, and not signed for!

    However, it all took just a few clicks online, the VIN number and my details, and then when they had the certificate in their office I got an email and a call, and then I could go back to their site and pay.

     

    I was worried when the certificate turned up and was from Germany, but when I queried this I got a very fast email reply, which was pretty personalised unlike most big companies...  and they were right to say that it shouldn't be a problem...   it had all the right reference numbers for example...

     

    You can get an instant quote from their site...   and in my case, from the query to the certificate arriving took just 6 days - they advertise 21.

     

    I found them online, when I looked for the details for Ford - and never even got a reply from the emails I sent to Ford in France and the UK.

     

     

    Andy

    A new type of Importation question

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    [quote user="ErnieY"]...why not just go along in all innocence and see if they accept the CT as is...[/quote]

     

    Cool - that's what I did, and there was no problem...   The CoC was in German, which bothered me a bit too!!  But with that, and the old CT the lady was very happy to proceed.

     

    Shame though - I stand out now as much as I would with English plates - I have been given a new style number AA-123-YZ...   grrr...

     

    Thanks for the help people...

    A new type of Importation question

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    [quote user="Sunday Driver"]

    Having started the import process all of 16 months ago, I imagine you've had the car off the road for most of this time because it would have been illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle after one month of its arriving in France.....[Www]

    [/quote] Yes - it has been unused throughout, as I have had another car... Now I wanted the real car for a long trip, rather than the 4x4. [quote]

    Given your history of apparent non-compliance with the law...[/quote] Nope - again that's not me. I am not one of those ex-pats that is here on the run and avoiding taxes and legal things... [quote] No point in removing the vignette to try and fool them because your vehicle test record will be held on the central computer system at UTAC to which all CT stations are networked.

    [/quote] That's interesting. That I didn't know.

    A new type of Importation question

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    I know this topic is covered over and over, but I think I have a new question that no-one has asked before.

    I started the Import process 16 months ago, but for one reason and another, I never completed!! Now I am ready again.

    So today I took the car for a CT (having got all the other documents in place) - but the tester refused me, because the car already has a valid CT from 16 months ago.

    He says that he is not allowed to retest, because of course by now, the car should have been imported. Never mind whether I used it or not, with a valid certificate, I cannot get another.

    I know that one option would be to remove the sticker from the windscreen, and go to a different testing station... but does anyone know if I need to do this?? Can I save 75€ ??

    My CT is dated January 2008. Does it need to be newer than this? Like the 6-months for registering a just-bought car?

    Thanks in advance.

    I am also doing my own research - so if I find out myself then I will post back here later. So far, the Prefecture didn't know - no really!! The CT Tester thought it wouldn't matter, but then proceeded to make an appointment for 15 days time, for once I have the Carte Grise... What's that about as well??

    Thanks in advance.

    Drainage and connection to street drains

    in House Renovations

    Posted

    Hello

    I've done a quick search, but can find nothing... Hope someone can help, or point me in the right direction.

    I am working for a Dutch couple nearby, and they have had lots of work done - and almost all of it is done badly or done wrong.

    I don't propose putting it all right - besides it is beyond the scope of my current Auto-Entreprise registration.

    I do want to advise them though.

    Their village is on mains drainage, but it was recent and down to each household to make arrangements to connect. They brought the pipe to the road, and the water company or council connected it to the road pipes.

    Today, someone has come to do some other work, and have uncovered the pipe from the house to the road (because it was not buried deep enough, not in sand, no filet-avertisseur etc...).

    And we have found a standard grey 100mm PVC pipe - with some very suspect angles, and no inspection points anywhere.

    Apparently, when the water people connected it, they said it was the wrong pipe, but that they would connect it at the responsibility of the householder.

    I know what it should be, and I know how it should be enterred... but I can't find the regulations or any kind of guidance note that isn't just my learned knowledge.

    Anybody know how to find this, or where, or have a copy they can email??

    Or, for my peace of mind, perhaps someone can dare to tell me their opinion so I can be sure I am right...

    Thanks in advance - whether or not you can help.

    Andy

    House Insurance

    in French Legal Issues

    Posted

    [quote user="Will"]

    ...they only received an empty envelope, not a [...] letter. [/quote]

     

    Ah!  That old chestnut!  I have had this happen a few times in the UK with stuff I've sent Recorded.

     

    Thanks to all for the advice so far.   I have heard nothing more from the old company, they don't respond to my emails and I can only deal with the one agent, as they don't seem to share work.

    Of course, I know I'm not lucky enough for the problem to have gone away!!

    House Insurance

    in French Legal Issues

    Posted

      (Sorry if this is in the wrong place - maybe someone will move it if that is the case!)

     

    So - I wrote to my insurance company to cancel my house insurance, three months before it was due for renewal.  They never received the letter?? 
    Foolishly, although I sent it recorded, I didn't keep the advice note that came back.

    Now it turns out that I owe them for the years insurance, despite being insured elsewhere now.

     

    Anybody know where I stand on this one?

    I have recommended the insurer to many people, not least because they have an English person in the office, so it is easy for those who's French isn't too great.
    I won't be doing that again!!

     

    Thanks

     

    Mr C

    Pointless question about my Sky EPG

    in French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone

    Posted

    Little things puzzle me, and I like to know everything!  Not always possible, but I do try!!

     

    Can anyone tell me why my Sky EPG (when I view all channels for example) has some programmes in blue text on a white background, and others as they always used to be, with white on blue?

     

    See - said it was a pointless question...  I'm not losing sleep over it, but someone must know!

     

     

    Thanks

    Forum search problems

    in Forum Technical Support

    Posted

    Actually - it's not fully fixed...

     

    Server Error in '/cs' Application.

    Invalid postback or callback argument.  Event validation is enabled using <pages enableEventValidation="true"/> in configuration or <%@ Page EnableEventValidation="true" %> in a page.  For security purposes, this feature verifies that arguments to postback or callback events originate from the server control that originally rendered them.  If the data is valid and expected, use the ClientScriptManager.RegisterForEventValidation method in order to register the postback or callback data for validation.

    Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

    Exception Details: System.ArgumentException: Invalid postback or callback argument.  Event validation is enabled using <pages enableEventValidation="true"/> in configuration or <%@ Page EnableEventValidation="true" %> in a page.  For security purposes, this feature verifies that arguments to postback or callback events originate from the server control that originally rendered them.  If the data is valid and expected, use the ClientScriptManager.RegisterForEventValidation method in order to register the postback or callback data for validation.

    Source Error:

    An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

    Stack Trace: 

    [ArgumentException: Invalid postback or callback argument.  Event validation is enabled using <pages enableEventValidation="true"/> in configuration or 
    <%@ Page EnableEventValidation="true" %> in a page.  
    For security purposes, this feature verifies that arguments to postback or callback events originate from the server control that originally rendered them. 
    If the data is valid and expected, use the ClientScriptManager.
    RegisterForEventValidation method in order to register the postback or callback data for validation.]
       System.Web.UI.ClientScriptManager.ValidateEvent(String uniqueId, String argument) +2082620
       System.Web.UI.Control.ValidateEvent(String uniqueID, String eventArgument) +106
       System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument) +32
       System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button.System.Web.UI.IPostBackEventHandler.RaisePostBackEvent(String eventArgument) +7
       System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(IPostBackEventHandler sourceControl, String eventArgument) +11
       System.Web.UI.Page.RaisePostBackEvent(NameValueCollection postData) +174
       System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +5102

    Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.42; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.210

    Help-un petit probleme?

    in French Legal Issues

    Posted

    Our land is leased out to a farmer, on a ten year lease, which expires next year.

    Our contract shows this as a clause, which vendor, buyer, farmer and notaire have signed off.  Everyone is happy that the land will become ours on the date specified, even though I have paid for it now.

    If there is any further problem, the notaire will be on our side, as it's all signed off that way.

    It held our purchase up by one day, while the estate agent visited the various people to get it all in writing.

     

    Good luck!

    How can I pay?

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    So - we are moving shortly...   from Kent to Bourgogne.

    I'm learning loads from this forum, and I thank everyone who's posts I have read.

     

    When I sell my UK house, I will get a fair amount of money left over...

     

    I know I can't just chuck it in a suitcase and then expect to be able to buy a house without awkward questions, so what should I do?

    Do I keep the money in the UK, and then transfer it to the vendors bank (like I would here) or do I open a French bank account, transfer the money there and then make the purchase?

     

     

    Its difficult as I am not able to buy until I have sold here and moved there...

     

     

    Thanks in advance.

    Hi - I'm new, and nervous about moving to Bourgogne

    in Earning a Living

    Posted

    Hi

    I've been reading this forum for a while, and I'd like to say thanks to all the people that have helped me out without knowing it.

    My family and I and very seriously looking at moving to Burgundy (58) but there is just one thing that is niggling me...

    Will one of us be able to work?

    We have two daughters, 7 years and 18 months...  so must be able to keep them! 

    I will do anything, and I will look hard for it...  but is there really anything to work at in rural Bourgogne?

     

    I don't have an issue with language, but my wife speaks very little (although she understands plenty!).

    I am now a driving instructor, which I know I won't be able to do there...  my wife is a qualified hair-dresser...

     

    I can push a broom, milk cows, write web pages, wield an axe, roof a house, things like that...

     

    Thanks in advance, and I'm sorry that I know this has been covered before, but I really want to be able to get a response to MY question, and show my wife what you guys think.

     

    Cheers

     

     

    Andy (and Karen)

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