[Jeu de mots!]

bébé

[Tax return - what exchange rate?]

Cooperlola,

Many thanks for the link (I tried the search engine - all 2cc of it - but all I got was endless references to money transfer).

[Tax return - what exchange rate?]

I have not found anything anywhere indicating what exchange rate to use when completing a tax return (our first will need to be made in the next few months).

Last year the rate varied between 1.43 and 1.50 €/£. Does anyone know of an "official" (as far as tax returns are concerned) figure for the year?

How has this been handled by those of you who have submitted tax returns in previous years? (During 2005, for those of you who submitted last year, the rate ranged 1.42-1.51 €/£).

[Renting in France]

[quote]Is taking out such insurance normal practice?[Rafa][/quote]

Cooperlola and LanguedocGal2 have answered you fully. A little extra:

Not only normal but essential - you won't get a signed rental contract without your Attestation d'Assurance Locataire (sometimes referred to by agents as "Assurance Dég/a\ts des Eaux").

It comes as a standard part of Home Insurance packages (in the UK, these would be called Home Contents).

Our particular package (from one of the big banks) is for both home owners and home renters (some different sub-sections apply as appropriate), which is a very different approach from the UK.

We pay €22 per month (for a large house - 150m2).

[Unicef report on child well-being]

I suspect there's not all that much difference between many of the 21 countries surveyed but France (16th despite the huge problems of the Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse ... conurbations) must surely be rather better than the UK (rank last below even the USA!).

[Cost of living in Tarn]

The problem, as ever, is "how long is a piece of string?" You may be happy with wine at less than €2 per litre, while I may often pay €20 per bottle, and so on.

However, I have just today put together a detailed list for our first year's spend here in France (we only moved in May but commenced our rental contract, electric, water etc. at the beginning of Feb, and the figures include a €300 electricity bill - for the background heating - before we moved in). Anyway, it gives a possibly useful like-for-like comparison between UK and France (similar-sized properties but difference town-UK v. country-FRA):

Heating, lighting and cooking (i.e. electricity and bottled gas in France v. gfch in UK):

slight saving in FRA [£1300+ in UK v.  £1100 (€1614) plus bottled gas in Fra]

water:

big saving (only partly because of Fosse Septique in Fra rather than mains drainage) [£110 Fra v. £410 UK]

but need to allow something p.a. towards cost of emptying FS (maybe once every 5 years)

Council Tax v. Taxe d'Habitation:

big saving in France [currently unknown in Fra but in range €500-1000 v. £2140 (€3200) in UK for 2006-7]

 

Health insurance

This may (perhaps only temporarily) be fairly substantial. You say "early" retirement, so presumably you will have E106 to cover you basic healthcare (reimburses ca. 65% of what you pay) probably through to Jan 2009. So, you are likely to need top-up insurance from a Mutuelle (or insurance company) to cover the other 35% and that really is how long is a piece of string time again because there can be so many differences, exceptions and so on (FWIW we, couple mid-late 50s, pay €118/month for a fairly comprehensive top-up; it's not top of the range - we wouldn't be out of pocket for a serious illness but would have to stump up a fair bit if we have extensive dental work done).

Taxes

Depends on your level of income - generally speaking, if it's average or below, you should be better off here; if it's above average then you can (hopefully) take pleasure from the fact that you will be paying (more than UK) to help those less well-off than you are.

[Quirky???]

[quote]

Chessfou, maybe you are really French.

What the French part of me also finds quirky:

(I do notice this a lot now, with our  English visitors)

- having to stop what you are doing at regular intervals, to have a cuppa[5-element][/quote]

No but it's easier to fit in when all around you seem to think the same way ...

Aaarggh. Tea! "Cuppa" = tea with milk!! euugghh! I stopped that when about three years old. Since then I have never drunk milk and have rarely drunk tea outside of Russia (with lemon), India, Japan, China and Turkey (apple tea) and sometimes in restaurants - Chinese, Japanese, North African (mint tea).

[quote]1. Marmite is gross, Bovril is much better.

2. Eat cheese instead of pudding, its less fattening.

3. Drink white wine.[powerdesal - Steve, Sharjah][/quote]

1. Never tried it (nor Vegemite), nor will I (if I can avoid it);

2. No, a small piece of cheese (I need the calcium, not drinking milk) followed by dessert and the only cheeses that are less fattening than (most) desserts don't deserve to be known as "cheese";

3. Of course, generally speaking white wine matches cheese better than red wines do, and then there's the Gaillac or Jurancon or Monbazillac with dessert, unless it's got chocolate, in which case break out the Rivesaltes Ambré.

[Quirky???]

[quote]

Certain eating habits are considered quirky by the French (or at least by some of my French family or friends).

- eating Marmite - many French are puzzled by this, and find it an acquired taste

- eating cheese after pudding - I suspect this is considered barbaric.

- eating mint sauce with roast lamb.[5-element][/quote]

Not just by the French, I'm sure I'm not the only one who

(1) succeeded in losing all desire to eat Marmite by the age of about four and have never succumbed since;

(2) considers cheese after dessert at least inappropriate (oh, all right, barbaric);

(3) gave up the mint sauce as soon as I started drinking decent reds - it must be a close run thing which of mackerel and mint sauce is the least appropriate thing to combine with red wine, especially one with sufficient tannins to cope with lamb.

[PECHARMONT]

[quote]It has such a distinctive taste due to the high iron content of the soil.[/quote]

There are plenty of other places with high iron content (e.g. Marcillac) but perhaps the most obvious one (certainly the most famous and the most distinctive but as different from Pécharmant as is Monbazillac) is Tokaj in Hungary.

[PECHARMONT]

Pécharmant is OK but I've not yet come across anything really special. Anyway, here you go:

http://www.pays-de-bergerac.com/pages/vins/index.asp

&

http://www.pays-de-bergerac.com/vins/cave-cooperative-bergerac-fleix/index.asp

:

70 boulevard Joseph Santraille

24100 Bergerac

Tél : 05.53.57.16.27

Fax : 05.53.24.57.47

[Am I daft for considering the Livebox?]

I've been using a Livebox satisfactorily for almost a year (albeit there have been a few drop-outs in the past few months which I suspect are down to the hardware rather than the line). Anyway, I wouldn't (and didn't) go near the Orange (Wanadoo as was) software.

I believe that the vast majority of the problems result from the flaky software and the even flakier usb key.

They have a page which runs you through how to hook up machines with integrated WiFi (a PC with a WiFi card stuck in is pretty much the same, depending on the quality of the software with your card). This link may get you there (or it may be restricted to subscribers):

http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=http%3A//assistance.orange.fr/1101.php

[Not a good time to buy...?]

[quote]I would

like to buy as I pay 1050 euro's a month rent (but live in a  property

which would probably cost around 450000 to buy!) but "it's all about

timing". [crevette][/quote]

Try looking at it this way - effectively you're paying 2.8% on a 100% "interest-only" mortgage (IOMs do exist here, according to a mortgage broker I spoke to last year, albeit they are very rare) and you are saving on Taxe Fonci\ere, some insurance and (probably) some maintenance/repairs. You can walk away from your "mortgage" at no cost with (at most) three months notice but don't have the "option to buy" that you get with an IOmortgage.

There are all sorts of reasons to buy and all sorts of reasons to rent but "cheap as chips" is usually a fairly good indicator of which way to go if you have the choice.

[Black Wine lovers in Quercy?]

I opened a bottle of The New Black Wine - 1998 a few days ago.

It was (still) quite dense - interesting - noticably similar to Amarone. Decanted four hours in advance and almost a half decanter full left overnight (ca. 17 hours + 4 = 21 hours) by which time it had peaked and was declining (another time, I would try decanting maybe 6 hours before and then finish the lot). The 1998 was "only" about €20-23.

The reason I started the thread was that I bumped into the Directeur Marketing of l'Union Interprofessionelle du vin de Cahors. He is interested in marketing the Black Wine (not just from Clos Triguedina), especially in England, will be mounting something in Covent Garden later this year and wanted to make contact with some English wine-lovers in and around Cahors.

Unfortunately, tou (I'll leave that as rather a nice "typo" for "you") all seem to live even further away than I do.

[Advice On Social Charges Please]

leslauriers,

Is the following, then, a reasonable summary and can you please fill in the missing bits for 3a-3b-3c?

(1) State pension - exempt

(2) company pension:

(2a) during E106 - exempt

(2b) between E106 and E121 - subject to 0.5% CRDS

(2c) during E121 - exempt

(3) personal pension (a.k.a. private pension) in drawdown?

(3a) ?

(3b) ?

(3c) ?

(3d) purchased annuity - subject to 11% (subject to caveats & allowances)

[Same as Spain?]

[quote]Both the website and the letter state that the EHIC provides cover if

you temporarily visit another country - does that include the UK?  I

wonder what the reaction would be if you have to visit a UK GP or

hospital and produce a UK issued card that is valid for overseas rather

than "domestic" situations?[SundayDriver][/quote]

Yes, it does.

I was advised (during one of the many phone calls) that one should present BOTH the EHIC and a copy of the E106. The person I spoke to was unsure whether this applied only to visits back to the UK or to all third countries (but by then I was losing the will to live). My best guess at the moment is that it only applies to visits back to the UK but I will be taking a copy of the E106 with me (as well as the EHIC) next time I travel.

[Same as Spain?]

Clarification now from both sides. My CPAM just phoned me back.

CPAM cannot supply us with EHIC cards because we are covered by UK E106. If we want EHIC cards we MUST get them from the UK (so, if we didn't already have them and despite the fact we have been resident in France for 9 months, we would have to apply to the UK).

They described to me the way this usually works:

- a few months before the expiry of our E106, we should write to the UK asking for a renewed E106 OR a letter of rejection;

- if we get an extended E106, then we need to get the UK to issue "extended" EHICs, while the CPAM would issue us with an "extended" Carte Vitale;

- if (as I expect) we get a letter of rejection, then we apply (in good time - maybe 5 weeks before expiry of our Carte Vitale & UK EHIC) to the CPAM (with all the necessary justificatifs - inc. letter of rejection, last UK tax declaration and last - in our case first - French tax declaration) for a new Carte Vitale and a French EHIC.

So, that's good - end of any ambiguity - DWP & CPAM in entire agreement.

[quote]the EHIC application form rules do not look amibiguous, they appear to be statements.[/quote] [teamedup]

Indeed they do not, indeed they do and, for 99%+ of applicants, quite right too.

I would not expect to see in a top-level document something referring to an exception which I guess might apply to (at most) about 0.5% of applications p.a., would you?

It's a bit like the rules for ISAs. The main rules state categorically that you cannot hold AIM shares in an ISA - it's only after drilling down through the rules and regs that you find the exceptions to the rules (many AIM shares are eligible for ISAs).

As far as the EHIC regulations are concerned, I did my drilling when I needed to - end 2005, early 2006 and it wasn't easy - as I mentioned earlier in the thread, I spoke to some half-a-dozen people at that time

[Same as Spain?]

The FAQ would be an excellent idea.

Ron Avery (and Sunday Driver et.al.),

My research (on this) only began in 2005. E106 and new (replacement) UK EHIC card (to go with the E106, to cover us for the period in France through to the end of the E106) were issued in April 2006 (and we emigrated in May).

The covering letter (dated XX/April/2006) that came (from The Pension Service, Tyneview Park, Medical Benefits, ...) with our E106 said as follows:

We have now completed our enquiries into your application for medical cover in France and enclose two copies of the Form E106 ... ...

Visiting another country

If you temporarily visit another country that applies the EU rules on health care, you may be entitled to medical cover from the United Kingdom (UK) whilst you are there. But the UK can only give you this cover up to XX/XX/2008 when your cover on form E106 ceases.

To get this cover you will need a plastic card called the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) available from the Pricing Prescription Authority (PPA) in the UK. You can apply for your EHIC by completing the enclosed application form and sending it to the PPA in the envelope provided. ... ...

I did, indeed, send off the form, resulting in the appearance of the new UK EHIC card (expires XX/XX/2008) to replace my old (and invalid since we emigrated) UK EHIC card ("expiry" 2011). But, of course, some on this thread insist that they know better.

Boiling a frog,

Thanks for that, I was beginning to doubt my sanity.

KathyC,

I don't know the answer about the E121 and, thankfully, have a few years to go before I even start to think about it. I believe in researching things in good time but not so soon that the regulations may change in the interim.

[Same as Spain?]

Teamedup,

Why don't you follow the link I gave to the DWP website and read for yourself the context to the bit I quoted (and which a grand total of 8 - eight* - people at DWP have told me over the period 2005-2007).

Remember, this is for someone in the category NOT WORKING but living in France and BELOW NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE.

The sequence is clear enough:

(1) Get E106 form and use this to get registered with CPAM and get your Carte Vitale;

(2) No UK EHIC will cover you for treatment in France;

(3) If you visit a third country, you need E111/EHIC (UK)**;

(4) "If you begin working again" (ditto end of E106 and consequent expiry of matched UK EHIC), then it is necessary to get benefits (by whatever means appropriate) in the country where you are living (i.e. CEAM from France).

*Strictly speaking, it's 7 at DWP and 1 in the department that actually issues EHICs.

**NB our old UK EHIC cards are not valid for anything, anywhere since the date of our emigration (even though they show a validity date through to 2011 - as your reading of some of the Ts&Cs confirmed), it is only our new UK EHIC cards (issued after our E106) that are valid.

[Same as Spain?]

KathyC,

that is the underpinning which I believe to be correct.

It is certainly not unknown for DWP to be wrong but since I went through many, many hoops (and spoke to at least six people there about this) prior to our move here (it was important since I still travel a bit) and have subsequently had it confirmed by two more different sets of people plus, in between, they issued us with new EHICs basically to match the E106, then I'm going to believe them ahead of a random TV programme.

Nonetheless, I will be interested to hear what our CPAM have to say about the position when they call back at the beginning of this week.

Teamedup,

If you don't believe DWP then who do you believe (and why?).

SundayDriver,

DWP site states:

When you get forms E106, register the forms by giving it to the

authorities who run the sickness insurance scheme in the country where

you live. If you have family members who cannot be issued with form

E106 in their own right, they may be covered as members of your family

on your own form E106, but this is a matter for the authorities there.

Ask them if they can include your family members when your form E106 is

registered.

If you visit a third EEA country and you need a form E111 for

medical cover (because you did not get one from a UK post office or

from www.dh.gov.uk/travellers before you left the UK), get one by writing to The Pension Service.

If you begin work again, you will need to pay into a sickness insurance

scheme so that you can get benefits in the country where you are

living.

[ http://www.dwp.gov.uk/international/sa29/medical_06.asp ]

So, it is possible that this is another weird bit (like the Titre de Séjour) that applies to us ("retired" but under retirement age - a.k.a. "economically inactive") but few (if any) others.

[Advice On Social Charges Please]

Assurance Vie and PEA are entirely different species.

Assurance Vie - financial products.

PEA comes in two flavours - (a) financial product in tax wrapper; (b) plain vanilla tax wrapper.

PS. Just because financial products are marketed to make a profit for the insurance co. or bank producing them does not automatically mean that the purchaser will lose money (sometimes there is a little left over).

[Capital Gains on Spreadbetting]

Unfortunately no nearer having even the faintest idea how things stand here in France.

I heard from someone in Finland that the Finnish authorities (apparently) bowed to an EU ruling on the subject (and accepted that s/bs are free of tax) but I have no reference for chapter/verse as far as the EU reg is concerned.

That was a specific question that I asked IGIndex but they sidestepped/ignored that one.

[Same as Spain?]

[quote]Of course, anyone permanently resident in France and registered for CMU

(either through an E-form or under their own cost) and wanting a card

to cover them whilst making return visits to the UK should apply for a

French one through their local CPAM. [/quote]

Not according to DWP (neither for return visits to UK nor, more relevant, visits to other countries), who today confirmed what they had previously told me (see previous post). I also thought it worthwhile double-checking with CPAM - they weren't able to confirm at the time (it was a bit late on a Friday afternoon) but someone will phone me back on Monday/Tuesday and I don't anticipate any surprise (having spent ages and multiple calls establishing all this before we left the UK).

UK EHIC* runs through to date of expiry of E106, thereafter French EHIC required.

It is very important that anyone for whom this might be relevant make their own enquiries direct to the relevant authorities.

*make sure you get a new one issued - tied to your E106 (on the basis of what I was told last year, our original EHICs were, indeed, useless from the time we left the UK).

[Same as Spain?]

[quote]Once you are resident abroad, the UK E111/EHIC is no longer valid.[/quote]

No. My old UK EHIC card is no longer valid but my new UK EHIC card is valid (except, obviously, for France) and will remain valid until my E106 expires. At least, that's what Newcastle say.

My new EHIC card was issued specifically to match the period of the E106. During this period, the responsibility for basic cover rests with the UK (E106 for France & EHIC for elsewhere).

Once the E106 runs out, my "new" UK EHIC will need to be replaced by a French EHIC.

[NB. For anyone confused about dates, the important one is that of the E106. For example, the expiry date on my new UK EHIC is in Sept. 2008 but it actually expires in January 2008 - dictated by the E106 expiry date.]

[Daft Question?]

[quote]if you go to any country with the intention of taking up permanent or

long-term residence, for example to work, you are deemed to have taken

up residence on the day you arrive.[/quote]

A small (possible) correction. We were advised that French tax residency is deemed to commence the day after arrival.

[money money money]

It may depend what you have planned for that "small pension" cash.

Have you considered opening a Nationwide Flex Account? The point being that (for the last few years, and for the foreseeable future) you can draw cash (in €) from just about any dispenser here (or pretty much anywhere else in the world) without paying any charge or any commission (so, considerably cheaper than HiFx who take their cut from the "spread" - NWi do not).

Our other "essential" is the Nationwide Credit Card - same deal for € purchases (no charge, no commission).

My wife and I each have one of each. It makes keeping track of spending quite easy:

French bank account #1 - house expenditure;

French bank account #2 - all SO/DDs plus misc. cheques;

NWi credit cards for normal expenditure ;

NWi Flex a/cs with debit cards for cash.

If you are going to do this, make sure you open all the accounts well in advance of leaving the UK since you won't be able to do so afterwards (although there is no problem about maintaining them from a French address).