[Where were you?]

I'm sorry,

What made you think I didn't vote?

[Where were you?]

Well as the vast majority of them are British and, as such, have the right of abode in the United Kingdom I suppose they could have all decamped en mass, registered to vote, stayed in a travelodge or something then gone back home but it would have been a bit impractical don't you think?

Might have worked wonders for the local tourism industry though.

[Where were you?]

Which neatly makes my point ALBF, thank you.

All French citizens worldwide, able to cast their vote on what direction their country takes. Hopefully the British government will catch up with the idea soon.

[Where were you?]

I think when it

comes to losers, European consumers fall very far down the list. For

example I wouldn’t worry about the loss of M&S in Paris,

there’s always Subway.

Maybe you are right,

maybe the EU is rotten to the core however I despair at a nation that

will so blithely let it’s citizens become collateral damage just in

order to prove a point.

[Where were you?]

If I may politely correct you. The actual referendum question was " Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union" Had the implementation of the result only affected those living in the United Kingdom I would have fully agreed with you but it didn't, it affected every British national in the world whether or not they chose to exercise those rights. It very much concerned me as, overnight, I was no longer able to vote in local elections for local issues. No amount of 'extra paperwork' is going to give me that back that right, only adopting a nationality of a European country. But voting is a minor issue and I return to my point on the overseas territories.

Brexit not only resulted in the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from

the European Union, but also of its Overseas Territories Association

(UKOTA) from the rest of the Overseas Countries and Territories

Association. The Falkland Islands economy ( remember them ) relies heavily on fish, of which up to 90

percent is exported to the EU. The Pitcairn Islands, exports one-third of its honey to

the EU and had so far received around 2.4 million euros from the

European Development Fund. Apparently there's a chance the Falkland Islands might turn to Spain for assistance in their squid war whilst the Pitcairn Islands could be put up for sale ( France is apparently interested ). Then there's my old friend Anguilla. Pre Brexit the EU were Anguilla's main source of funding for the rebuilding efforts after hurricane Irma. That funding has now gone. To the north it borders France, to the south the Netherlands. It has no access to postal services, fuel, basic medical services and

educational special needs other than through the facilities located in

the Dutch and French territories. Don't tell me Brexit doesn't affect these people. It affects them more than it is ever going to affect you or I or even, may I suggest, more than it is likely to affect 'your average brit'.

[Where were you?]

Now, now, Ken,

You know full well

that when I referred to ‘countrymen’ I was referring to all

British citizens not just the ones within the United Kingdom. Global

Britain if you like.

I suspect when this

all pans out it will go one of two ways. Either things will continue

as they have been with little deals being done under the table until

the UK is back in the EU in all but name. Or the calls for

independence will grow louder, not just from Scotland but Northern

Ireland, and all the overseas territories ( Wales I don’t know

about ). In a way Brexit has set a precedent. Why should Scottish

sovereignty be any different from British sovereignty. Why should

Westminster interfere in Anguilla's affairs. I don’t know how this

will pan out and neither do you. As I said I truly hope I’m wrong

and Britain prospers. In the meantime I will do what I can to regain

the rights I have lost and continue to commiserate and support those

whose lives have been turned upside down through no fault of their

own.

[Where were you?]

Ah Ken,

Your lack of concern

for the welfare of your fellow countrymen says more about you than

anything else you have written to date. Why should I give up my

British Nationality? As the proud descendant of someone who was on

the winning side in 1066 it is my right. Who knows, the time might

come when I decide to return to Britain. Or not, whatever it’ll be

my choice. What I do know is that this governments concern for it’s

citizens extends only to those whose votes it can count on. And

talking of politicians, “pay homage”? Sounds a bit cultist to

me.

[Where were you?]

I feel I should

apologise. I admit I was triggered.

It’s the old trope “ the

majority voted for Brexit – get over it”. As a true believer in

democracy I wonder what is democratic about a referendum which

altered the status of every British citizen on the planet being

decided only by those within the right postcode. Personally I think

Covid has masked a lot of the negatives of Brexit and I wouldn’t

put it past this government to continue muddying the

waters for years to come.

I worry about my family &

friends still in the UK and, believe it or not, hope Britain

prospers. But for me, the time has come to fully invest in the

country that has given me a home. For the UK, I’ll keep my fingers

crossed.

[Where were you?]

If leaving the EU was such a good idea why didn't the British government have the integrity to allow the very people Brexit was going to affect the most a vote. And I'm not talking about Europeans living in the united kingdom or even brits. living in europe whose right to vote had lapsed. I'm talking about british subjects living in the overseas territories whose whole way of life revolved around co-existing with their European neighbours. Anguila for example receives 99% of it's supplies from Saint Maarten, it's neighbour ( Dutch/ EU ). They rely on the close physical link for medical services, transport, you name it. Were they given a say? No. We've all seen how well the Channel Islands are getting on with France now that Brexit has thrown away a perfectly good fishing treaty. They had less time to study the withdrawal agreement than the UK parliament. And before you ask yes they did ask for a vote, it was refused.

If I've learnt anything from Brexit it is that a cohort of charlatans and snake oil salesman were perfectly happy to shaft their own countrymen in the pursuit of personal profit. Personally I hope they all go to hell.

Oh, and before you ask, yes I am applying for French Nationality. I don't trust her majesty's government to have my back anymore.

But Ken, you won, get over it!!!

[So how many of us are still out there]

Dear Caroline,

I am so sorry for your loss. Your father was just the sort of helpful member I was referring to in my original post. I know I followed his advice when registering our cars and would occasionally print out advice he gave to others for future reference. I owe him, along with other members of the forum, a great debt.

Take care of yourself,

Antonia

[So how many of us are still out there]

Hi,

Most of you won't know me but I've been lurking round this forum for over 16 years. When we first moved to France it helped us change our driving licenses, gave invaluable support during the CPAM crisis, relevant information re:Brexit and last year, when I lost my husband, emotional support as well. For those of you who expressed condolences at the time I'm sorry I didn't reply but I was locked out of the forum for some reason & have only now got back in. I'm hopeful that this forum will outlive me but know that I'm probably not the only person that has dipped in and out over the years whilst contributing little. If it does end up dying I want to put on record how much I have appreciated the advice of past and present members and I hope other lurkers will come out of the shadows and join me in saying a very big

                                                                    Thank You.

                                                                     Antonia

[Well that was a waste of time!]

Believe me I know all about Jersey's relationship with the EU! Hubby was born in Jersey to one French parent & one English so had full rights of access to the EU. I was born in the UK to Jersey parents both of which do not have a right to "live & work". Neither does my brother.

I think it's more likely that the format of the relevant certificates was unfamiliar ( being a translation from the original French!). Once the CdeS was obtained we were going to apply for French nationality for his nibs on behalf of bloodline. Then I was going to apply as the spouse.

His death means all that's gone and I'm left with just the CdeS based on being an EU citizen & time in France. If they allow me one.

[Well that was a waste of time!]

So after post about my carte vitale saga, here's a new one, the carte de sejour.

Hubby & I had our rendezvous beginning of December last year. All went well, so we thought. Fast forward to end of February and we received letters through the post saying we needed to have our birth certificates & marriage license translated by a court translator and present said translations to the guichet before the end of March. ( Hubby was born & we were married in Jersey so the certificates are not "the norm" ).

Finds translator who completes the work the day before Hubby dies.

Week after Hubby death I travel to the prefecture to present said documents at the guichet. End of March comes & I hear nothing so go back to prefecture to see if there's a problem. Turns out there is, Hubby is dead and they need a copy of the death certificate to close the file. Man at guichet very sympathetic, it's a long journey, you can email it in instead. Go home & send death certificate to the email address given.

Cut to today & I've still heard nothing and my récépissé expires Friday so back to the prefecture I go. Different man, email unacceptable, must have original document. No can't renew récépissé until Thursday, come back then & no can't say if there are any outstanding issues.

I just wish they'd come clean and say they're not going to issue one. It's not as if I don't have anything else to do.

[Notaire fees after death of husband]

Just a question, do you have to transfer the house into your name? I ask because we were also CU and our notaire told me there was no need to transfer the house into my sole name until I came to sell it. As the cost was a few thousand euros and I have no intention of moving out, just yet ,I decided to leave it as it is.

[Notaire a necessity?]

Firstly my sincere condolences. My husband passed away 7 weeks ago so I have some idea of what you're going through.

Secondly take a deep breath. I've found, as I wandered around the town with my little speech and copies of the death certificate that everyone is incredibly sympathetic and helpful. Nobody expects you to do everything at once. All the French I spoke to said the admin was far too labour intensive after a death. I can't answer for whether or not a notaire is necessary but I decided to let ours handle the French succession as I have a rather complicated UK probate to deal with. The thought of chasing up banks to release funds when I can't even say his name without crying was too much.

My advice, go at your own pace, you need to look after yourself at a time like this.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

Just a quick update.

Received another letter from CPAM this morning which said that they had been informed of my change of circumstances and were now ready to create my new account. It said, to do this, my carte vitale needed to be reactivated so I drove in straight away and came back with a functioning card and a new attestation in my name only which I can now show my mutuelle.

I'll take the attestation with me if I have to go to the Prefecture to find out what the state of play is with my CdS at the end of the month. Thanks to everybody for all your kind words and suggestions. As least that's now one thing less to worry about.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

I'm not sure we've got an aide sociale, it's a small village. Something else to ask the secretary. Suein56, yes that's exactly how we were in the system from when we arrived in 2003 until his nibs got his pension 7 years ago. I remember having to send off the cheques every quarter to URSSAF.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

I was covered by an S1 because my husband was of pensionable age and had paid enough contributions. I am under UK states pension age so can not get an S1 in my own right.When he died my S1 was cancelled by the UK Govt. immediately along with his.

When we applied for the CdS in December we supplied them with attestations d'hébergement from the Mairie but these only said we were currently living at our address, not how long we'd been there. It wasn't a problem for his nibs as all the utility bills were in his name, but for me the only thing that would do was an attestation sur honneur, signed by him to say I'd lived with him for the last 5 years.

I'm told another letter from CPAM is on it's way so I'll wait and see what it says then probably take it down to the Mairie and ask for help. On top of all this I only have another couple of weeks before the récépissé expires on my CdS application which will mean another trip to the Prefecture.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

Thank you for all

your suggestions. Yes I have the carte vitale and all the old

attestations ( I’m a bit of a hoarder ) but, as the CPAM helpline

said yesterday, just because I had the rights as an ayant droit,

doesn’t mean to say I was actually in the country at the time. Same

goes for the joint bank account. I’ve tried to print off my

reimbursements from the Ameli site but my access is now blocked. I

think I might have to just take every ordinance and xRay along to the

head office. Maybe an attestation from my doctor and physiotherapist

might help.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

Yes I’ve got all

our tax returns which, as you say, have both our names on them. I’m

also going to see the secretary at the marie. She’s definitely fly

when it comes to matters like this.. It was a bit of a shock when my

carte vital was rejected after being told by the cpam helpline that

there was a grace period. And now having re-applied and been rejected

it all just too much. Thank you for all the suggestions, I’m going

to try to hold it together at the meeting with the notaire tomorrow

then tackle it again on Friday.

[Proof of 5 years residency for health cover]

When hubby & I

went for our interviews for our CdS in December, proving I had been

here 5 years was a bit of a problem. My name wasn’t on any utility

bill and they wouldn’t accept receipts for purchases, by me,

delivered to our address. The only thing that sufficed was an

d'attestation d'hébergement signed by his nibs stating that I had

lived with him for the last 5 years.

Fast forward to

today and my CdS application is on hold while they review my file in

the light of his death. In the meantime my healthcare rights have

been suspended following the cancelling of the S1 by the UK and my

application to apply to join the French system has hit a bump as

they’re saying I’ve been here less than 5 years. ( I’ve lived

in France since 2003 ).

Any ideas as to what

I could use to prove 5yr residency, UK bank accounts for instance?

Letter from the Mayor? I’m worried that if I have to reapply for

the CdS I won’t get it as I no longer have health insurance.

[Funerals]

My husband died suddenly two weeks ago and I thought I would add to this thread.His death occurred in a hospital some distance from home. The death notice was issued in the commune where he died not where he lived. My neighbour recommended a local funeral director who took care of everything, from registering the death, to returning the body to a local chapel of rest and collecting all the personal effects. As had been said, funerals are done quick. It was so unexpected that I decided to go for no ceremony, just a quiet goodbye. I had expected some resistance but everyone was totally understanding and I returned home with the ashes that afternoon. I intend to return his ashes to the place of his birth at a later date.

A couple of admin. thoughts:

If a death occurs in a larger town or city you can order copies of the death certificate online including multi-language versions. They will be posted to you for free.

If your healthcare comes from your partners OAP ( S1) and you are under pensionable age, you lose it the moment your partner dies. I am now trying to join PUMA.

Your own mairie is informed automatically you don't need to pay them a visit.

Early days for me but there you go.

[Internet radio]

Yes we're the same, nothing except world service. Have tried everything including factory reset with no joy. Thought it was just us.

[CSG refund - Success! - partial repayment]

Congratulations!!

After a protracted

couple of months we've finally decided to give up. Our man at “les

impot” has insisted on deducting 4.5% instead of 2% on the

assurance vie and has decreed that copies of bank statements are not

sufficient justification for the claim concerning our deposit

account. We've got back roughly half what we claimed but don't fancy

the thought of a tribunal which he's told us is our only recourse.

Still we're better

off that last year so thanks,Parsnips, from us as well.

[The tale wagging the dog]

Oops!!!