Hereford

PM read and answered. H.

FT/orange also have an English helpline for phone and internet queries  (0800 36 47 75).  Just used it as French orange helpline staff so rude.  Result: they agreed our line was "unstable" (it kept crashing) and sent two technicians within 48 hours who gave us a new connector (that is what they called it) on our box outside and we are now getting a stable connection that does not crash.  Fantastic. We do not use a Livebox.  We have computers in two different places - too far to wifi second one and very thick walls anyway.  We have a router on each and just unplug from the phone socket the one we are not using amd plug in the other. Works like a dream.  We do not have or want tv or phone.  We use skype and/or  Coucoutel and have (French) tv by satellite. Mrs H

Thank you P-D.  We will go with Will's advice - we were just concerned that perhaps we were liable if someone advertises when they are not in fact registered, but it would seem we were panicking. H.

Thank you Will:   We think your idea of expanding and/or changing the disclaimer is a good one.  Will we do ths from next mointh. H

We edit a newsletter for a local association and we include advertisements from our members. These adverts are free. The disclaimer on the adverts page is as follows:  " The association cannot be held responsible or liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred through dealings with any advertisers and cannot vouch for the accuracy or legality of any advertisement.  Any contract resulting from an advertisement in this publication is solely between the client and the advertiser." Our query is that some of our "trade" advertisers, who with one exception are all British, show their SIRET numbers and others do not.  Do forum members think that we should insist on a SIRET number and refuse to accept adverts from those that cannot produce them?  Should non-trade adverts be marked "particulier" (as they seem to be in the local press)? Our committee could of course make it a policy not to accept adverts without a number but we would be glad to know if anyone knows the legal position. Thanks in advance H.

Easy to get whipped cream. I use Elle & Vire creme entiere (I live in Normandy) and a packet of Chantilly fixe which comes in small packets and is near vanilla sugar in supermarkets.  The packets actually say to use creme fraiche and can be bought all over France. I use this for trifles or adding toi fruit puree to make a "fool".   Excuse no accents, in a hurry! Mrs H

Even if you are tax resident in France you can only get tax relief if you actually PAY tax!  We know someone who pays this way but gets no relief whereas we find it a very efficient way to pay... H

We are registered for SA online as we did this as soon as we retired (we are accountants so were sending huge numbers of client returns online before but once retired we had to use the revenue software!) We still have property income in the Uk so it is not a problem for us as normally you have to do a "proper" return although we do not pay any tax in the UK. If you have no income in the UK apart from the interest it may be difficult to arrange to do a SA filing.  I was told a year or so ago that I need not send a form unless my circumstances changed - ignoring the fact that I have tax on interest to claim back - not helpful.  I filed anyway (which you can do) but the computer coughed as it thought it did not want a form.. It took some phone calls to sort this out.  I have no idea whether it is possible to register online once you are actually living here in France - I rather suspect not - in which case I have started a red herring running, for which I apologise.  For one thing the site when you file says it can't be done unless you are in the UK - this is rubbish as we have done it successfully for some years now. You need a UK postcode but a poster some months ago gave a way round this - not a scam but given to her (I think it was a her) by the Inland Revenue. Please pm me if I can help. H

We were told by the Inland Revenue that the banks refuse to use the form provided for one to certify "I am not a UK taxpayer".  With the EU savings directive that would be a problem anyway as they would have to ask for and get your overseas tax reference and supply details to that overseas country - too much hassle for them. We have found that we can get the tax back very quickly by doing our UK tax return online - i.e. using self-assessment instead of the R43.   You really need to have a helpful person in the revenue mark your file for SA as otherwise the computer gets confused!  If you have other income, e.g. property income then this should be able to be done. H.

  Our daughter will soon have dual British/German nationality (done so that she can vote and to simplify life with a German husband and children). Her son aged 7 and her daughter aged 3already have dual nationality. She lives in Germany. One possible difference may be that she was european, does being a New Zealander make it different?

We find the most annoying calls the ones that play an automated message saying (in French)  you have an important message and press something to access it.  We now just put the phone down as we are sure this is a scam (hence the "something" in the sentence- we don't listen long enough to hear what to press!) Have had a few of the type of calls you mention too. Is "liste rouge" like the UK telephone preference service so that you don't get any cold calls or is it having your number ex-directory please? If it is the former we will get ourselves put on it. Have you tried telephoning the FT helpline? There is one in English if you prefer. Mrs H

Very many thanks - saw the fermentee stuff when buying milk today. Mrs H

I have a recipe (from an English magazine) that needs "buttermilk".  I have never used it so don't know what it looks like to buy some in France.  Do any of our French forum users know what I should look for please? many thanks Mrs H

Having known several people who had cards cloned and used we now check all our bank accounts online every day and also credit card balances.  Only takes few minutes and means that we would know immediately if someone had managed to get at our money or card accounts. We tell everyone we know to do this. H.

We hope you won't mind if a someone who is not affected comments on this thread.  We heard the report on "You and Yours" today (with a "Tina" - presumably the one who is referred to on this forum?). We feel that you should avoid bringing the current value of the euro/pound into this as it weakens your argument (the MP did it too).  It is clearly a matter of law about the DLA and that is what your argument should be about - anything else confuses the issue and may produce a  negative reaction in some people - i.e. "they should have realised that the pound can go down as well as up - that is their problem" Good luck anyway. Mrs H

Did you ever fill in a tax return in France?  They may not be giving you allowances, no tax will have been deducued from your pay so it may well be that something is indeed owing. H

I am sure someone will come along with advice soon but in the meantime:  there is no PAYE (i.e.tax deducted on earnings) in France, only other things equivalent to NI and state pension contributions are deducted, and they are at quite a high rate. We think you should get back to the SARL you worked for - why did they not get a social security number for you? H.

You may find that other drugs will be given at 100% if they are connected with the diabetes.  My mother has dementia and her blood pressure drugs are also covered by the 100% as are all blood tests. Her GP (in France) asked the specialist and he agreed. Once the 100% is agreed by CPAM (or whoever) it seems to be up to the doctors which drugs are covered.  Speak to the GP. Mrs H

We don't know the answer to your question but the forms were due in at the end of last month unless you are doing it online  - the forms tell you the last filing date at the top!  If no-one can answer you I should go to your local tax office and ask them - they will certainly know!! H.

We were telephoned by our branch and asked to go in.  Apparently they are supposed to check every three years that you still exist and are you!  That is what we were told...We had to produce copies of passports.  All done very simply in five minutes. H. Edit:  If they had emailed we would have gone to the branch - we would never reply to an email from them.

To answer the second part of the original post:  The amount in box DE is the allowable amount (as a deduction) of the previous years CSG paid.  It will have been shown on the CSG statement last year. Can't help about the PHI - sorry

Take a moped on the back of a camper van (like on a bicycle rack) - that gets over the parking problems!

Why wait until January to do UK form?

Don't understand why you think you would pay 22% tax in Uk on all your earnings there.  You would normally get a personal allowance.  Are you registered with Inland revenue (HMRC now)and paying self employed NI contributions in the UK. Or was it an employment? In any case if you are living in France as you suggest all your income goes onto the French tax form (in different boxes), even that in UK and Holland, in order to get the correct Bareme for tax rate. You can then show any tax paid in the UK. Don't forget that tax years for UK and France are different!  was all your 100 days after 5th April 2008 and pre 31st December?

Thanls Allanb - Yes we can see that they are pdf files and have tried saving them to print later but can't then seem to open them.  Will try again.  We will file online as usual but like to write on an actual form first as it makes it easier to find the sections. H.