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martinetchris

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Everything posted by martinetchris

  1. Folks In case it's of interest/use to anyone, I've just come across a really good web site on the CMU - it includes links to print off documents including application form for registering for CMU. maybe everyone already knows and I'm the last to discover it, but in case not : http://www.cnamts.fr/ass/cmu/somcmu.htm Best wishes Chris and Martin
  2. Janet We use Credit Agricole and have been happy with them - although I know many people on the LF site aren't ! Our bank (as with other banks, I believe) do not charge for money transferred from UK by TAPS (Transcontinental Automated Payment Service). See a previous discussion thread on day to day transfers of money. However, they do charge for money transferred in other ways - including via their own CA branch in London. Mazan will be able to tell you of the benefits of using the French Post Office, as will other users about other banks ! Good luck Chris and Martin
  3. Toni We are in very similar position. As well as getting (well still trying to get actually ...) French E111s we've taken out annual travel insurance through Gaye Galliver of British Insurance Brokers of Aquitaine. She has also got us single trip insurance in the past ... and is always very efficient (i.e. same/next day cover). her e-mail address is : [email protected] Best wishes Chris and Martin
  4. Hi We're with CA and have in fact just today written to them to cancel our "CSCA Confort" on 2 of our 3 accounts. CSCA Confort is an insurance offered by CA to protect you against theft and misuse of your cheque book, as well as other protections. We took it out on all our current accounts when we were new and even more naive than now ! Hence cancelling 2 of 3 of them now. Sorry - no idea what the 2nd one is Best wishes Chris and Martin PS Also look out for a prelevement (direct debit) for "Familial-Uni-Edition" which is a monthly magazine from CA that appears to be an equivalent of Readers Digest. Which would be bad enough, but given it's in French for those of us less than fluent it's only good for helping keeping the local recycling bins full - at 8.16 per month per account !!
  5. Folks There are of course many different ways of transferring day to day funds from France to UK, but we thought people may be interested in our comparison of 2 means : 1. Credit Agricole : transfer from our UK bank (Bank of Scotland) to CA London to local CA branch 2. Bank of Scotland : TAPS (Transcontinental Automated Payment Service) from UK bank direct to local CA branch We transferred funds across by each route, initiated the same day (by BoS Internet banking). The results were : Time for transfer : Bank of Scotland TAPS : 4 working days Credit Agricole via London : 4 working days Exchange rates : BoS 1.5755 CA : 1.5728 Charges : BoS : 5 at UK end (BoS). No charge by receiving CA bank. Total : 5. CA : 6 at UK end (CA London). 11 at receiving CA bank. Total : approx 13 So we'll be using BoS TAPS in future so far as possible : broadly similar (actually slightly better) rate of exchange and lower charges For anyone whos interested, the BoS TAPS system list 36 countries they can transfer funds to. They offer 3 methods of transfer from a BoS account : by Internet; by standing order; or by BoS Phoneline. Further info/forms from BoS : UK phone : 00 44 141 228 4197; UK fax : 00 44 141 228 4199. Hope above is helpful. And no we dont have shares in BoS !! Were just very satisfied customers ! Doubtless this posting will precipitate the usual deluge of other postings saying what a rip-off this is and how my way is the best ! This just happens to suit us : easy, direct automated transfer at the push of a few buttons on the BoS Internet site ! Chris and Martin
  6. Washy Firstly can I say I'm no financial expert - this is just our experience for what it's worth. We (like many others in a similar position) retained our UK bank accounts when we moved to France, for UK based income to be paid into (it also enabled us to retain that all important relationship with our UK bank manager !). Our happens to be with Bank of Scotland, who operate a good internet banking service, which we find essential (but most/all other banks do also) : http://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/ We also have an Offshore Instant Access Account (again with BoS) that we use to store money in until we need it in France. We use a sterling account, and try and transfer money to France as/when the Euro is relatively low against the pound. Whether you do likewise, or (as you plan) use a Euro offshore account simply depends I guess on whether you believe you will get a better exchange rate now or in future. Some articles we've read project a 10% fall in value of the pound when it enters Euro - but when is anyone's guess ! Transfers we do via internet banking - transferring from BoS Offshore account to Credit Agricole via CA's London branch. Takes about 7 days and costs about 13 pounds. BoS do also do direct transfers to France, which I should use - but just haven't found the time to investigate ! There are however 101 ways of transferring money - each of which seems to have its evangelists ! Ours just suits us ! Our understanding is that you can retain any ISAs you purchased before you became French resident (and retain UK tax exemption on them - but French tax may need to be paid anyway) - but you cannot purchase further ISAs once you've become French residents (but of course nothing to stop you buying the underlying Unit Trust/whatever investments). We were actually advised to sell our ISAs before leaving UK and invest the money in French tax-efficient investments - but we didn't do so (mainly through lack of time again, but also following the golden rule of "only invest in things you understand" and we understand French investments even less than we do UK ones !) For proper tax advice we use (and would strongly recommend) Pannell Kerr Forster (Guernsey) : http://www.pkfguernsey.com/ They also publish an excellent annual book "Taxation in France". Hope some of above may be of interest - best wishes for your move ! Chris and Martin
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