Punch
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Posts posted by Punch
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This is probably not really relevant but I used to fly into Nice quite a lot until a few years ago, as I had an ongoing contract at the Palais de festival in Cannes - same venue as the film festival and right on the beach!
The first time I flew in, I waited to hire a car at the Hertz desk but as the queues were horrendous I ran out of time for my meeting, gave up in the end and caught a taxi down to Cannes which cost 500 Francs took about half an hour, and I had a very surly taxi driver who seemed to hate tourists.
When I arrived my French hosts at the exhibition centre told me when I come back next time to take the helicopter link to Cannes ! The next time I did as they suggested . It cost 750Francs return and took six minutes each way - and what views on the way.
So don't bother with all that queing at the airport take the heli down to la Croisette and hire a car in Cannes!!!!
Paul.
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While you lot are debating the finer points of Dual LNB's etc, it may or (may not) be of interest that currently Leroy Merlin are selling a satellite kit that will receive all the available French free channels and lots more on top, including Uk stuff. The kit has a single dish, three LNB's for Atlantic bird 3, Hotbird and Astra satellites. It comes with two receivers, an analogue and a satellite with full instructions, all for the princely sum of 139 euros. Seems a good deal to me!
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Salade de Gesiers sounds appetising until the French try to translate it in to English !
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When we asked we had a reply not disimilar to KathyC . We were also told it is signifying au revoir to Winter and Bonjour to spring which arrives a few days before the carnaval.
Paul
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[quote user="Brilec"]
I think that the Tom Tom again only has mapping for one country.
[/quote]
Not quite. I bought a Tom Tom go 700 from Luton Airport last year, for use in France. It is brilliant.
It comes preloaded with Europe down to street level. The amazing thing is it even has the names of individual farms in rural France, which is so useful as most of the places I go to are out in the country.
Paul
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[quote user="Rdkr"]Well they are now knocking out radar detectors in my local Carrefour (Narbonne) for 99€ so I assumed the law had been updated.[/quote]
Just had a flyer through the door from Feu Vert this morning and there are two types of avertisseur de radar on offer so they must be now legal.
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[quote user="Will the Conqueror"]
This seems to be linked to the myth, [/quote]
I would have readily given the same response if I hadn't have had a brief conversation with some friends from the Uk the other day who said they caught the tail end of a radio programme which mentioned something similar, abou some new proposed legislation. Here's hoping!
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I think there is some confusion here about the existing Cheque emploi system, the CESU which was for gardening, baby-sitting, small DIY jobs in the home and such like, and the new system which covers the building industry and other sectors. The CESU can be used by private individuals who have a bank account in France, who want to employ somebody legally for the aforementioned catergories of work.
As an employer in France, I have received a quite a lot of information from various trade bodies about the new cheque emploi system, the Cheque emploi TPE , which since September 2005, has now been extended for small businesses in the construction industry, and is a revamp of a system that has been in place for a while.
Basically, along with the new types of simplified employment contracts such as the CNE ( contrat nouvelle embauche), it has been introduced for TPE (tres petites entreprises) with up to five employees and is called Cheque emploi TPE, to simplify the ridiculously bureaucratic employment process for employers who need to embauche someone.
If you have a registered business in France, you register at one of three centres depending on you activity, then fill out a declaration about the employee and send it back. This declaration serves as an employment contract, and forgoes the need for an employer to notify all the various caisses as this is all done for you by the centre you are with. You also fill out another form the Volet social detailing hours worked, pay rate etc and the two forms are all that is needed. The Centre then sends you a bulletin de paie to give to the employee, and the amount of employer cotisations to pay at the end of the month.
The link for full information is here ; www.emploitpe.fr
Paul
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[quote user="Jc"]Keep them on you;DON'T leave them in the vehicle!![/quote]
Have to disagree . Always keep the vehicle documents in the vehicule and not on your person. With five vehcules in our family , anyone of us who drives any of the vehicles will always know that during a controle, the vehicule papers are at hand, and not in your partners handbag (the term handbag refers to both male and female as it is perfectly oK for men to have handbags here!)
Paul
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It can be confusing and Val is correct to point out that one should always check with the TVA office.
The rules definetely state that any raising of the existing roof level makes the job invoicable at 19.6% which I think is why your example above made the job 19.6%, but if the roof remains the same and is replaced like for like, then the rate is 5.5%.
The TVA rules can be found here; http://www.batitel.com/revues/tva.php
or here http://www.devistravaux.com/fiche-pratique_1.html
Paul
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Have to agree with Charles . I've been insured with MAAF for seven years now and am insured for most general building trades, including electrical and plumbing. I remember it raised a few eyebrows when we first set up in business, but after a few meetings, they accepted us. However I would agree with others that it is a VERY expensive insurance!
As Patrick mentions, I remember the notion of general builders was virtually unheard of when I bought property here 17 years ago. Things have changed slightly now and there are more and more Businesses like ours trading as general builders or Entreprise Generale du Batiment, (both French and English).
Paul Punchard
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Bob is correct. Fosse septiques are covered by the lower rate of TVA @ 5.5% if the property they serve is at least two years old. Below is an extract from the TVA rules. Anyone who has been charged 19.6% should query this with their installer. Believe it or not, some local village Maries are not always correct or fully up to date on their own laws and will give you an answer that is not entirely correct. In all the years I have been working in France, I have had to provide corrections on items such as the above by contacting the relevant authority direct - in this case the TVA centre des impots. Some Mairies will still even tell you you need a carte de sejour, to live in France.
b) Travaux d’assainissement non collectif
100. Les travaux d’installation, de mise aux normes et d’entretien (vidange, curage) des systèmes d’assainissement individuel relèvent du taux réduit lorsqu’ils sont réalisés pour les besoins de locaux d’habitation achevés depuis plus de deux ans (cf. annexe II-4).
101. Les travaux de vidange d’une fosse septique peuvent par ailleurs être considérés comme des travaux d’urgence et être soumis au taux réduit lorsque les locaux d’habitation sont achevés depuis moins de deux ans (cf. n° 193).Paul
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Yes its definetely in the bag!
See also this thread; http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/603540/ShowPost.aspx#620695
Paul
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Yep it's official! The lower rate has finally been agreed to be continued up until 2010.
Here is a (rather naff) BabelFish translation from Bati Actu which gives the general gist of the decision;
VAT to 5,5 %: it is in the pocket! The European Union (EU) and Poland arrived Wednesday evening to Vienna to an agreement on the VAT to reduced rate. The device of VAT to 5,5 % in the maintenance-restoration in France east thus renewed until 2010. A victory for the whole of the professionals of the building. End of suspense! After a meeting with the Minister for Finance Polish, Zyta Gilowska, and the European police chief in the Taxation, Laszlo Kovacs, Poland finally raised his opposition to the European agreement on the reduced rates of VAT, already voted by the 24 other members of the European Union the week last "It is a victory for Europe", exclaimed the Austrian Minister for Finances Karl-Heinz Grasser. Publicity "These is a balanced compromise, which offers a legal stability for the Union and of the reliable guarantee to certain significant economic sectors (...)Cette solution will bring advantages to all the Member States", declared Laszlo Kovacs. Let us recall that Poland wished that the prolongation of a VAT reduced on constructions of new residences, which the other Member States refused to him. Because in its Treaty of Accession to the EU, this one had obtained this exemption well, but only until 2007.Le problem can from now on be solved by the exemptions existing for the construction of residences in social matter. "a defeat of the moonlighting" At the professionals of the building, environment was with the festival Wednesday evening... or at least with the relief! Contacted Wednesday evening by the drafting of Batiactu, the president of the French Federation of building (FFB) Christian Baffy stated that it acted above all of "the victory of Europe" but also "of a great victory for France and the government which always supported us in this measurement". "We also make a point of greeting the formidable team spirit of the 22 countries which voted for this measurement on January 24, as well as the very great mind of solidarity of Poland, the Czech Republic and Cyprus". Before adding: "It is a victory also of employment, consumers, our companies... and a defeat of the moonlighting". On its side Jean Lardin, president of Capeb, declared: "the CAPEB is pleased with this victory which was made possible by the exemplary behavior to France of the professionals of the building throughout the experimentation of this measurement, in particular, through the fall of the prices for the consumers and the development of employment". And to recall: "In France, one needed a mobilization seldom observed of the heads of artisanal undertakings, which gave a support without fault to the action of France". This last in addition was pleased with "the legibility, which we gained with this extension by 5 years, which should not make us forget that, as of today, the objective of the sector is the final perpetuation of measurement". But by then, the craftsmen can blow... finally!Great News for all us artisans and our clients too!!!!Paul PunchardMayenne Renovations (53) -
Ray, you will not need any certificate of conformité for your window or door installation. Unless the property is in a conservation area or within the bounds of any historic monuments then once you have your permission, that is all that is needed and you are free to proceed. Any specific conditions should have been mentioned on your acceptance of your permis.
That doesn't mean to say though that there are no building regulations in France - there are!
Paul
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sorry double posted by mistake!
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[quote user="Val_2"]I didn't think the decision was to be made until Jan 24th. We have been asked to mobilise in Paris, bit out of the question though from here as only coaches going are from 100miles away.[/quote]
Val as I mentioned in my post above, the official decision, (as you quite rightly mention) is to be made on Tuesday by the ECOFIN members, but unofficially the deal is as good as done, according to just about everyone (unless there is a massive rebellion ). The crux seems to be that the Austrian presidency has approved the deal, probably at the expense of the restauranters!
You have missed the trip to Paris. I believe The CAPEB immobilisation "TVA 5,5%" was in Paris last Wednesday. I didn't go either but was there in spirit with my Capeb T shirt on at work!
Gay, I think that when the low rate of TVA was agreed in France in 1999, it was an experiment and other EU member states were allowed to propose their own ideas for lower tax rates in certain domains. Steeped with very high unemployment, and taxes, France chose to have this special rate to help with uemployment, reduce the travaille au noir, and help the construction industry. It does seem to have helped the construction industry enormously . Wether it has reduced the black work or not I have no idea, but I do know that the majority of my clients do not mind paying 5.5% TVA, but many would have not had the work done if it reverted back to 19,6%. I have no idea what concessions other EU members chose or have in place.
Paul
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According to the front page headline in the Ouest France newspaper this morning, is it as good as a done deal that TVA will now remain at 5.5% for renovation works in France.
The Austrian EU presidency is to propose to the EU finance ministers on Tuesday that it has now recommended the rate to continue until the end of 2010.
The article goes onto say cautiously that it does need official approval to become law, but it is considered "Acquise "
This is welcome news not only for any Artisans like ourselves, but also for all who have purchased in France with future renovation projects in mind.
However this has caused furore in the restaurant sector whereby it looks like the 5.5% rate they wanted looks unlikely!!
Paul Punchard
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[quote user="Thumper"]Just realised, having read another post, that Screwfix is part of the Kingfisher group . . . which also owns Brico Dépôt and (part-owns) Castorama, as well as Darty and But. "Screwfix France", set up by the group in 2000, appears to have disappeared off the face of the earth. Anyone know if they just gave up on the idea?[/quote]
France's equivalent of Screwfix called "Dynastock" went out of existance last year due to lack of orders. They were targeted at professionals and artisans . I still have their catalogue (very similar to Screwfix but MUCH thinner) and used to order from them regularly . IMHO I think they probably folded due to lack of adequate publicity (no Website for instance) and orders had to be either by telephone or fax. I think they could have had a good market with expat brits here.
Paul
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[quote user="Miki"]Paul,
Was this due to sending in that questionnaire in the last edition of The News, if so, is it all done and dusted now ? Or should I quickly send in the duly filled form ?
Mayor of Pgx eh ! and a Sir and an Ambassaador Aah but I bet none of them could wire a house like you eh [;)]
[/quote]No Miki, As it was their 200th edition celebration, they asked for people to send in a photocopy of their oldest copy of the "News" Ours won, along with one other lucky reader.
My father in law used to say "Don't throw anything away - it will come in handy even if you never use it." This is the only instance I can recall that this saying has actually worked!! LOL.
I don't only wire houses you know, (although that's my apprenticeship trade) In fact I've employed a French roofer for five years and tend to do a great deal of roofing (seems to be the commonly asked for job from me at the moment, along with new doorway openings through 1 metre thick walls! )
Paul
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Thanks WJT for you very helpful and comprehensive reply. I've printed it off and will get the trusty map out this week to take a closer look. There are going to be some pretty high ranking officials there including the HM British Ambassador to France, Sir John Holmes and The mayor of Periguex, Xavier Darcos, as well as others too numerous to mention. We are staying the friday night in a hotel in |Bergerac and the dinner is in Monbazillac so that's a good start! I am really looking forward to the dinner and then a good mosey around the area on the Saturday, including perhaps Sarlat.
Paul.
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Mrs Punch and I have been lucky enough to have won an invitation to the 200th celebration dinner for the French printed English language paper "The News" in Bergerac later this month.
It is an expenses paid trip and we have decided to stay over in the region on the Saturday night (The Dinner is on the friday night), before returning back to Mayenne (53) sometime on Sunday.
Having never visited this region, what would you recommend we visit, (or where to stay for one night either in the region or on route back here) before heading back North on the Sunday evening?
Paul
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[quote user="powerdesal"]Paul,
Thanks for that, can the telereport ( accents missing) be fitted to an old style meter or does it need the modern digital type, mine came out of the ark!!!!
Point taken about 16mm sqr
Regards
[/quote]If you request the EDF to fit a telereport, they will often install a new electronic meter , well that's what usually happens when I request them to be fitted here in 53. Cost from memory was around 75 euros last time I had one done.
Paul
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You've obvoulsly either got a very innocent sweet looking face, or you have big eyes and long eyelashes :-) I have neither !
Does anyone know how to ........?
in French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone
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Ovveride a lost password ?
I bought a Laptop today at auction from from a French building company in liquidation. When it powers up it asks for the password which of course I don't have.
Can anyone tell me how I can either find the password or bypass it to get it to boot up please. It was only 220 euros so I am hoping my money wasn't wasted - hopefully it will become my daughters Pc for college studies!!
All I know about it is that it is a fairly a fairly recent NEC versa M320 pentium 4 with windows XP proffesional.
Any help/offers gratefully received!