Senrabbit

merci of the bowco.

Does anyone know if the Man United v Lille game is on any of the French channels this wednesday and if so which one?

Thanks for that. Unfortnately I am not very good at plastering, so I guess its back to Leclerc!! Thanks anways, must remember to put it on the shopping list for the UK in future!!.

Does anyone know if there is a substitute for Jelly here, crystals or normal, I would like to make a trifle for the holiday season, and have used up all my "stock". I seem to recall having seen some under the "British Section" in Hyper U but can't find any now. I am in 79 and tend to shop at L'Clerc or Hyper U. [8-)]

Thanks for  the replies.  I know my friend received a devis for her work (600e), but the issue was never raised with me on any of the 3 visits. The problem of course is that if you are in pain and need the treatment, what you do. Which leads me to question what is deemed necessary work and what is deemed unnecessary or even cosmetic. So there we go. ever thus, haven’t I heard this somewhere before?, I suppose that dentistry is taking the same route (again no pun intended) as the UK, very little covered, eventually it becomes expensive to have any form of work done, and people just stop going, which in turn leads to more doctors visits due to poor health caused by problems, which can originate from poor dental care.  Mr. Chirac hasn’t been entertaining Tony Blair recently has he? [:)]

[:'(] Hi I wonder if anyone can throw any light onto the recent changes within CPAM, which seem to be having an impact (sorry about the pun) upon dental charges? During the last year I have had 3 teeth extracted due to root/decay/pain problems.  On all three occasions, an initial visit to the dentist developed into a referral to a specialist at the hospital in Poitiers for extraction.(There appears to be some risk of my teeth braking) On all occasions I have given to understand that  all work was essential and necessary, if I am to stem any infection/further pain etc etc.  On the first two occasions, I had to pay something towards the cost of extraction, around 57euros. In June of this year, I had the third tooth removed, paid 75 euros and received the brown form, which I duly sent off to CPAM. Today, I have received a letter saying basically that they are not going to reimburse me at all, yet they did pay the 19 euros for the original dental appointments.  I have a carte vital and I am covered under an E121 Also my friend as recently had treatment, again deemed to be essential, and referred to the same hospital, albeit with a different specialist. The cost of her treatment came to over 600 euros. Again she has a carte vital.  CPAM have said they are not going to reimburse her at all. Adding insult to injury, she has also been informed that her top up insurance provider, which incidentally is one the more popular top up insurers, that they wont be helping out either.  So does anyone know why it appears that little or nothing is covered when it comes to a visit to the dentist. I can understand that "cosmetic" or non essential work wouldn’t be covered, but surely if you have gone to the dentist because you are having a problem, which invariably is giving you pain and discomfort, then the whole treatment of same comes under essential treatment and therefore should be covered? Hopefully somebody can shed some light on what’s going .    

Thanks for the advice, we will certainly start with the Mairie, its just one of those things that needs doing and once its done its done!!

Hi   I and MOH have decided to change our English driving licences for French ones and have obtained some forms from the Prefecture for Deux-Sevres.  Does anyone have any experience of filling out these forms or know of any where we can obtain an example of a completed one. (It looks like the main form is a standard form, it is orange in colour and presumably available across France) the second form is from the prefecture in Deux-Sevres which asks you to tick various boxes relating to the type of vehicle you are driving. We drive a car but also sometimes tow a small trailer.  Any help would be appreciated.  Please would the usual suspects not hijack this question, I/we have already made the decision to change our licenses and therefore do not need the  issue sidetracking as it is sometimes the case on this forums.

I have a plaque which I used to hang on my study wall which read “Those who remain silent are said to consent”.  Often the problem with speaking up/out about something is that you tend to upset a few people along the way. Not too much of a problem if you believe what you are doing to be right.  The issue in the UK is that there appears to be little value in “doing the right thing” as when an offence is committed, the “person doing the right thing” often finds out that there is very little done by way of punishment.  My car was once blocked in by a road tax dodger. I had done 7 hours honest toil teaching and wanted to go home. The police didn’t want to know, passed it on to a newly established civilian dept, who didn’t want to know, but did manage to inform me of two things, firstly the car had 5 previous unpaid parking tickets and secondly, If I attempted to move the car myself, I would be committing a criminal offence.  My son is a police officer in the UK and works with his hands tied behind his back most of the time.  I think people (sorry Brits) in the main here in France think they are never going to get caught. For me/us we know the penalties for employing people on the black, (so we don’t do it), we made sure our car was “legal” here until we were able to re-register it. On the point of whether or not one should tell the authorities, all I can say is to my cost I have found that “doing the right thing” left me out of pocket, and to some tune, whilst nothing changed, therefore I would think twice now before reporting anyone.

I have no problem with paying for the right kind of advice as there are too many things in this world that I do not know. My problem in recent years is that the so-called professionals tend to charge over the odds for their advice which, quite often, is bad advice.    Much better to seek to learn from the experience of others and to follow your own route. Yes I will make mistakes on the way and that, in my book, is by far the best way to learn.  ( so long as it does not cost too much)  I only had a mild beef with the insistence on professional advice. Actually what I should have said in retrospect, is please define the word "professional".  I have been visiting this forum and other over the last 3 years and have found out an incredible amount of stuff. I have also taken the advice of friends in many differing areas and benefited from that advice.  As to whether or not I could get a grant for web design (or related subjects) well that is something I will just have to look into and, as I am sure you know, bobc, it differs from department to department.

"Why are there professionals if it is all so easy. I run my own business in France - which started out similar to yours. John is talking from experience and we are running on the right side of all the laws. How did we do this - we went to the professionals both gov. based and paid for. If you do not want advice or comments from those who have done something similar before, why post your questions on a board populated by such people. John can fight his own battles but I find your comments offensive. It was the IR who told us that if we did the work in France - ie bum on seat in France we had to pay our taxes and social charges in France - this I think has already been mentioned in this thread. Do your own thing, but don't ask for advice and moan when you don't like it." Had I wanted the advice of always ask a professional, I would not have made the post.  What I was looking for was experience from others who might have come across the same problem .  I know I can go to a professional and that is what prompted my reply as to you allowing that other posters to this forum do lay claim to a modicum of intelligence.  Have you never thought it odd, that every thread on these forums usually ends up in an argument, that involves the same old crew who are always willing to give you the benefit of their experience.  quite often of course that advice is wrong. I was not moaning about the advice I had received, merely your insistence on overwriting the advice (good stuff some of it) that others wished to give with your online advice about professionals. At present I am suffering due to "professional advice" in the shape of an IFA. I have also received bad advice from solicitors. And as for bank managers, aagh. The experience of "non-professionals" who have gone through the mill is worth 10 times that of professionals.

Having just read your reply Iceni, I would like to point out that the Inland Revenue have always been extremely helpful to me in the Uk as reagards advice about reducing my tax liability. Far more so than the so-called "professional" who simply wanted to charge me more each year for doing less. I would not be using the Apce site for advice about the Uk side, why would I when it is a site devoted to setting up a small business in France?  It seems to me that you have spent more time on this post pushing the notion that only a professional can be of use to me rather than actually reading the post. I also find it slightly offensive that you seem to feel that no-one but a "professional" has the intelligence to work things out for themselves!!

Of course I will, in about 2 months when I have worked it all out.  It seems to me that the whole thing could be quite brain stretching.

It is an interesting situation and, Owens88, you are quite right, I am not trying to avoid paying my way, I am merely looking at whether I need to go the route of setting up a French branch with all that entails, when I simply do not need to.  One also wonders where the experts get their information from. Would I go to a French speaking english expert who may know little more than I, or to a french expert whom I am unable to understand.  Fortunately I need do neither. This site seem to give me all the information I need and the url was given out on this forum in another post. As to "professionals", are they the people who wrecked all our pensions? I could go on. Anyway the site is APCE and the url is http://www.apce.com/index.php  The information is even in good english.  They also point to other sites whereby I may even be able to get business start-up grants etc. Thank god for the "dog and duck".

The sons are directors and shareholders and do their part of the work. The problem I have always found with asking "professional advice" is that the so-called professionals never seem to be that knowledgeable and charge a lot of money. Whilst I agree with you that the "dog and duck" is not the place to get all one's information, I feel that you are denigrating the information that is passed through these forums. For example the information about the Apce website has been invaluable, as the information I need is all there. There have been many instances over the last two years that I have combed these forums and found the information I sought.  Usually in a lot less time and for a lot less expenditure, than it would have cost me to seek out an "expert" or "professional", only to be told that they don't deal with that area of expertise. Or perhaps, you could point me in the direction of an expert?

HOWEVER if living in France, and earning an income from wherever, surely the French tax people want to know? I dunno the rules on that. Yes they most certainly would.  Indeed even if we were to send all the earnings back to our uk company they would still have to be declared here.  My roundabout point was to question whether the uk co. was going to 'do the odd website for French companies' or whether you want to set up a French associate/subsidiary/startup. Well, that is the whole point.  Under european laws of cabotage I think that any company that is registered in an eu state can sell its wares in any other eu state.  The problem I have is exactly as the previous poster has outlined in this and other posts.  Whether it is legal to operate from the UK and carry out web design here through that company. So long as one is declaring one's earnings to the relevant tax authorities, what difference can it make.  A French haulage firm surely does not have to register in the UK to deliver in the Uk, If I buy something online from the Uk it can be delivered to France without any problem. It seems to me therefore that the solution is to continue to use the UK company, operate as an agent in France without remuneration and accept a share of the profits as a director of the UK company. These profits to be declared in france or the Uk as one wishes. (or as the authorities decide)  What could possibly be wrong with that. I would then pay my social charges as a private individual paid out of the earnings from my directorship of the UK company. I am open to any advice on this.

hi everyone, thanks for the replies, most helpful. I will certainly look for the grease bands at he local brico.  The view I have taken is that this garden survived for 15months on its own and still managed to fruit and flower.  Indeed we have a friend who has a magnificent grape vine which adorns his gazebo. He never prunes it, cuts it back or touches it in anyway shape or form, yet every year it produces masses of bunches of sweet grapes, which are both delicious and very pretty. thats again    

Hi   It is my intention this year to sort out the fruit trees in my garden and give them the love and attention they should have!  Sometime ago,  I recall watching a program, the name of which escapes me,  which said that all trees, including fruit trees, benefit from a circular ring dug around the base of the tree. This apparently allows the tree to “breath” at its base and once a banner of grease is applied to the trunk, helps prevent invasions of some pests.       So does anyone know what kind of grease is suitable for such a job, is there a special grease I should be purchasing, or would good old axle grease do.   I will post on TF too.   Would appreciate any advice.

Your state pension is dependent on your Ni contributions. You can make up the difference by making voluntary contributions if you are short. Anyone who want a pension forecast can obtain one from the Dept. of Work and Pensions at Newcastle. I think that the E121 applies either if you are on incapacity benefit or of retirement age. That age will differ for women born after 1955 (I think)  I am not aware that it is dependent on Ni contributions but you could always ask Peter Owen (??) who knows about these things. If one partner is on the E121 then they can apply to have their spouse put on to it as well regardless of NI contributions.   I have never heard of any 10 year rule either.

Thanks for that Tel,  very userful site, especially the reference to treacle, its now bookmarked!! 

Hi   Does anyone know of quick and easy way to gauge liquid measures?   For example if a recipe asks for 8 oz of treacle or golden syrup, it is pretty difficult, nay  messy, measuring it out into a measuring jug and then moving it into your mixing bowl, whereupon half is still in the jug!! So does anyone know say roughly how many tablespoons would equate to 8oz? Hope this doesn’t sound too confusing!!  

"In practice, if the meal was not as described or worst, just dont pay. Pay what you think is fair and leave without fuss, then the tables are turned on the restauranteur- he then has to chase you... through the courts.. The reality is that he is probably too busy to bother as well. If going this route, dont wait for phone calls to be made to police. Above all make sure that you are clear why you are not paying and leave with a clear concience" The only trouble with that is the owner may be agressive as this one was and chase you. I am not that fast these days.  It may then put me in a bad light with the gendarmes if I were to "do a runner" which is something I would not relish. I just wondered if anyone actually knew whether one has any rights in a restaurant.

Thanks, you are both very kind. Unfortunately my main fault is for sticking my ground when I think I am right. I will not name and shame as the forum probably would not allow me to. Usually it is MOH who tells me not to make a fuss but she was right there behind me this time which always helps. The good news is that the good restaurants far outweigh the bad in our experience. What I am really after is whether I actually have the right to refuse to pay in such circumstances.

On Sunday MOH and I went to Royan to have a look around. We went into one of the restaurants on the front and ordered a meal. I ordered the veal escalope with tagiatelli  and MOH ordered the Moules et frites.  After only 8 minutes the waiter brought our food out and I thought that is a bit quick to cook a schnitzel and tagiatelli.  MOH’s moules were fine but my escalope was rubbery and cold as was the tagiatelli. I called the waiter over and pointed this out to him and he took it away. He then brought me the menu to choose something else but I declined. On leaving I was presented with a bill for both meals. I pointed out that I had not eaten my meal for the reasons given. Therefore I felt that I should only pay for the one meal and the drinks we had. The manager of the restaurant then came over and started shouting at me. To cut a long tirade of abuse short he basically told that I had no right to refuse to pay as there was nothing wrong with the meal. I stood my ground and refused to pay for my meal. To save some of you time I spoke in French and was calm and reasonable throughout. The manager and some French people who joined in were shouting and screaming at me.  Finally he calmed down and said oh just pay for the moules and the drinks. My query is what are my rights in this situation?   I have to say that after nearly two years in France this was one of the rare occasions when I have had this kind of trouble. Usually the food is cooked properly and the service is excellent.  

[quote]Maxsan. Why not just submit a simple Déclaration de Travaux to the mairie with the usual photos and plan etc with all the details on it as long as it is not over 20m². That way, the maire personally w...[/quote] "Maxsan. Why not just submit a simple Déclaration de Travaux to the mairie with the usual photos and plan etc with all the details on it as long as it is not over 20m². That way, the maire personally will see your application and decide and send it in writing not just the spoken word by some secretary who probably dosn't even know the rules. I keep telling people that in France you must get everything in writing no matter how stupid or petty it seems,if anything every did come back you have the proof and France these days seems to be worst country in Europe for proving your side of things." Yes that sounds like exactly the plan. I agree with you whether in France or the Uk always make em write it down. merci.