Simon47

Try Unopiu.fr Simon47

Just came across the website www.tlk2.com => look at the France - UK phone service.

www.bigdishsat.com   We used them last year for a dish & digibox to get UK channels.

If one visits the urssaf.fr website and uses their "simulation" page to calculate the cotisations payable, there's also a result titled "Ce volet social ouvre droit a une reduction fiscale de:".   For example, if one intends to pay EUR200 using a cheque d'emploi, and using the cheaper "salaire forfait" option, the cotisations (both "Patronales" and "Salariales") will total EUR107.77.  So as an employer, paying EUR200 will cost you EUR307.77.  The employee will need to declare EUR204.84 (the extra EUR 4.84 being the CSG + RDS payment) as taxable income. But what about the ".....reduction fiscale de:.." of EUR153.89 => this is a 50% tax credit of the total amount of EUR307.77 paid by the employer.  But how does the employer actually use this "tax credit" ?  For example, suppose the employer has no income in France except income from letting out his residence secondaire for holiday lets => anyway to use the tax credit ?  Does this mean coming out of the "micro" system and using the "reel" system ?   Finally, what about the rumours that the cheque d'emploi system will change and the cotistaions will reduce, but the tax credit also reduce from 50% to 25% ? Simon

We have both EUR and GBP acconts with HSBC Jersey and a EUR account with HSBC-CCF in Toulouse (who also provide a EUR mortgage for our house).  We transfer EUR as needed from Jersey to HSBC-CCF.  Works very well.  As we live in the Far East, I do all the transfers / admin for the accounts by internet & e-mail - have never spoken to anyone in HSBC / HSBC-CCF !

Having bought a property earlier this year, we are in the process of replacing the existing fosse septique with a new one, compliant with the new regulations.  Our property is in 47.  5 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms & 2 w.c.  Our builder got the inspector's name from the local Mairie.  He did an inspection of the existing fosse, plus a soil test, on the 28th August. He then indicated the type & size of fosse necessary (4 m3), plus supplied a list of recommended local firms to do the work.  He was also responsible for getting approval for the new fosse, which did not happen until the 18th December (nearly 4 months).  Initially, we were told that the new fosse would go in the same location as the old one - at the last moment, the approved plan was changed, so now the new fosse has to be behind the dependence (which is also being connected to the fosse - the 5th bed & bathroom are there - as waste water currently goes out of a pipe at the back onto the ground !).  The old fosse (in front of the main house) will still have to be removed (regulations require this).  The old fosse has to be emptied before this can be done. Our builder got 2 quotes - one for EUR 6,272, the other for EUR 7,475 - we are going with the cheaper one !

We had our recently purchased house treated for capricornes (plus hesphoranes & vrillettes (right spelling ?)) in June. All the roof beams, plus the floor in the loft, in both the house & dependence were injected, at a cost of EUR3,000 (inc. TVA at 5.5%). The surface area of the roofs & floor was approx 350 m2. The same companies that treat for termites will treat for capricornes, etc - the treatment we had done also covers termites. We got a 10 year guarantee. Our costs were somewhat reduced as nearly all the wood already had plastic injectors in place from the previous treatment 10-11 years ago. Make sure you go for a reputable firm that belongs to one of the associations.

We have recently completed in 47 (10km north of Fumel)and now need to do the same as you. We will be over in France in 2 weeks time shopping for electricals & light fittings, so will let you know how we did. We've just ordered some basic furniture (beds / mattresses / sofabed / armoire) from IKEA.

I came across a person called Jonathan Nixon in 47, who runs a company called Batiment Services 47 SARL, which does exactly what you want. He has a website - www.bs47.fr - take a look.

Message in your inbox - could not attach the promised file, so subsequently sent that to your e-mail address.