Will

[quote user="ViVienne"]please let us know if there is petrol at the motorway services, we are going on 4th November, I am starting to get a bit worried[/quote] If it's petrol you want, then you should be OK. Our area is supposedly short of fuel, but most of the vehicles are diesel so the gazole has reportedly run out long before the essence. You may have to pay extra - I have seen reports of limited quantities of gazole being sold at prices from 1.75€ per litre up to more than 4€ per litre. So your autoroute fuel stops will probably look like a bargain.

Maybe the powers that be in Brussels aren't bothered about that particular directive as it applies to France - although of course vehicle tax still exists in France, it's just that in the case of most private vehicles it is a once-off registration tax rather than an annual road fund licence. I would agree wholeheartedly as far as registering a vehicle to a holiday home, particularly as in order to do so you need to show a utility bill or similar to prove that it is your house, that the purpose of the law is fulfilled more than adequately. And plenty of permanent residents in France have British passports and British driving licences, so that is not likely to be a stumbling block. However I still feel that in the unlikely event of a law enforcement officer trying to follow the EU Directive as set out, people could still fall foul of the law. After all, the Northamptonshire Constabulary supposedly based their interpretation of a closely-related law on a badly-worded DVLA press release, and this is a misleadingly-worded EU directive. Now, what about a person I know who is permanently resident in England but has at least two vehicles, normally kept and used in England, registered to his French holiday home? Supposedly this is done to save on road fund licence and having to have an MoT test every year. He insists he is perfectly legal, but I think we know otherwise. I haven't asked, but I suppose they are insured in France too.

If you have filled in and submitted those forms, then the process is in motion. Unfortunately neither the French nor the British tax offices are known for their speed of working. There is a contact number in the notes for the relevant HMRC office - you could always give them a call to make sure that you have done all you need to do.

I'm not sure that you can dismiss an official web site as a 'load of ballons' just because it doesn't say what you want it to say. The information is borne out by the 'Official journal of the European Union' - Commission interpretative communication on procedures for the registration of motor vehicles originating in another Member State (2007/C 68/04), which says: 3. REGISTERING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE MEMBER STATE OF RESIDENCE 3.1. What is the Member State of residence for the purpose of registration? According to the Court of Justice, registration is the natural corollary of the exercise of the powers of taxation in the area of motor vehicles. It facilitates supervision both for the Member State of registration and for other Member States, since registration in one Member State constitutes proof of payment of taxes on motor vehicles in that State. Every individual must register his vehicle in the Member State in which he is normally resident. Article 7 of Directive 83/182/EEC and Article 6 of Directive 83/183/EEC set out precise rules for determining normal residence in situations where the persons concerned are respectively temporarily or permanently living and driving in a Member State other than their own. However, the case law of the Court of Justice holds that the quantitative criterion to which this article refers (having to live more than 185 days per year in a given place) cannot be taken as the main criterion if there are other factors which alter the situation. According to the Court of Justice, where a person has both personal and occupational ties in two Member States, his normal residence, determined in the context of an overall assessment by reference to all the relevant facts, is that where the permanent centre of interests of that person is located; in the event that such an overall assessment does not result in its determination, primacy must be given to personal ties EEC directive 83/182/EEC, although primarily about taxation and temporary importation of vehicles, does include the following (Article 6 is to do with saddle-horses so is not relevant to this discussion): Article 7 General rules for determining residence 1. For the purposes of this Directive, "normal residence" means the place where a person usually lives, that is for at least 185 days in each calendar year, because of personal and occupational ties, or, in the case of a person with no occupational ties because of personal ties which show close links between that person and the place where he is living. However, the normal residence of a person whose occupational ties are in a different place from his personal ties and who consequently lives in turn in different places situated in two or more Member States shall be regarded as being the place of his personal ties, provided that such person returns there regularly. This last condition need not be met where the person is living in a Member State in order to carry out a task of a definite duration. Attendance at a university or school shall not imply transfer of normal residence. 2. Individuals shall give proof of their place of normal residence by any appropriate means, such as their identity card or any other valid document. 3. Where the competent authorities of the Member State of importation have doubts as to the validity of a statement as to normal residence made in accordance with paragraph 2, or for the purpose of certain specific controls, they may request any additional information or evidence. Sunday Driver's explanation is certainly in keeping with the spirit of the law, in so far as it allows the authorities to collect any taxes due on vehicles registered in that member state, but the actual letter of the law seems to be rather more closely-defined than that. I am not a lawyer, but to my simple mind owning a holiday home would not seem to be sufficient proof of either 'permanent centre of interest' or 'personal ties', and if you spend more than 185 days per year in your holiday home then it ceases to be a holiday home for all manner of purposes, not just vehicle registration.

Yes, you do need to inform HMRC - the Centre for non-Residents - that you are no longer taxable in the UK on some of your pensions (though as you will have seen from the other topics your government pension, though neither the state pension nor the company pension, remains taxable in UK). There are forms for doing this, claiming exemption from tax, and to apply for repayment on tax already paid. See here. Note that the forms must be sent, initially, to your French tax office, and they will certify that you are French tax resident and send them on to HMRC. There are full explanatory notes with the forms.

This and this would seem to suggest specifically that it is only non-French (e.g. UK) pension income that is exempted from social charges in France, so it would follow that any rental income should be subject to the 12.1% levy (the rates in the Living France article are out of date). The current version of the double taxation agreement may clarify this matter - I have yet to check in detail, though a quick peruse indicates that social charges on rental are not specifically mentioned; it just says that rental income from a property is taxed in the country where the property is situated, and includes CRS and CRDS (though not PS) in the definition of 'tax', as Parsnips suggests. Another can of worms waiting to escape?

[quote user="NormanH"]What a disgusting thread this has become, with no evidence by any poster of the least idea of how the French pension system works ( although one can take it as read that 5e nd Frencie know , as French people) but plenty of judgemental comments based on ignorance. Yet another sad example of inability of British immigrants to adapt to the local culture (exactly what the rabid Right, well represented here) complain about in Britain [/quote] Norman, please don't lump us all into the same pigeonhole. Having paid a lot of money into one particular part of the French pension system over a number of years (for which I have been promised about 30€ in return) I made it my business to see how the system works. And I don't think I'm alone in that. As a professional journalist I do at least try and check facts before committing anything to writing publicly - even on a forum like this. I have never had any desire to become French, but having lived in the country for a while I for one became fascinated by the mindset and culture of the locals, admittedly at the other end of France from you, and in the rural north they see many things very differently from the urban southerners. Their manifs and grèves are more about milk prices and THT pylons than pensions. But all seem united in their mistrust and dislike of Sarkozy (the majority in our bit of France voted for Bayrou - and before my neighbours get dismissed as militant lefties, Ségolène Royal in fact got no votes at all).

I remember something similar happening with the phones at Judie's office - the problem was made worse because not only had the FT answer service kicked in unwantedly, the answerphone had packed up and would not answer before FT got the call. You can change the FT/Orange service. I think it may be an option on the menu system you love to hate, but in our case we had to speak to the FT operator, who didn't know either, but eventually found out how to do it. Edit: Here it is - http://assistance.orange.fr/messagerie-vocale-3103-regler-le-nombre-de-sonneries-4001.php

Do tell the notaire(s). Some notaires, as long as they are satisfied that everything will go ahead, and the delay will not be very long, will go ahead with the signing as planned but won't actually complete until that last vital document arrives.

Try this site - I've linked to the fosse septique pages, where there seem to be plenty to choose from.

I agree, as long as the comparisons are both constructive and relevant. All too often people draw comparisons between France and Britain for negative purposes, and try to compare parts of the culture and systems which are totally different.

The two articles from the British press are worth looking at: The right wing view which focuses on the damage to industry rather than the public outrage, and uses terms like 'socialist filibustering' And this from a left-wing newspaper which attempts to look at the reasons for the strikes. Whichever you agree with, there are facts behind the reforms. Every country (with the possible exception of some former eastern bloc countries where raising the retirement age above 60 would mean that few would actually live into retirement) is suffering from poor investment performance which impacts on pension funds, combined with longer life expectancies, and thus a need for a bigger pension 'pot'. The UK's situation has been well documented, but I don't think it was until comparatively recently, when Sarkozy highlighted the need for reform, that people realised just how big the crisis was in France. Previous governments have tended, when faced by a funding crisis in the health and social security sector, to merely throw more money at it. That may make it look better in the short term, but does nothing to address the real issues, and of course, one day, the money will run out. That is the issue Sarko has attempted to address. It appears, from the outside, that many French people are refusing to accept the need for reforms, or even that there is a crisis. They see it as an erosion of human rights, and (not without some justification) blame the banking crisis rather than the inadequate system. Somebody has to do something to stop the pension costs spiralling completely out of control - it's difficult to see what, though. Sacrifices must be made - if not by raising the retirement age, by reducing pensions (which is likely to prove even less acceptable) or by cuts in other areas, like health, education, or defence. No doubt many will suggest getting rid of fonctionnaires, but when jobs (which many French still see as a right, to last for life) are threatened, this also brings about industrial action. Even Sarko's proposals for scrapping the 35 hour week were deeply unpopular. It's difficult to see how, or why, he was elected. Maybe his promises of reform were seen as a breath of fresh air (like Blair, or, from the other wing, Thatcher before him) which has now backfired?

WB, I stand corrected. Just in case anybody wants to know the difference, 'welcome onboard' is used for ships, 'welcome aboard' for people joning organisations, forums etc. As my day job is with a magazine about ships, writing 'onboard' is what comes naturally to me. [:)] It's good that we have our online sub-editors. Now, where shall I start with correcting all the other errors of grammar, punctuation and usage that abound on forums like this? Oh, hang on, we used to have an ex-teacher who did that, and I seem to remember that he got driven away. [;-)]

Welcome onboard, Kate.

[quote user="woolybanana"][quote user="Will"][quote user="virginia.c"]...No sensible debate has ever been allowed to happen in the UK, more's the pity. [/quote] Could you explain, please? I was always under the impression that freedom of the press, impartiality in broadcasting, and general freedom of expression was encouraged in Britain, far more than most other countries. [/quote] Not sure the British people were ever consulted about the last mass immigration, were they, Will? In fact it was hidden like a guilty secret by a government determined to break the mould as they perceived it. Because they knew that it would not have been tolerated. [/quote] Maybe, but public consultation is not the same thing as allowing debate. Immigration has been, and still is, freely debated, one recent example being Nick Griffin on BBC Question Time, plus columns on an almost daily basis in the newspapers. Don't forget the many demonstrations against immigration by the BNP and the similar groups operating under the 'Britain for the British' ticket. And the counter-demonstrations. Admittedly, some will point to police involvement, but that is more to keep the peace than to suppress free speech; it's an emotive subject that polarises people with strong views on both sides, and many others see the police themselves as anti-immigrant. The Welsh and Scottish Nationalists spring to mind too... Anyway, what was the 'last mass immigration'? Afro-Caribbeans in the 1950s? Ugandan Asians thrown out by Idi Amin? Eastern Europeans in more recent years? Vietnamese boat people? I seem to recall that the last time we were really taken over was by the French in 1066.

Not possible. EU law says that vehicles have to registered (and insured) in the country where the keeper is resident.

[quote user="virginia.c"]...No sensible debate has ever been allowed to happen in the UK, more's the pity. [/quote] Could you explain, please? I was always under the impression that freedom of the press, impartiality in broadcasting, and general freedom of expression was encouraged in Britain, far more than most other countries.

[quote user="Stan Streason"] It is only anecdotal from this site but the taxes levvied on setting up your own business in France seem to be punative.  [/quote] Not anecdotal, some of us have personal experience of being in business in France (but see below). Anyway, it's not the taxes that are the killer, it's the social security charges. [quote user="Stan Streason"] ...the greater the freedom of labour movement ultimately the greater the number of people employed. ...creating a situation where employee movement is much more fluid ultimately creates more jobs and keeps more people in work than effectively preventing small potential employers from expanding ...[/quote] This is precisely the thinking (along with offering a more favourable regime for small businesses to pay charges) behind the autoentrepreneur scheme, though admittedly it has not yet addressed the cost and bureaucracy involved in taking on employees. In fact rumour has it that in some cases employees have been sacked and re-employed as autoentrepreneurs in order to get round the charges and strict employment laws.

Frenchie, This sounds to me like England in the 1950s and 1960s when a large proportion of the population, no doubt fuelled by the right-wing press, dismissed all trade union members, and all students, as communist trouble-makers in the pay of the Soviet government (in fact like McCarthyism in the USA). In reality, there were genuine grievances behind their protests. Particularly a little later in the 1970s when it was mostly poor management, rather than the so-called restrictive practices of the unions, that killed off so much of Britain's industry. I had thought that the British had moved on from that sort of prejudice, but there seems to be a fair number of them who have just moved to France, old-fashioned thinking and all. Ironic, isn't it, that not long ago some of those same people were saying how they admired the French for not allowing themselves to be trampled on by the government. But now the action is affecting them, the story has changed. [;-)]

[quote user="ebaynut"] ...perhaps so many BRITISH people would not be thinking of leaving their home country.[/quote] At least as far as France and Spain are concerned, I currently see as many, maybe more, British people returning to Britain than there are emigrating.

[quote user="PaulT"]However, I would beware of any agent, especially in these financially troubled times - I may be doing them an injustice but at the end of the day they want their commission. [/quote] You are of course entitled to your own opinion. But I have to point out that I happen to be married to another user of this forum who, until very recently, was a salaried estate agent in France. She was not on commission, unlike many in her sort of job who are self-employed, and the bonus she received for achieving a sale was very small so there was no incentive to mislead clients in the hope of closing a sale. Satisfied customers who would recommend, and return to, the agency were far more important than a sale at any price. So not all agents should be tarred with that very broad brush. Also, talk of 'seller's notaire' and 'our notaire' suggest you are applying the same thinking to the French house buying system as to the very different English system. Notaires are government officials, and when each party appoints a different one they merely share the duties and the fees - there is no obligation to check each other's work or promote one party's interest as an English conveyancing lawyer would. Despite that, many notaires do go out of their way to accommodate foreigners with little experience of property transactions in France. And the word is 'compromis'.

So once again a discussion about French current affairs degenerates into Daily-Mail-style UK bashing, particularly directed at immigration. Perhaps the mods would care to move it to a non-France-related section of the forum?

[quote user="woolybanana"]Just anither spoilt brat who thinks he can be king?... [/quote] Wayne King by any chance? [:D]

She was modified and reconfigured a few years ago so that she could easily switch from operating fixed wing aircraft to helicopters and vice versa. Since the powers that be decided that the Sea Harrier would become obsolete, the role being taken over by the Harrier GR-9, I think you are correct in so far as most of Illustrious's more recent deployments have been with helicopters. She retains her fixed wing capabilities though. The helicopter carrier, HMS Ocean, is a near sister-ship, having basically the same hull but totally different machinery.

Nice story, but well below Sky News' normal standard of accuracy (at least, the standard that it had a few years ago when I was one of the 'taking heads' called upon for ship-related news items [;-)] ). Quote: "This could leave the UK without a carrier that can be used by British jets for around 10 years". So Ark Royal's sister ships, Invincible and Illustrious, that I often sail past at Portsmouth, are just plywood mockups? Although Invincible is currently mothballed and decommissioned, if Illustrious won't be around for the next 10 years, why has she recently started a refit at Rosyth, to keep her going for at least another four years? 8/10 for sensationalism, 2/10 for fact. The story doesn't even follow Daily Mail practice by refuting itself in paragraph 19, by which time all the readers have moved on to something else. [:D]