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geno

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  1. I have successfully argued with our local impots to move due tax back to previous year (situation was a bit different, the money was sent to me but wasn't processed by payroll for several months). Despite including a letter with both years tax returns, I received a "proposition de rectification" (= tax investigation on a specific point) from the following year, when it seemed I had under-declared according to their records. Stressful, but worth it financially. In your case, if the employment ended in 2007 then any payments should clearly have been due before the end of 2007 so I think you'd also have a good case. However, unless you have another higher paying job starting already, what do you have to gain? You will pay more tax in the end, and lose out on interest on the tax due, and probably get investigated. Just a thought.
  2. It's so unfair to complain that young people expect too much;there just aren't enough family properties in the south east of England to cope with demand; many are (under) occupied by empty-nester/elderly couples or singles, or used part time - no doubt including many forum users. If you're a single person in a 5 bed house you'll still get a reduction in council tax? How thought out is that? It's a slap in the face of those of us trying to raise kids. The current workforce is paying the current pensions of the retired generation, and my generation is having to pay for our own as well because we will get roughly zero. The argument that "we paid our dues" is completely wrong - you jsut didn't pay enough. What *is* happening, is that immigrants from other countries are prepared to bring their families up in small flats. Your sons and daughters find this unacceptable and are emmigrating, to France. Spain, Canada, Australia or even further afield. The elder generation need to consider if they're paying too little, and if this carries on you will lose your childen and grandchildren far overseas to pay for you generous benefits. [ someone who can only just afford a small family house within 1 hr of london on £100k a year and the last sibling left in Europe out of 3 ]
  3. There's a very good subforum on www.britishexpats.com on "Moving back to the UK" where this is discussed a lot. It's important to remember that *you* have changed while being in France. I'd take your time, rent, try a few different places out and see what works now for you. We moved back to the UK about 18 months ago - for family reasons - after 3 years in France and eventually went for Berks/Hampshire border, near Watership Down actually :-) We've kept our place in France, still love both countries and can luckily spend a lot of time in both too. The area round here fits the OPs list except for the particularly ferral youth who breed round here - much the same as anywhere in the SE though. Good luck anyway!
  4. NetBySky have gone into liquidation (6th December) and cut everyone off on Friday. Try a search on Google Groups and sort by date for the references. Unlimited ISDN offers exist again from Wanadoo and Erevia.
  5. Not working for me either since late Friday. I did notice they haven't been taking money from my account since July though!
  6. Hungary is very beautiful in Summer and Budapest is too. However Budapest is turning into an American clone city, and the food absolutely sucks, and so did the wine last time I tried it! Hungarian is definitely tough; but I think you'll find the language barrier in Romania less difficult, my Romanian friend says French and Romanian are closely linked. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania "The Romanian educational system puts a strong emphasis on foreign languages, and Radio România has a channel on which they broadcast in a number of foreign languages. More than a quarter of Romanians understand and speak French and Romania is a member of the Organisation de la Francophonie, with Bucharest being the host of the Summit of Francophony in 2006. In terms of foreign languages, 5 million Romanians speak English, 4-5 million speak French , 1.5 million speak German, 2 million speak Italian, and 1 million speak Spanish. [5] Historically, French was the leading foreign language for Romanians to study, now it is English, so that as a group the English-speakers in Romania are younger than the French-speakers."
  7. He could be right. But if you look at overvaluation the UK is well in the lead of France, and France (and the rest of the euro zone) seems to be turning the corner economically while dark clouds are hovering over Mr Brown! Part of the attraction of renovation is more than financial, it's about learning new skills and doing something you can be proud of, and feeling like you've rescued a house from impending doom. There is a lot more to life than leaving money behind, there is enjoying what is left of your time on this planet and being able to say "I did that".
  8. I'd really like to know what all the anarchists are doing in bus shelters in the first place :-)
  9. We have a BritLine account and opened a local Credit Lyonnaise current account when we changed mortgage. Credit Lyonnais have been hopeless to the degree of complete incompetence. They don't even respond to recommended letters, our local advisor usually can't actually get hold of the head office; when he does they ignore him AND us; and the local branch equipment is prehistoric. We've gone back to using Britline for most things. Like TU says you have to keep on top of them and make sure you get everything in writing (they had me driving for 6 months without insurance!) but they have been reasonably competent beyond that.  
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