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Bastet

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Everything posted by Bastet

  1. I suppose I left myself open to all the less than helpful comments; I have experienced many examples of French "customer care" too...... As for using clichés, there are times when one wants to convey the maximum meaning with the minimum of words; it's a shame that client service is considered a joke nowadays.  Thanks to those who came up with some positive suggestions;  I'll play around with (some of) Cassis's and CJL's suggestions, and btw, it's something I need to incorporate in my cv.   Mrs Bastet.  
  2. Salut à tous How would you translate "strong client focus" ?  I can't find a translation that feels right.   Thanks.
  3. Hi John If you want to create a nice warm room you'd be better off using a minimum of 100mm laine de verre. There are a variety of methods available to suit different room shapes. Take a look at all the info' on the following site, there's guides for installing most current systems in use http://www.bpbplaco.com/bpb_fr Good luck with whatever you choose
  4. brico depot sell loads of different varieties of caulking, called mastic acrylique in french, look for the phrase "peut etre peint" to ensure it's 100% acrylic,doesn't have a silicone content and so can be painted over once dry. I know they sell it in various shades such as white, grey & brown. Not sure if store layouts vary, but at poitiers you find it in the same isle as the fillers & adhesives.
  5. [quote user="cooperlola"]If the language is a problem, what they will do is help you on this front.  My English neighbour is now attending French classes (they are aimed at the French so expect a reasonable command of the language to begin with) 4 times a week thanks to ASSEDIC,which can only improve her chances of finding work.[/quote] How long had your neighbour been signed on as unemployed before they offered this?   When I signed on last November, I was refered to a service which helps to assess capabilities and competences, with a view to re-entering the job market. One of the main problems is that most employers value diplomas over experience . Having found a potentially suitable vacancy last week, (sans diplome) my advisor rushed to get my cv to the ANPE, only to have the woman there refuse to pass on my application because SHE, whom I've never met, was concerned over my level of French.  As yet, I have not been offered any more language tuition which is why I asked the question; maybe I have to be unemployed for longer before they do.....I already have 2 sessions a week with local French friends, but any extra help would be welcome.  I'll ask my advisor next week.
  6. cheers Nick, I am tva registered so I will happily leave all the details for my accountant to sort out[:D] thanks for the advice
  7. oh that's great news, thanks Val. I will be using a mail order company so should be able to get it zero rated then. How do I declare & pay the tva here on arrival of the goods?
  8. Hi everyone well I'm now registered as menuisier, quite painless so far but I'm now waiting for the deluge of demands to fall through the letterbox[:D] I want to buy some new power tools, mainly a decent mitre saw like the dewalt dw718 with stand. I've searched in vain for a reasonably priced supplier in France so my question is this; Can I purchase this tool from the UK & put it through my company accounts, how would I avoid paying two lots of vat? Does anyone know a uk supplier who will sell to France ex-vat? I've heard it's possible & that way I can re-claim the tva at this end. If anybody can point me in the right direction I'd be very grateful, or if anyone has found a french supplier who doesn't add 50% to uk prices I'd be happy to buy here[;-)] best wishes tony
  9. thanks everyone for your prompt & helpful replies Happy New Year
  10. Does anyone know what an "Animateur de centre aéré" is?   There is nothing in the dictionary which seems to make any sense. Also, what is the difference between an "Employé de bureau," and a "Commis de bureau" which is translated in my dictionary, as an office clerk.   Many thanks.  
  11. cheers for clarifying that for me Nick, no objections to me borrowing your phrase then? Have a great Christmas everyone, I'm off to enjoy one of my limited supply of fine bottled English beers
  12. thanks for that info' Chris. Makes a nice change to know that these things can go down as well as up[;-)]
  13. thanks for the reply Nick, are you saying that you don't state tva on your devis? ie, hors taux? surely most clients would like to know before getting a facture. I'm worried that clients will, quite rightly, expect me to know which rate to apply to each job & any mistake could end up with someone getting a nasty shock. How would one stand legaly if you devis at 5.5% & facture at 19.6%, because in the interim one realised the incorrect rate had ben applied to the devis? surely the client could refuse to pay more as it would constitute an un-agreed increase to the devis amount?
  14. thanks again cassis! it's strange that both those sites talk about tva at the normal rate of 20.6%?? I can only imagine they've copied erroneous information from the same source, but thanks for the information anyway. I'm  slowly building up an answer! best wishes Bastet
  15. wow that was quick cassis! thank you. I had read that post already & it just confirmed my own worst suspicions, ie that no-one is really sure! It also reminded me how quickly these posts can turn into heated debates [:D] I reckon there must be a lot of artisans out there who think that if they are only doing renovation works then they can charge a blanket rate of 5.5%. I suspect this is not the case & really want to get this straight before I start work. The last thing I need is some tax inspector on my back telling me to pay an extra 14.1% tva on all the previous works I'd done at the reduced rate! With all the experienced working people that regularly post on this site I hope someone can enliten us soon? or could it be I've started some little alarm bells ringing?
  16. thanks for the reply cassis. I did search through the forums but I could find no reference to this, hence the post. Do you happen to remember if anyone contradicted this interpretation?
  17. Hi everyone I am in the process of registering with the chambre de metiers to begin my enterprise individuelle in January. In preparation for this ( ie,  to understand the rules I should be aware of & complying with) one aspect I've been reading up on is the TVA at 5.5% business & I'm finding it confusing to get a clear idea of when this is applicable. I've just downloaded the new version of the attestation & it has far more information on it than the old 1 piece of paper, which you signed to say that your home is over two years old. This new version seems to be saying that a lot of the works which are eligible for the reduced rate of TVA cease to be eligible if the amount of work exceeds two thirds of the property. After which it seems to suggest that you are basically creating a new part of the property, ie internal walls if they are all new, and as such the work is rated at 19.6% as if it were a new build. ?? I should say my French isn't brilliant but I get by & it's improving month on month  and I have spent some time studying this so I think I've got this right??, I just hoped someone here may have experienced this issue and could let us know if it is being enforced in this way? Thanks in advance & a Happy Christmas to you all
  18. [quote user="Leslauriers"]SD - I asked Bastet for the specifics of the interest free account as I wanted to know wether the CPAM representative was implying that : A. The legislation had changed from declaring your RFR to declaring your RFR plus interest on Livret As, Codevis, LEPs or Livret Jeunes. or B. Bastet had failed to declare interest from a UK tax free savings vehicle, such as an ISA or Tessa or a maturing endowment perhaps. Any of which should of course have been declared on a tax return and already be included in the RFR and therefore the CPAM representative was right to present a revised demand. This could be narrowed down if Bastet would provide the details of the interest free accounts in question. If the legislation has changed then it is a relatively small beer increase due to the limitations on tax free investments and the interest paid thereon - probably less than 94€ for a couple with the maximum investment next year. [/quote] The accounts to which I was refering, and of which the CPAM chap took note, were our only savings accounts - all French - PEP, Livret Bleus, Livret Codevi, LEP, and he looked at, but I don't know what notes he made about, Prévi Options & Prévi Retraite. We each have one of each.   Hope that clarifies.... We have met an accountant who says he will sort it out - we'll be using their services anyway from next year for MOH's new business and when I said I thought we'd been overcharged, and provided him with copies of everything, he agreed.   I'm waiting to hear what they've heard back from CPAM.
  19. [quote user="Leslauriers"] From the previous posters note it may be that CPAM also wish these to be reported and therefore chargeable but that is contrary to the info on the Ameli site. [/quote] As it happens, we are disputing the amount of contribution demanded. Could you please direct me to the info on the Ameli site to which you are referring?    I have had a look but my French isn't up to detailed searches. Thanks very much.
  20. [quote user="Leslauriers"]CMU contributions are based upon your RFR (Revenu fiscal de référence) figure from your tax return.[/quote] This is what I thought and duely declared, as in previous years.  Several weeks ago, I find a gentleman from CPAM on my doorstep with our dossier, enquiring as to how we could possibly exist on such a meagre income. When I told him we had other tax free income, which isn't taken into account when the RFR is calculated, he informed me that they must be informed of every cent that comes into the household, whether it's taxable or not.     He showed me the parts on the form where you have to declare ALL other incomes. He went off having taken notes of (the tax-free) interest from our savings accounts, and we were later informed of our contributions.  He has made the rounds to several other local households, many of us Brits who have made the same error.
  21. Hi chaps, Sorry to be banging on about this again but would like some more input if possible. Loss of BBC channels started to extend to some others and radio channels, so we bit the bullet and called out local TV installer who has successfully fitted several Sky systems to neighbours. After a few minutes of tweaking on Friday afternoon, the loss was rectified and we were all happy bunnies. Later that evening we had about a 5 minutes loss of BBC 1 & 2 but it seemed Ok after that until last night when it went off just before the Catherine Tate show and still hadn't come back 2 hours later.   It's fine at the moment. It is possible that something in the LNB has degraded?  The loss of these channels has become much more frequent over the last few weeks.  Is it just co-incidental that it's worse at night? Installer is shut today but I'll be waiting on their doorstep when they open tomorrow morning.
  22. Thanks to everyone for this confirmation. We'll get them in the post pronto.
  23. If I may be allowed to develop the tangent about paying on-line, we have just done so for tax d'habiltaion, and social contributions.  We have received by return of e-mail, receipt sconfirming payment etc, but with also the following tagged on: Vous trouverez en pièce jointe une adhésion au télérèglement comportant votre numéro de compte bancaire. Il vous appartient de compléter ce document des codes établissement et guichet, du nom de l'établissement teneur de votre compte, et après l'avoir daté et signé, de l'adresser à votre banque dans les meilleurs délais, accompagné d'un RIB. ADHESION AU TELEREGLEMENT J'autorise l'établissement teneur de mon compte à exécuter sur ce dernier, si la situation le permet, tous les ordres de débit ordonnés par le créancier désigné ci-dessous. En cas de litige sur un débit, je réglerai le différend directement avec le créancier. Désignation du titulaire du compte à débiter   N° national d’émetteur OUR NAME XXXXXX Désignation du compte à débiter Désignation du créancier Etablissement Guichet N° de compte Clé R.I.B. TRESOR PUBLIC XXXXXXXXXX XX Date :   Désignation de l’établissement teneur de compte Signature du titulaire du compte à débiter   We interpret this to mean we have to complete it with our bank details and send it to our bank with a RIB attached . Does anyone know the point of this?  Is this to allow direct debit in the future? It seems a bit pointless having a paperless method of paying if you still have to post stuff. 
  24. I too have a vague recollection of a discussion about earning an annual income of under a certain threshold, something like €7k ? for which the cotisations were greatly reduced or simplified.  It was a few years ago and before the revamp of the forum so it wouldn't still be in the archives. Maybe whatever scheme it was, (and it wasn't cheque emploi) doesn't exist anymore or maybe it was for certain metiers which were seasonal ? 
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