VandA

Unfortunately Wanadoo (orange as was) in their wisdom used to leave their servers open to allow relaying from other non-wanadoo email accounts (so you could be connected via wanadoo to the internet but still send btconnect emails for example). This is perfect for spammers to use as they can hide their real identities so some companies like hotmail and mac.com blacklisted wanadoo connections. The reason it works sometimes and not others is because each time you connect to the internet you are assigned an IP address. If that IP address is one of the old wanadoo ones hotmail will block your emails to hotmail addresses. The fix is to restart your connection - either by going through the livebox menus to restart it or by simply unplugging it and plugging it back in. You'll need to do it until you get assigned an IP address that is not on the blacklist. Alternatively get a free email account with someone else (google is probably best) and send emails via that. It's very easy to have two email accounts in Outlook both delivering to the same inbox - just select google to reply. Hope that helps...

[quote user="LEO"][quote user="VandA"]Am looking at applying for an eco pret a taux zero. Am wondering if anyone has any experience of getting one? Currently if you get quotes for a 'bouquet' of 3 or more 'renovations' that improve the energy rating of your home you can apply for up to €30,000, interest free to be repaid over 10 years. My questions are; do you only borrow the amount of the quotes or can you borrow the full €30k and do your factures have to add up to €30k before they give you the money?[/quote] Hi Vanda have you made any progress on the above front ? [/quote] Leo,  I am hoping I have misconstrued your post on my other question in these forums (fora?) if I have then I will apologise.  As you can tell for some reason one finds oneself being defensive due to the offensive postings of certain members of these boards. I am going to wait until next year before applying (hoping that these loans are still available) as I think, for this year, we will have taken on too much work already!  We are already rewiring and replumbing our house, as well as converting some outbuildings into gites so the heating will have to wait.  We're just hoping that it works this winter...

[quote user="LEO"][quote user="Chancer"][quote user="VandA"]Hi, We have made an appointment to meet the Mayor of our local town (pop. c5000) tomorrow and are wondering what one is supposed to say at these meetings! [/quote] I could understand the Maire asking this question but you surely must have had a reason to ask for the meeting so that should be your point of discussion. You could perhaps ask is there anything else that as new arrivals and etrangers we should be aware of? [/quote] Maybe the reason is connected to gaining the interest free loan the OP is proposing on the Eco Pret,  thread. [/quote] Leo, what on earth do the two have to do with each other? How could a Maire have any influence on a government funded loan? I find the insinuation insulting. I am amazed at the sort of people who are posting on this thread. As NormanH said [quote]Your post overflows with the snobbery and class conciousness which most of us have left behind[/quote] Some posts here overflow with the vitriol and offensiveness that I was happy to leave behind in the UK. Why on earth do some people consider it impolite to introduce themselves to their local Maire? How can it be construed as anything other than courteousness? I am still awaiting an apology from you NormanH for your offensive remarks on this and another thread - but I am guessing that your manners don't extend to that (or exist at all perhaps). Thank you for the other (helpful) posts though. I am very glad I made the effort to meet our Maire, and will now feel happier when I bump into her at local functions knowing that I have already introduced myself.

Dragonrouge, I hoped you don't think that I was being offensive in my reply - I was very grateful for you pointing out what you did!

And there was me thinking this was 'the thing to do'! In fact she was as charming as she could be - very keen to see us establish our gite and behind us '200%'. She said she'd be very happy to apply any pressure to the Conseils Generale and Regionale on our behalf. She commented how pleased she was we'd been to see her as it showed us as being 'open' and welcoming. And she said she'd be happy to cut the ribbon when we come to open for the first time. All in all well worth a visit, and nice to be 'known' in the town rather than just hiding behind our gates.

Thanks again SD. More reading required! I guess it's a balance between the tax you could save and interest you'd pay on the loan..

...and it also talks about the 'aquisition' costs of a condensation boiler (for example). As we are within two years of moving and the house is older than 1977 we would qualify for 40% - does aquisition just include purchase price or fitting as well?

Sunday driver - well spotted (dammit). It refers to your revenu fiscal for two years previously. Does the revenue fiscal include global earnings or just earnings declared in France?

What makes you say that you cannot claim the 'green' allowances if you take the eco pret? I don't think I've seen that written down anywhere. I'm guessing this loan will soon disappear so need to get on with applying I think!

Hi, We have made an appointment to meet the Mayor of our local town (pop. c5000) tomorrow and are wondering what one is supposed to say at these meetings! We'll do the introduction bit, enchanté etc but then what? We are converting a stable block in our garden into a gite, which presumably she'll know about as we have a permis for it. Should we mention that? Can we ask if the town can offer any support, like signs, or should that wait till nearer opening? I understand we have to remain formal too, calling her 'Madame le Maire' at all times too. Any other advice?

Am looking at applying for an eco pret a taux zero. Am wondering if anyone has any experience of getting one? Currently if you get quotes for a 'bouquet' of 3 or more 'renovations' that improve the energy rating of your home you can apply for up to €30,000, interest free to be repaid over 10 years. My questions are; do you only borrow the amount of the quotes or can you borrow the full €30k and do your factures have to add up to €30k before they give you the money?

Thank you all for the suggestions - I too was a little worried about using ecurie - as it implies something a little 'rustic'... Am liking Le Fleuve Tranquil - we have a spring in the garden so was thinking this could be La Source Tranquile... PS The other pictures on Flikr are the inside of our house rather than what the Gite will look like unfortunately!

;)

Hi, We are really struggling to come up with a name for our Gite. It will be in a converted stone stable block in our garden - shown here in its pre-work form: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosbiffer/4963378032/> We're looking at targeting cyclists and fishermen as well as businessmen working in the nearby big towns and weekenders. It needs to appeal to both English and French and needs to work as a (available) web address! We've come up with Le Grand Arbre (there's a huge Tulipier in the garden), Les Grandes Fenetres, Les Ecuries but none have really floated our boat! Anyone any ideas?

I need to paint our old gates outside but don't know which 'green' to choose! What is the standard dark green that new gates come in from Lapeyre and places? I'm looking to use the Hammerite paint that you can put even over rusty surfaces...

6 minutes for a reply - now that's impressive, thanks! I'll check with the plumber and go for it. It seems to be about a quarter of the price! PS How do you do links - thought I'd sussed it in the preview but it comes out wrong!

I am renovating a bathroom and need to add a radiator. To go with the rest of the decor I would ideally like chrome but I am struggling to find one in France for less that 1500€! Question is, can I buy a radiator in the UK and get it fitted to French pipes easily? The pipes are the plastic quick fit stuff. I was hoping for something like [url="http://www.acova.fr/Ismona/AcovaServiceConso/AfficherFicheProduitPar?TypCat=PAR&TypRech=GUIDE&CodGamCom=0164&CodGamTec=016401&TypRad=2"]this[/url] - but I need around 1500W but for it to be less than 500mm wide. In the UK I can order [url="http://www.traderadiators.com/acatalog/copy_of_The_Hudson__New_York_Stainless_Steel_Radiator_Series___.html]this one[/url].

Where abouts? We were in Chantilly but now moved to Mouy near Beauvais. Lots of expat life around Chantilly...

Thanks chaps/chappesses, I am applying for a 'subvention' from our Conseil Generale so will be classified via G de F. I guess this, along with registering with the Marie should tick the boxes necessary for the 71% abatement. The Conseil have been very helpful in providing info (and money!) in setting up a gite - guess that is the difference between the north and the south at the moment - they're in pretty short supply in our department!

Thanks for the reply A the I. I work in the UK still but declare my income in France - the wife works a couple of hours a week in France - we have no business registered in France. It appears that the MicroBIC will be the way to go as the allowances are about 79% against income. I am just hoping the social cotisations will be small!

Hi, We're in the process of converting a stable building into a gite at our main house and I am wondering if there are any good (and up to date!) articles on which tax regime to go for when running it. My wife and I are both registered and already pay tax in France. I would anticipate that income from the gite would not exceed €32000 a year and I would like to maximise the amount we can claim for running costs and minimise the amount we pay in cotisations. Can anyone point me in the right direction or do I need to find an accountant with knowledge in this area? Thanks in advance

Thanks everyone for the replies - I think I understand now...  We have a French SS number but no Carte Vitale so maybe we'll get sent the forms last.  I'll download the form from that link and use that if not.  I also understand that we don't have to make a special visit - just take it in next time we go. We have the E106 because husband works in the UK whilst living in France...

I found this on the internet with most of the info: http://www.sante.gouv.fr/assurance_maladie/index.htm   What it doesn't seem to mention is where to get the form to take to your doctor - any ideas?  I also note that it doesn't apply to the under 16s.  Phew -as it is the kids or spend so long at the docs!

Thanks for the quick response - still confused though! We don't have Carte Vitales as I am paying in the UK system and we are covered by an E106 in France.  I do have a French SS number though?  So we have received no 'forms' to fill in /return.  How would be get them?  Do they get returned to the CPAM?  We have no mutuelle at the moment either... How is this going to change the system in practice?  Do we still get the feuille de soins?  What happens when you have to go to a specialist - no change? Thanks again!  

My wife is panicking a little as she has heard some rumours about a change in the way the system reimburses healthcare costs. She has heard that the system of reimbursment by sending off the feuille de soins to the CPAM (we have a french SS number and a UK E106) is going to change and that you have to be registered with a specific doctor who will have to sign claims.  Has anyone heard anything along those lines?