maureen

Why not try your French Consulate in California.I am sure they would be able to give you details. It is fairly easy for British citizens to become French because we are part of Europe, but the same rules do not I think apply to you. Most people who post on this site are in fact british, so we do not necessarily know American rules.

Sorry, but that's how things work in France - it cannot be compared to the U.K. Pity that you didn't get more information before you started on your adventure. PLEASE.... let all of us here pass our advice on to new-comers. There is so much to learn!!!

Hallo vervialle - thanks for your reply. Pity that there are not more people like you - especially amongst the French. As far as sterilising animals in France is concerned. I always put it down to the fact that France is a predominantly Catholic country and they don't like contraception - of any kind!! May be daft, but I just cannot think of any other reason, except for lack of money, why animals are not castrated. It's a pity that you are not nearer to Perigueux, out main centre, as we would certainly have dragged you in to help...however if ever you want to do any book sales, collection of cat food, or money for purchase, the "Limousin Marathon", or anything to help, please feel free. Thank you for taking the time to write, Maureen.

Sorry, this has gradually been building up over the last few years... Too many people doing the same line of business, and competion is everywhere! Maureen.

Well try Tuesday, then................

I always used to think that the french habit of taking the light bulbs was OTT, but....if you look at french light fittings, they don't have here a ceiling rose as we do, and often when taking down the 'chandeleer' to move  the whole lot comes with it. I felt terrible when we moved recently to have left the bare wires, but that was just how it was! As for vendors saying that they will leave something behind for a substantial sum, my reply is," Oh, don't worry we'll get rid of it for you". That usualy ends up with them taking it, or leaving it for nothing. You win some and you loss some.............. maureen.

The day you signed the Acte de Vente to buy your house, it, and it's contents became yours. Full stop. maureen.

There is no black and white rule here. There are SO many types of Mandates, and they are sometimes very difficult to understand, even for the french. Unless you have a copy of THE Mandate in front of you, it is not worth continuing the discussion. I would like to say that there is one particular Agency in the S.W. who have a Mandate which is one stop short of a swindle. So the moral of the story is, NEVER sign a mandate unless you fully understand it, or erased anything you don't agree with and signed that change in the margin. Maureen.

I have changed my e-mail address three times, from Wanadoo ( hopeless) to Tiscali ( not TOO bad) to Free (excellent). I have never lost my "address book", that's on my computer, not my 'fournisseur'! I have had ADSL for over a year now, and it is just fabulous!

Gunner - the person who did the survey of your house, should be able to point you to a reliable person to do any necessary treatment. Be very careful- there are a lot of charlotans out there doing so called treatments. I know an elderly couple whose french was not too good and they got taken for a huge sum of money. Your "seven days" shouldn't include the weekend. maureen. p.s. we had death watch beatles in our spuds - all part of country life!

Sadly, it's been happening here for a good few years now. It came to light when it was discovered that the animals were being transported through that nice neutral country, Switzerland. maureen.

I cant understand all this reluctance to do things properly. If you are resident in France make a french Will - after all you live here!!! maureen. Otherwise listen to Alan Zoff his advice is excellent and correct!

Would you have thrown it away if you had received it from the British Tax Authorities? Well, then keep it, read it well - does it need to be filled in and returned? If so fill it in and take a photocopy before sending it back. Bin it - some people! Didn't you learn any french while you were working in France, or how they do things here? maureen.

De tout façon it's not worth worrying about - you won't be here to see where the money goes anyway --- just let them fight it out, as families always do!!! maureen.

Have you looked ( or get someone to look for you!) to see if your house insurance covers broken specs...? I know somebody who claimed, when he knocked his glasses of the ladder when painting, broke them and they were replaced, free! Worth a butchers. maureen.

If it is your one and only house, here or in U.K. you will have no "plus value" to pay. maureen.

Just go along to a french Notaire and get it done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is dead easy, he knows the laws here and will (pun) advise you on what to do. It is not expensive and my Noatire even found me two the two wittnesses to confirm my signature. He kept a copy and so did I. maureen.

Chantal - did you get my private e-mail? Phoenix Refuge are waiting to hear from you, please make contact. e-mail [email protected] or tel. 05.53.54.94.81. maureen. ( for Richard & Sheelagh, Phoenix.)

I have received a call from Sheelagh & Richard at Phoenix Refuge to put out an urgent appeal for homes for the annual "crop" of spring kittens which are flooding into the Refuge. If you could offer a loving home to a kitten or two, they would dearly love to hear from you. Go on make a difference............ Tel. 05.53.54.94.81. or e-mail [email protected] Thanks. Maureen. p.s. these kittens cannot be sterilised etc. at the moment, as they are too young.

Ask your buyer to pay the cheque in sterling - then you can pay it directly into a U.K. account. I did this with a house I sold. maureen.

Just remind them that they are civil servants - usually does the trick .............................. maureen.

David - a driving license CAN be used as identity. Have you never noticed in supermarkets that the french often give their driving licenses as identity when they pay be cheque? You are entitled to a carte ( or titre if you like) de Sejour. Go onto the Britsh Embassy website, find the appropriate section, print it off, and take it either to your sous- prefecture/prefecture and tell them what you want. Your local Mairie obviously needs a kick up the bum, or is just being bone idle. Stick to your guns. or do you want to be classed as "sans papiers"!! I didn't. As for the driving license, I have had mine for nearly 30 years so maybe the rules have changed since then, so no comment. I say that you can still give your driving license as identity if you are stopped by les flics. A passport is a far too important document to carry round with you all the time - the french certainly don't carry theirs. I know my partner is french!!!! maureen.

I recently renewed my Carte de Sejour even though legally it is now not necessary. I went to my local Mairie who told me that it would have to go through the Prefecture in Perigueux, and that I would have to go there. So, I phoned Perigueux, who told me to go back to my local Mairie and tell them to do it. I was told by Perigueux,  that they needed to get out the forms they used before, get the required nos. of photos,  my parents d. of b. the usual telephone or E.D.F Bill et etc. I did this and much to my surprise my new card turned up a short while later. I have NEVER heard that it is necessary to carry a passport with you when driving. If you have french driving licences, theses can be used as "identity cards" if you are stopped. French Identity cards are for the french. Maureen.

Forgive me for saying so, ....but if somebody managed to get onto your roof to put up an aerial, surely somebody could  get up there to take it down.......Might be the best answer in the long run! Maureen.

Well if it's not Sunday Driver - you do get around on yer boike. Going back to your original post johnv you say that your Notaire is asking for a "proper" translation. You do not actually say an "official" translation. Have you perhaps misunderstood??!! Anyway since you posted this message you must have by now signed that contract! maureen.