Gwin

Finally settled in my new home(well new as in moved in, in September) and started planning renevations. I was very wary of employing tradesmen as have heard so many horror stories, so asked for recommendations, read local English rag reviews and interviewed severial potental builders before making my choice. Big Mistake! After a large hole (door size) left in a supporting wall with no support and two floors laid with no damp proofing and concret with no reinforcing (allthough the builder tried to convince me there were re enforcing fibres in it ( concret firm confirmed it was plain concret, no adatives or re enforcing fibre) field drains incased in concret, no stone lining ditch and kitchen waste connected to same pipes. When challanged builder stated, Oh thats ok to put  waste into field drain and soak away, a heavy rain and that will wash all the fat out of the pipes. Field drain was to help rectify flooding from neighbours property which is undermining my utility wall. So finally I lost patience and sent the builder packing. Question  :even with a siret number how does one know your not employing a cowboy This man has a history of bad workmanship, only found out since sacking him 5000 Euros out of pocket what redress do I have, if any, his contract is worded very cleaverly, no mention of re enforcing floors just general discription of laying new floors. And finally being a women by myself how do I find an honest competant builder?[:'(]   

[:(] have still not received any communication from notaire, or promised Power of Attorney and estate agent has not received promised keys, I have now sent off registered letter to notaire insisting that I am given a firm date of completion and that if that is not forthcoming that I will take legal action to re claim my deposit plus 10% from vendor plus expenses incurred so far. Estate agent has also written demanding firm completion date, so watch this space. Gwin

I paid the deposit to the estate agent, who is as frustrated as I am. She says she has never experianced such problems before. (Story of my life)

The completion date was 29th May! hence my frustration, I just hope that all the legalities will not take much longer, it scares me to think that nothing will be done until the end of the French holidays, the delays are costing me money as well as my sanity. Thanks  Gwin

Hi, moving to Mezieres-sur-Issoire near Bellac. I am involved in the Douglas choral union who stage various musical productions every year. This years offering being Annie. I am involved both on stage and behind stage and have served on committee as Vice Chairman and produced the productions programe and also alternative progame. Obviously with my impending move I would like to join a like minded group in the area or within reasonable travelling distance, I am at an interesting age travelling headlong into the 60s, but am agile and a babe at heart. So any one out there who can help me Thanks Gwin

Thanks Danny, have downloaded application form from Teleconnect, didnt know it was so easy. Now all I need to do is to get French Telecom to instal line and Im away. Regards Gwin.

Anton, it isent me who fails to turn up or sign documents, didnt explain myself properly. 1,signed compreme before vendor and payed my deposit in December, compreme sent to vendor who held on to it for nearly 3 months, vendor not on phone and didnt answer noteire's letters. 2. When vendor was finally tracked down and signed the contract, he then sacked the noterie and new noterie is situated in the Nortn of France. 3. After many phone calls, yet another trip to France  I finally recieved completed documentation and swiftly sent back to notire. 4. Becaues of so much uncertanty I then asked if I could sign papers so that the notire could sign on my behalf, stupidly I thought this would speed up the process and allow me to complete quicker. (silly me) 5. The vendor has refused to give keys to his notire so that an inventary can be taken, apparently the notire will not send me the documents for signing on my behalf until an inventary has been drawn up and witnessed by a local notire. 6. Plans were organised for the local notie to go to house and do the inventory, and guess what No key. 7. More delays, finally keys produced and inventary done and after two weeks finally sent to notire in Northan France. 8. Now three weeks on and no legal papers sent to me and as you point out were now in French holiday time. Really all I want to know is has this guy broken our legal contract after all it's over six months now and still no completion date in sight. Will I lose my deposit if I finally throw in the towel and admit defeat, or do I just hang in there. Cheers Gwin

I want to connect to telephone, no line connection as yet, and once connected want internet access using english. Any good deals out there? do I have to have my line with French telecomb?

[:'(]I made an offer on a house in Charante region early December 2006. Sent back Compremee with deposit. Since then have signed second contract after many delays caused by vendor. Because i went to france 4 times hoping to complete transaction and to complete banking loan, I have now asked to be able to get the noteriee to sign on my behalf , that was months ago and still delays because vendor wouldnt answer letters or release keys for noteriee to take inventary, apparently a resequite to signing on my behalf. Can I pull out of the sale as i feel vendor has broken contract, and i am really fed up being put off every time i phone.