tinabee

[quote user="idun"]And these are the exchange rates you actually got, And how much do they charge to do the transfer?[/quote] Yes, the rates we actually got. Charge is 3 euros per exchange.

Oh for the heady days of January 2007 - exchange rate 1.50687 !! You can track the fall here http://www.x-rates.com/d/EUR/GBP/hist2007.html http://www.x-rates.com/d/EUR/GBP/hist2008.html Definitely more troughs than peaks since 2009 . . .

CurrencyFair 02 August 1.15   CurrencyFair 19 August 1.1494 [:D]

[quote user="parsnips"][quote user="tinabee"][quote user="Rabbie"][quote user="Mr Wiggy"] I have recently received a form from Cardiff for information of what state pension I will shortly be getting, when I officially become an old F*rt. This, I assume will be for taxation purposes but why, when I already have the tax code NT, so as far as I am concerned this should be nothing to do with these people as it will be declared here, so can anyone advise me on this situation? I know full well that if I fill in these forms and return them, these stupid people in Cardiff  will start taxing my pension, as they did the same with my company pension until Nottingham stepped in. HELP!! [/quote]They need your State pension details so they can give the correct tax code to your other pension providers. Income tax is NEVER deducted from your state pension although it uses up part of your taxfree allowance.[/quote] However, assuming that you will eventually pay tax on your state pension here in France, does the state pension still use up part of your tax-free allowance?  Or, once the France Individual form is received by the UK, will the full tax-free allowance be allocated to other pensions, e.g. govt pensions? [/quote] Hi,      Yes the personal allowance will be wholly freed up to cover UK taxable income. [/quote] Phew! I thought for a minute the UK as well as France were going to try to get more out of us! Cheers Parsnips[B]

[quote user="Rabbie"][quote user="Mr Wiggy"] I have recently received a form from Cardiff for information of what state pension I will shortly be getting, when I officially become an old F*rt. This, I assume will be for taxation purposes but why, when I already have the tax code NT, so as far as I am concerned this should be nothing to do with these people as it will be declared here, so can anyone advise me on this situation? I know full well that if I fill in these forms and return them, these stupid people in Cardiff  will start taxing my pension, as they did the same with my company pension until Nottingham stepped in. HELP!! [/quote]They need your State pension details so they can give the correct tax code to your other pension providers. Income tax is NEVER deducted from your state pension although it uses up part of your taxfree allowance.[/quote] However, assuming that you will eventually pay tax on your state pension here in France, does the state pension still use up part of your tax-free allowance?  Or, once the France Individual form is received by the UK, will the full tax-free allowance be allocated to other pensions, e.g. govt pensions?

[quote user="Mr Wiggy"] I have recently received a form from Cardiff for information of what state pension I will shortly be getting, when I officially become an old F*rt. This, I assume will be for taxation purposes but why, when I already have the tax code NT, so as far as I am concerned this should be nothing to do with these people as it will be declared here, so can anyone advise me on this situation? I know full well that if I fill in these forms and return them, these stupid people in Cardiff  will start taxing my pension, as they did the same with my company pension until Nottingham stepped in. HELP!! [/quote]   As far as I know you have to fill in the form for the UK tax authorities, which will probably mean they will tax your UK pension at source. I would also imagine that they will tax it anyway at a standard rate, even if you don't return the form. Next May, you need to complete a new France Individual form to submit with your French tax return, so that you can prove to the UK that your state pension is being taxed in France. The UK will at some later date, repay the tax they already took on your pension.

[quote user="sweet 17"]  With the exchange rate at 1.1532 (dizzying heights, really!)...... When did we last see rates like these?  Can't remember as it was too long ago...  [/quote] It was only 6 months ago - March average rate 1.1541 it just feels longer[;-)]

[quote user="frankgarton28"]Thanks for your reply. We are coming from the UK so we can just move. Would we need a new driving licence? can we bring our cars from the uk? [/quote] You do not need a new driving licence, you can continue to use your UK one (or change it for a French one when you get here). You can bring your UK cars, but you will need to have them tested and insured here, as well as re-registered. If you google "register a car in France" you will find articles on how to do it. Some people change their UK licences for French ones as the UK photo licence expires after 10 years.

[quote user="pete-h33"]I have recently moved to France and am hoping someone can point me in teh right direction. I have looked through the website at some of the financial firms, but dont know which one to use for a pension transfer. Can anybody ( not a financial adviser) recommend 2 me a financial firm awho are any good? Cheers Pete[/quote] What exactly do you mean by pension transfer?  I initially thought you meant the transfer of a private pension fund to a QROPS or something similar. But having read Cooperlola's post, she has assumed you mean the transfer of your pension income to a French bank, i.e. a currency transfer. If you let us know what you need, I am sure there will be more people along who can help

Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality. If you are from an EU country there are no restrictions at all. Other countries, USA, Australia, etc differ.

[quote user="Anton Redman"]Check out where the Greenwich Meridian runs[/quote] why?

You might find helpful info here http://www.ancestry.fr/  

The planning laws in France are national, but each commune may have specific rules or guidelines set out in a local plan - you can get a good understanding of how it all works here http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/building/planning/local-plans/plan-local-urbanisme/ The size of property that can be built on a plot will depend on the density set out in the local plan, i.e. the "Coefficient d'occupation des sols (COS)".

[quote user="NormanH"]From all you have said stan it seems to me that you qualify for the ACS, but I am not the one to convince... Good luck if you need it. [/quote] unless you happen to own a Manoir in the Dordogne (or 2) [;-)]

If anyone is interested in how "lifestyle" factors are assessed, it is explained here http://www.securite-sociale.fr/comprendre/dossiers/fraude/train_de_vie.htm  

[quote user="NormanH"]But does that apply to the ACS too? [/quote] Yes, as far as I can tell based on this guide http://guide-pratique.lefigaro.fr/C39ssect12/la-couverture-complementaire-sante/  

[quote user="NormanH"]You have me stumped on that. I bet the French authorities didn't think about it either when they brought in the CMU. It would seem unlikely that people who can afford e private health insurance would have an income below the rather low 'plafond', but of course it is not impossible [/quote] One of the key aspects of CMU-C is that they will also check assets and "lifestyle" factors in assessing whether you qualify, so it is not only the "plafond" that is taken into consideration.  

[quote user="pachapapa"] The wind causing wet tree branches to touch a local low voltage power cable. Walk the line. [/quote] This is very likely - especially with the wind and rain we were having at the time! Thanks

Saw this and thought of you - (especially the last song) http://youtu.be/NB3NPNM4xgo

[quote user="Bernice"]Viakal is very good - you can buy it in most of the supermarkets. Bernice [/quote] Agree - but test it first if you are using it near chrome taps (it can discolour them a bit).

For the official position - there is a brochure on the CNAV website that explains how it should work (English version third link from the bottom of the page) https://www.lassuranceretraite.fr/cs/Satellite/PUBPrincipale/Salaries/Droits-Cas-Par-Cas-Salaries/En-Cas-Activites-France-Etranger/Brochures-Information-Activites-Etranger?packedargs=null  

For some reason today the power keeps going off, just for a second, but enough to make the Livebox cut out and then go through its interminable reset sequence. It's happening several times an hour at the moment and it's getting on my wick [:@] What is going on?  Is it the weather? (rain!) Is it the holidays? or is it just me!  

[quote user="cooperlola"]The only thing more naff than a coloured bog roll is a coloured bathroom "suite".[+o(][/quote] Oh how I long for the days of the avocado suite [6] That and chocolate brown were my faves

There is a good explanation here http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/public-services/school-education/grants/    

If you look on this website you can search for a brand name medication, or if that is not available, look for the active ingredient, e.g. Eltroxin is levothyroxine Click on the specific medication and it will tell you whether prescription is needed (Médicament soumis à prescription médicale) and sometimes gives the price http://sante-az.aufeminin.com/w/sante/medicaments/alphabetique-l.html