tinabee

We are with MAAF for health top-up and are very happy with them. Everything seems to go smoothly. They also have on-line access for you to check your account etc.

Definitely go to register at your Pole Emploi. You can do all the initial registration on-line which makes it easier. If you go to the website here https://demandeur-emploi.assedic.fr/demandeuremploi/homepagede you can subscribe and start the process, just put your postcode into the box in the orange panel marked Inscrivez-vous and it will take you through the process. You should then receive an appointment by email.  Once you have subscribed you can set up searches which will then email you available jobs. I set up a search which covered my area with the keyword "anglais" and actually managed to get 2 part time jobs. You need to go into "recherche avancée" to set up this type of search. After my interview with Pole Emploi, I was sent on a course for help and support in preparing CVs and letters of motivation, as well as understanding your options in the French job market. My French is also O-level standard (and that was a lot more years ago!), but I persevered and managed to understand/make myself understood. You could always try to find someone to go with you who can help translate. Don't give up, even if you end up not using your degree to start with, having any job during a recession is a good foundation for moving on.  

Like writersblock says, there really is no concept of saving time at La poste (or the bank or the chemist or  . . . )[:D] It can save you a little time, since if you don't prepare the slip in advance you have to write out the colissimo slip at the counter. Also, printing the slip online saves 27 centimes (the cost of colissimo at the counter for a parcel under 500g is 5.50, whereas if you print your own it costs 5.23) Our post office has a chart on the wall which shows the quiet times and the busy times, so you can try to visit when they expect it to be quiet - but it's just one of those things you get used to . . .

When you print your colissimo slip it will be in 2 parts. Cut it down the line and stick the main part on your parcel, taking care not to cover any of the barcode with tape, and take the parcel and the second part to La Poste. They will weigh it to make sure you have entered the correct weight on the parcel (and paid the right tarif) and then they will stamp the second part (receipt bit) and give it you back. This proves you have posted the parcel.  

Yes you can. It's easy. When you have sold something you get the option to "affranchir" (I think I have remembered that correctly). You will then be asked what service you want e.g. colissimo or international.  You will need to enter the weight in kilos (remembering that here a , is used instead of a .    for example 0.25k has to be entered as 0,25) One of the differences between ebay France and UK is that in France only the postage costs are charged (generally) and NOT any allowance for packaging.

Probably not what you want to hear, but viewing and making a decision quickly can be very expensive in the long run. Some houses that look fantastic in the sunshine can be damp, running with water, or even flooded in the depth of winter. If you fall in love with a house in the very worst conditions, it is likely to serve you very well.    

[quote user="amandasattic"] Any pointers into a good area which has loads of camping sites would be great :-)[/quote] There are many French companies who have campsites across the country, here are three that show their sites on maps - it will give you an idea of the areas that are most popular: http://www.village-center.com/ http://www.aquaticamp.com/us/camping-france.php http://www.siblu.fr/france/  

There is an article that explains it here: http://www.exclusivehealthcare.com/subcategory.php?SubCateId=204  

If you are living and working in the UK for more than 6 months then AFAIK you will be classed as UK resident for tax purposes. Have a look here for some guidelines on residency status: http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/liability-income-tax/residency-status/    

I guess a company like this could help: http://lbvfrance.com/ I believe they have members across France.

There are lots of free on-line resources you can use to help prepare: http://esl.about.com/od/teachingenglish/u/teach.htm http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-teaching-english-gateway http://www.eslcafe.com/ideas/index.html good luck!

[quote user="SkiingSista73"]When I get married, I would like to use my husband's surname instead of my maiden name, as many women do. Had I still been a UK resident, I'd have changed it on my passport and all my documents in order to completely lose my maiden name. However, in France this is going to be complicated. It would be so much simpler if I was a French national with a carte d'identité with both surnames appearing on it, but how am I going to prove my identity with my passport if I introduce myself with my husband's surname and then present my ID which has only my maiden name on it? There are going to be times where I need to prove my identity with my maiden name (filling in official forms for the préfecture etc) and times where I'll need proof of my married name when I introduce myself as such. How does this work? All the married women out there - did you change your name on your passport or did you resort to taking a copy of your acte de mariage everywhere with you as well?[/quote] I still have my passport in my maiden name, but got my driving licence changed to show married name. Then changed UK driving licence to French driving licence which shows both names.  I have never had a problem using a driving licence as proof of identity. The only thing to remember is, as another poster has said, if you are booking travel (ferry, flights, etc) the ticket must be in your maiden name. Easy peasy!

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] . . . complete with original of her birth certificate (fingers crossed and since returned OK). .....   [/quote] If anyone is worried about sending an original birth certificate, you can always get another one from the GRO http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs-birth-death-marr.asp It only costs between £7 & £10 and they post to France at no extra cost. 

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] . . . complete with original of her birth certificate (fingers crossed and since returned OK). .....   [/quote] If anyone is worried about sending an original birth certificate, you can always get another one from the GRO http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/faqs-birth-death-marr.asp It only costs between £7 & £10 and they post to France at no extra cost. 

Don't give up!! In this economic climate, you will definitely need persistence and patience, and the resilience to take the knocks. Have you analysed why you think companies are not replying?  Is it because they require someone with experience and you have none, or are there other reasons. Are you adapting and targetting your CV to their specific requirements?  If you google "how to get a job in a recession" you may find some tips that could help you. Sometimes when you can't start your ideal career, it can help to take any job you can get, just to get you into the marketplace and start building your network. Even short term, part-time jobs can open up opportunities for you. There are jobs out there, but they might not seem like your ideal job at the moment.  And don't take the rejections or lack of response personally, most companies are absolutely swamped with applications and unsolicited CV's - they couldn't possibly reply to every letter or application. They will have a clear set of selection criteria and if your CV doesn't match I'm afraid it will go straight in the bin.  Also, some companies use another method of reducing the number of candidates they select for interview. Here's how it works: put all the CV's received in a file without looking at them. If somebody rings up to ask whether their application has been received/considered, they will retrieve the CV and put it in the "CV's to look at" file. All the other CV's will be put in the bin. That way, only those candidates motivated enough to follow up their application with a phone call will be considered. Are you resident in France?  Do you regularly search the job adverts on the Pole Emploi website? There is a facility to do an advanced search where you can find all of the jobs in France where English is a requirement. There will be lots of jobs that are totally unsuitable, but it might just give you some ideas. Keep going, something will turn up . . .

There are some interesting jobs on this website - not relocation, but working with young people   http://www.hotrecruit.com/show_job.cgi?j=4529368&e=year&lo=France&a=31

I keep mine on a spreadsheet using these headings:        Account Holder                        INTITULÉ DU COMPTE    Account Number/Type            NUMÉRO DE COMPTE/CARACTÉRISTIQUES                Sortcode/BankName            DÉSIGNATION DE L'ÉTABLISSEMENT                            Address                                    ADRESSE                            Date account opened               DATE D'OUVERTURE                             It's then very easy to add accounts if necessary

[quote user="Judith"] Since all the interest in the UK has had tax paid on it, it is very tempting to ignore it, but I know I should not. [/quote] On your UK bank statements it should show how much gross interest you received and how much tax you paid on this. Declare the gross interest on your French tax form and then claim back the interest you have already paid to the Inland Revenue by using form R43 - which you can get here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nonresidents/fagallow_nonres.shtml That way you will get back what you have already paid in tax, even though you haven't yet done your FD5/France Individual form.

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] The on-line declaration helps you choose the forms which are appropriate to your circumstances.  You are presented with a page of tick boxes covering all the types of income and expenses and after you've marked the ones which apply to you, it takes you to a screen with tags along the top showing the selected forms, eg, 2042, 2047 and 3916 bank account declaration.  Click on each tag and complete the form. You can start your declaration, complete part of it, then if you want to quit, it saves your work up to that point.  You can go back and change things and the declaration is only complete and transmitted when you click the final 'send' button. As Ron says, it's the same as doing the paper declaration, only on the screen.     [/quote] Thanks, it was the 3916 I wasn't sure would be available

You may find some useful information here:   http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/inheritance/pact/   there is a section on Gifts of Real Estate

[quote user="Ron Avery"] The 2047 is always sent out seperately. If you submit on line it you don't need to download any forms[8-|] [/quote] Can you submit on-line even if you have a government pension taxed in the UK?  Also, when you submit on-line how do you declare UK bank accounts?   Thanks in anticipation - I'd much prefer to go on-line but have not had the gumption yet.

dictionary definition of maiden "a girl or young unmarried woman" makes sense when you think about it [:)]

Try the IAE Caen - they have links with US Universities via their Centre Franco-Americain, and take foreign students - info here: http://www.iae.unicaen.fr/international/rubrique_international.php  

[quote user="tj"] I think your way off with the thought of being able to buy a carte vitale, but...... If she is living with you, and you can show her as a dependent, then they should be able to cover her under your contributions, worth a try I guess. [/quote]   Have a look at the AMELI website for the rules regarding Ayant Droit - from my reading of it, your mother should be covered if she is living under your roof, does your housework and helps educate your children (I am not certain of this translation but I am sure someone can help) http://www.ameli.fr/assures/droits-et-demarches/par-situation-professionnelle/vous-etes-sans-emploi/vous-etes-a-la-charge-d-8217-un-assure/etre-ayant-droit.php  

I don't think your age comes into it. The entitlement to an E106 depends on your National Insurance contributions for the previous 2 or 3 tax years. All E106's finish around the beginning of January, the number of months cover you get varies depending on the start date, i.e. when you move to France.