Rose (& Greyman)

[quote user="Catalpa"] Under AE, you are assessed on a fixed level of "overheads" - about 25% of turnover, iirc. If your expenses (market fees, mileage, purchase of goods, any insurances) is more than 25% of your turnover, AE might not allow you to cover all your expenses against profit. [/quote] Sorry catalpa but that's not correct. Under AE there is no allowance whatsoever for costs. You are assessed entirely on turnover (income) so if you are a business with significant costs this regime is not usually appropriate. The rates of assessment to tax and cotisations vary depending on the type of business so maybe this is what you were thinking of.

I've been reading this thread with interest and puzzlement and I too have not been convinced we have all the story. For instance, finding out where the money was sent is still proving very difficult. That fact could be crucial - it could have been taken by the government to pay taxes or a fine (I bet Jerome Kervial will have a few unauthorised debits to pay back his 4.9bn !). But the OPs postings are so obscure it is difficult to advise. In my experience it is usually the critical fact that is carefully avoided that provides a solution. Come on greenfingers, give us the full story.

Yep, looks like aoutats to me. Nasty little critters and I've never seen one on me. The bombs should work for all crawling beasties - these are the ones I bought. http://www.petremedies.co.uk/product.asp?strPageHistory=search&numSearchStartRecord=1&strParents=0&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=226&btnProduct=More+Details. I couldn't find any in France so this was the cheapest I could source.

Snap mogs. We too have cats but they are just not like the flea bites I've had before. Mine are red blotches with very small white heads and I'm covered, my OH less so and my son not at all. Neither the cats or the furniture have any sign of fleas and they have just started the last week or so as the weather got cooler. I've ordered some bombs to fumigate to try to eliminate any indoor pests but I'm puzzled by what it can be. If the cats have fleas I have always been able to spot them and any bites are usually fairly limited. Reading your post it sounds exactly like me ! edit: that spray sounds good coops. Think I may place an order too !

How do I know they weren't put out ? Because they instigated the conversations. In the first case we had just gone to collect a bottle of wine we had won in the village raffle and she could just have handed it over with a smile and au revoir. Even politicians are entitled to courtesy (usually). And if they are just 'in it' for political gain then fair play to the OP for playing the same game.

From two recent experiences I have had the maires were interested in growing their communities. One was all over us like a rash when we expressed an interest in moving to the village and putting our son in the local school. Another was interested to learn about our business plans - presumably because we would contribute taxes and maybe bring people in to the village or maybe he was just being polite. In neither case were they at all put out at spending a few minutes of their time chatting, in fact the former phoned an estate agent so we could be shown a house in the village. Courteous exchanges with possible mutual benefits but not exclusively for that.

[quote user="NormanH"] Exactly! Business is about profiting from others. That is a perversion of 'common courtesy and politeness' ... [/quote] Maybe in many Marxist states but in our civilised capitalist society I think the two often go hand in hand. Presumably if you have ever worked you were happy to take your weekly wage ? and still be polite and courteous at your job interview ? Or am I expecting too much ? All the OP was doing was being polite in enquiring if the maire could assist them in earning a living whilst their business could possibly contribute to the local economy. Maybe the concept is too middle class.[Www]

What are the odds of the Mods deleting this insulting post as they did previous ones pointing out the rudeness of this regular poster. Obviously common courtesy and politeness is sneered at by you Norman but to some it is still an important ritual. It's called networking by many and forms the basis of many business exchanges. And who mentioned meeting the maire of a town of 100 000 ? The OP said a town of 5 000 !

Well done you two. A bit of common courtesy and networking never did any harm, particularly when you're in business. Post edited by the moderators.

No you weren't. If corporations could be shameful then they should. How about this for a scam, sell a load of cheap crossings then the previous day tell all the passengers, oops sorry we can't do that one but you can have another for £500. take it or leave it. That works. I think low life bandits is a fair description.

...and did you know that rubbish spread by stupid Americans on the internet has less informational value than real facts [;-)]

I was in UK for Fathers Day this year and OH arranged for my son to design a card online with Moonpig for me. It was fantastic and he was very excited about it. It was sent in plenty of time but he was disappointed when it hadn't arrived on the day. In fact it was a couple of days late [:(]. They won't get more than one more chance from me after that.

Lloyds aren't the only bank disgracefully pandering to the minority immigrant population - http://www.britline.com/currentaccount/applying/. I'm shocked, how could this happen in a modern western democracy. I'm told some of these immigrants even refuse to learn the local language. [Www]

I think two points are relevant here. Firstly none of this would be necessary if there was an ethos of value for money in public service organisations. In my view the previous lot were the worst offenders. The waste and profligacy I have seen from local government organisations beggars belief. New Labour encouraged the belief that amount of money spent = amount of benefit to taxpayers. What a load of tosh. The best outcome of this 'global' (i.e. not my fault) economic recession visited on the UK by Gordon is that finally public spending will be put to the sword. The second point is that the coalition have clearly said that decisions about the cuts will be mainly made at a local level. If these cuts have been made it is very much down to local decisions. The fact is cuts need to be made. Schemes that were 'essential' six months ago can now be managed without. If local electors don't like the decisions then make that known at local level. All I can say is don't blame the surgeon who removes your liver because you spent 13 years on the juice.

[quote user="misplacedperson"]Co-op? http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1204529928525,CFSweb/Page/Bank?WT.svl=footer http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1193206370390,CFSweb/Page/Bank-Offshore [/quote] Nope - Foreign transaction services Cash withdrawals 2% of the value of the  withdrawal or £2 (whichever is the greater) At VISA or PLUS dispensers or over the counter at a bank displaying the VISA sign. This includes the purchase of foreign currency or travellers’ cheques made with the card. Foreign transaction fee 2.75% of the value of the transaction. Applied to any debit or credit card transaction in a currency other than sterling.

Ah but it's lead bottomed to cunningly weigh 10.1 kg [geek]

Blimey, someone should have a quiet word in their shell-like, the French government could save a fortune. They should know there are actually some French people in the Dordogne who also underdeclare their income ! I know you can't believe it but it's true. Now take all the suspected French dodgers out of the system and voila, no more deficit problem. [Www]

I did exactly this a couple of years ago after our HDD failed. We now rarely use more than 50% of it even with my son saving loads of films. I bought mine from an eBay seller who specialised in the upgrade and supplied instructions. it was very simple and we've had no trouble since (I'll wish I hadn't said that now !). We have a 250Gb HDD and it cost about £70 from UK.

[quote user="just john "] ''In a fully proportionate system, by my calculation, the Lib Dems would now have 150 MPs, instead of 57, UKIP 20, BNP 11, and the Green Party 6. Arithmetic like this would make sure that the UK was forever ruled by coalition governments, in which the Prime Minister comes from one of the two main parties, as before, but with the difference that the Lib Dems would always be in office, no matter what. And on the opposition benches there would be a merry score of eccentrics led by Nigel Farage, and a dozen or so hard rock racists led by Nick Griffin. Some people should beware of getting what they wish for'' [/quote] Isn't this what democracy is meant to be ? Just because you don't like these parties why should the hundreds of thousands who vote for them get no representation ? And why should there forever be coalitions ? If one party can propose an overwhelmingly attractive manifesto then they should get 50%+ of the votes. Bring it on I say and I suspect a lot of people who feel safe voting for a minor party as a protest won't do so under PR - they can actually vote for who they like for once.

I wouldn't advise anyone to click on an unknown link. Who are you ? I get emails every day asking me to click on links, from Nigerian generals, mysterious tax refunds, magical blue pills etc. etc. No thanks.

I'll get my Nan to bring some over on Ryanair. If she puts it in her hold bag it's still cheap even after paying the luggage charge and she'll circumvent the liquids ban [;-)]

There was (is?) a procedure for switching to micro-social regime. I don't know much about it as we started from scratch but you may want to look at http://www.startbusinessinfrance.com/ for advice. The forum costs 30€ (one-off, not annually) and you get answers from Valerie who is very good. There were articles some time ago about switching. BTW, you don't switch to AE as this is just an easy startup scheme, but to micro-social. The post startup provisions are all the same though. And once you're in you can ditch the accountant ! [:P]

[quote user="MedievalCastle"] To be honest the alternative seems far less likely, so are you suggesting that someone can register for AE, never do any work or put anything through and automatically be in the health care system?[/quote] Well that's exactly how it is, up to 3 years at present. I know of people who have registered AE, have an attestation from RSI, are receiving French state funded health services and have never posted any turnover. As the law stands after 3 years of NIL returns they will be switched back to microBIC I believe but that is the only sanction at present. This isn't to say this won't change again but the 3 year has only recently been announced and was well publicised so I don't believe a more significant change would have been made with nobody noticing. Your accountant may be pukka but my experience of French accountants is that they're not the hottest in providing business advice, they're more like form fillers. The one I consulted last year had not heard of AE (2 months after it's launch) and advised my wife to set up a SARL at a cost of 2,000€ with 130€ per month accounting charges ! Unless this one can provide a definitive source I wouldn't trust his advice.

[quote user="MedievalCastle"]I keep seeing the reference to cheap access to the health system with AE, if you check it out, you do not qualify for health care if your turnover is below a certain amount.[/quote] I think this is another urban myth. I've seen no reference to this in any AE documents. In addition you refer to turnover limits in any two months - how would they know, many report turnover quarterly ? I have heard of a number of AE's (my OH included) who are in the early stages of their business with low turnover who are fully registered in the health system. I believe that many think this is what should happen (i.e. a turnover limit before qualifying) and therefore they project this belief into a fact. I don't see this is any different to any low earning business/employee making small contributions being admitted to the system. I'd put money on your wife's accountant being unable to point to any legislation about this apart from the 3 year rule.

I don't understand why you wouldn't inform both ? What if either want to contact you ? Just for the cost of a stamp. [8-)]