trémargatois

My neighbour, recently moved to France, was reluctant to change his Rover 75 and has now registered it here.  Can anyone recommend a garage in the 22 for servicing of a Rover?  

On the subject of being an "agitator"! I am a candidate for the conseil municipale in my little commune and was surprised/shocked that there were English residents not registered to vote in the municipal and European elections, as is, of course, your right as a French resident.  Having today finally got confirmation of my acceptance into CMU (and breathed a sigh of relief) the whole episode has made me think and was one of the reasons for "putting up" as a counsellor.  It's too late of course for these elections but you will be there for the next European elections so go to the Mairie and register to vote, you only have to do it the once not every year as in the UK.  Our mayor here told me it was common for English people not to register and perhaps this can contribute to a belief that we don't want to be involved.  None of this is a substitute for campaigning, of course, but every little helps.    

Thanks for that Will.  I certainly feel that 8% is a bargain by anyones standards, especially on my modest income and thank heavens that I was lucky enough (it certainly wasn't skill!) to time my arrival when I did. 

As a newbie and amateur I don't want to wander out of my depth....but if the CPAM calculate the contribution on the "revenu fiscal de référence" any income earned and taxed in the UK prior to becoming French tax resident should not count???  I apologise, in advance if this is an optimistic view.  My own case was simpler because having relocated in December 2005 I have a full year for tax purposes in France for 2006.

Sorry to hear of your less helpful reception.  The woman we spoke to did admit, when we asked her, that all this uncertainty and short notice rule changing was making everyones life difficult.  All my French friends and neighbours are sympathetic to our difficulties, even to the extent of offering to "adopt" us like refugees!  Many of them are struggling to make ends meet themselves in a poor rural area and appreciate the contribution ex-pats make to the economy.  Everyone was horrified that our problems might make us return to England as we are regarded as locals now. Income from Jan and Feb 2006 will be counted for CMU cotisations, assuming we're allowed in!  A good explanation of this is at:  http://www.ameli.fr/assures/soins-et-remboursements/c.m.u.-et-complementaires-sante/c.m.u.-de-base-une-assurance-maladie-pour-tous/cotisation-et-prise-en-charge-de-vos-soins.php

We've just returned from our CPAM office at Loudéac.  Our E106's have just expired.  I had a completed CMU application form plus all the usual dossier.  The lady at the office explained that, at the moment, we could not join the CMU and that we would, in theory, have to find private health insurance.  She was aware that the Social Security minister had spoken with the British Ambassador in Paris, but told me that "no decision" had yet been taken about allowing entrance to CMU.  However, she was perfectly happy to take our application form and did not require us to return our Carte Vitales at the moment.  The only documentation requested was our avis d'imposition for 2006, no evidence of residence etc. was required at this time. As always our reception was courteous and helpful and the official assured me that CPAM would contact me as soon as they had official guidance, she was unable to tell me how long this might take. I was not surprised to hear the above, I did not expect a local office to commit themselves, one way or the other, until confirmation comes through to them, even though the situation appears to be satisfactorily resolved.