Daft Doctor
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Posts posted by Daft Doctor
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I too have done the Michel Thomas courses and tried an online subscription to Rosetta Stone. I found that if you do the MT courses 2 or 3 times it really does sink in and my confidence with handling some of the tenses improved dramatically after I'd done the advanced course a few times. The beauty of the MT stuff is that you can do it almost anywhere, download it on to your ipod, listen to it in the car,etc, so you can get through it fairly quickly. I even used it via my ipod on long train journeys, just imagined my responses rather than said them out loud!I found Rosetta Stone a bit too basic and repetitive for my likng, and of course you need access to a pc or laptop (and ideally the mike and headphones provided) to use it. It tended to get forgotten about, so I didn't get value for the £150 or so I shelled out.For a quick and decent start in conversational french and french language structure I think Michel Thomas takes some beating.
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I am not absolutely certain, but I think french law dictates that a buyer has the right to include a 'clause suspensive' in the contract if they are reliant on a mortgage to proceed with the purchase. I also think however that if they withdraw and want their deposit back under such a clause, they must prove that they submitted an application for a mortgage within 14 days of signing the Compromis de Vente, and there is usually a deadline for getting a refusal from the bank (I read somewhere that this was 3 months). All these conditions should be included in the contract but I think are enshrined in french property contract law. Perhaps your notaire might be able to provide further reassurance and information.When all is said and done, it is little different to what happens in the UK, in that buyers cannot usually proceed to any form of contract until they have their mortgage in place. The benefit of the french system is that buyers cannot just withdraw on a whim, leaving the seller in the lurch, except under specific and tightly defined conditions.I am sure other, wiser forum members will have a wealth of knowledge on the subject, but that is my understanding of things.
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Coops, you are of course right in all that you say on this, and it just highlights both the frustration that many will feel, and the temptation to be economical with the truth (be it regarding residency, declaring pre-existing conditions or even claiming long term sick in the UK to get an E121) ensuing from a combination for some of having both a desire to move to France and a pre-existing medical condition which doesn't stop them from working but would stop them getting private health insurance.What I really hoped to say was that you can't realistically expect to emigrate to France on a shoestring, and if you are lucky enough (as I am currently) not to have a pre-existing medical condition, then you can see it through eventually into the French healthcare system if you are lucky and you have budgetted for the inevitable costs. I guess this means commiting to the permanence of one's move as soon one is able, so the 5 year clock can realistically start ticking. In my current circumstances, I would rather do that than risk being denied the chance to stay in France permanently because I had been found to have broken the rules. I however couldn't agree more that for many it is just not that simple and certainly, as things stand at present, not very fair.
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I've got to say that I wouldn't criticise anyone who wanted try to bend the rules a bit on this issue, as long is they knew the risks they were taking, and were prepared to accept any consequences, and I concur wholly with SS's well-put comments on those who take the moral high ground. The fact is that there is a clear disparity between how French (or other EU) imigrants into the UK are treated in terms of healthcare provision, compared with those of us who wish to go to France to live. That could be argued is more a failure of the UK government to tighten up the UK rules rather than the french being grossly unfair, but the current disparity is irksome. I would not try to bend the rules as I am not that much of a risk-taker, but would simply like the opportunity to pay into the system without being employed, rather than being shut out altogether.Notwithstanding all that however, surely the things which any prospective emigrant to France should do are to:1. Time their departure to France to get at least the maximum access to the french system via an E106 (2 years I think)2. Factor into their emigration costs top up cover for the time on their E106 then at least 3 further years of full private insurance (as near as will meet the french governments definition of full cover), whatever that cost may be.Regarding the latter, most people emigrating to France will be selling property, probably taking early retirement or selling up other assets, and should be able to make adequate provision, as long as they are aware of this need and (like me) don't want to take the risks inherent in 'blagging it'.The hope is then to satisfy the rules on 5 year residency somehow to then get access into the french system permantly therefter.Isn't it as simple as that?
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For what its worth, with e-communication these days, you don't need your accountant to be on the doorstep. My fluent english speaking french accountant is in Caen, even though I have never been near the place. Her name is Angela Francoise and her email address is [email protected] I have found her very helpful, but all such advice comes at a price (usually worthwhile mind!). If you have access to email and a scanner, you will be fine.
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JMB, I don't know what charts you are looking at, but interbank rate as of now is 1.1724 (mid price). That's the same as it was yesterday (more or less), in the middle of the trading range I referred to earlier, and that is despite so called 'bad news' x 3 for the £ today. Where is your referred to 'beating' the pound has taken, is it against the dollar, cause it's certainly not against the Euro that's for sure! Just why do you think that parity between pound and euro is inevitable at some point, and as I said earlier, what is it that is so good about the euro to make parity with the pound any sort of possibility?
By the way, certainly haven't intended to take anyone's name in vain, but you did make quite a strong statement of opinion and I thought it necessary to question the logic behind it. No offence meant, just interesting debate!
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JMB, I can't really see the pessimism that takes the pound all the way down to parity against the Euro. When even when the pound was being sold off like billio around Xmas, it still didn't make it. As neither a financial expert or an overoptimist, it seems to me that the pound has settled into a new trading range against the Euro, somewhere between 1.165 - 1.185. Bad news pushes it towards the bottom, relative good news towards the top, simple as that. If you look at the trend over the last 6 months though, there has been a steady climb for the pound. If you consider the problems with some of the eurozone economies (Spain and Ireland) for example, and the exposure of former eastern block economies now adopting the Euro, why should the pound plummet all the way back to parity? What it it that is so GOOD about the Euro that would make that happen. Nothing I think. The pound was heavily oversold before Xmas and my gut feeling is that ultimately when the dust settles 1.25 will end up being about right (as it was during much of 2008).
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Hi Cathy, I appreciate your viewpoint, though I don't agree with it for the reasons I have already mentioned. Aside from the research evidence backing early vaccination, once you have seen a dead 2 year old lying in a hospital bed, having as a junior doctor just been involved in an emotional and unsuccessful ressuscitation attempt during which the parents were imploring your team to save their child's life, that image and thought never leaves you. If she had been vaccinated, she would have been alive, simple as that. No parent should ever think it won't happen to their child, because it just might. I once again say that there is no research evidence to back up any notion that child vaccination is unsafe, and there are very good reasons and rationale for vaccinating babies early.
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Hi again. Notwithstanding what Cathy has said, I absolutely stand by what I said in my earlier post. Seeing ill children with Measles and Rubella was common in the 1980's, but since MMR was widely introduced, true cases of either are now thankfully rare. Having witnessed this welcome change and having also seen a death at close quarters from whooping cough meningitis in an unvaccinated child, I am certain that the benefits to the individual child and the whole population far outweigh any perceived risks from childhood vaccinations.
As for Cathy's post, all I can say is that to get very very mild measles type symptoms is not uncommon after MMR (which we are not yet talking about in this case anyway), but although the MMR has been erroneously blamed for many things, this is the first time I have known it to be criticised for causing a full blown measles infection. Furthermore, a 'blocked colon' (intestinal obstruction or intersussception as it is medically termed) is not a recognised specific complication of measles, and is certainly not known to be related to any symptoms after the MMR jab. Intersussception, though uncommon, happens spontaneously in the 1-2 year old age group, and in most cases without any known cause, although it is thought that viral gastroenteritis can precipitate it. Without wanting to appear inflammatory to Cathy, who has simply presented a view based on her belief and her experience, to pin the blame on the MMR for her child's very unfortunate illness is in my opinion without good foundation, and to deter people from having their child vaccinated against anything before they can communicate symptoms for themselves is incomprehensible. The reason these vaccinations are offered at such an early age is firstly that after 2 months any maternal protection passed over via the placenta to the baby is on the wane, and secondly and most importantly, the diseases in question, if contracted, are more likely to cause serious life-threatening or long-term disability the younger the child. To have an effective and efficient programme of early childhood immunisation is not to pressure anyone, it is done for good reason, to protect both individual children and childhood populations at a time when they are most vulnerable.
As I said before, only you can make the decision, but the arguement for vaccination is backed by a vast body of positive research evidence covering both effectiveness and safety. On the other hand, those that have tried to prove that these programmes are unsafe or ill-advised have serially failed to do so. As i also said before, I know of no-one in the medical profession who does not have their children immunised. That is not to say there aren't any, but there won't be many.
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Hi, as a GP of 25 years standing I can reassure you that there is no credible research evidence whatsoever to support the notion that any baby vaccination is unsafe. What I do know is that the diseases mentioned in your post can all have serious (and in some cases fatal) consequences, and whereas the decision of course is entirely yours, I would urge you for the sake of both your baby and population as a whole to have your baby vaccinated against them all. Personally, I wouldn't think twice, and I don't know of any other GP who would (and I know a lot of them!). Hope this helps.
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Hi, just to further reassure you, when modern needles are used, they are significantly blunted when they puncture the skin (cheaper to produce, designed for single use). If a needle were to be reused, the experience for the patient would be considerably painful (which blood taking should never be). Doesn't sound that your experience of the procedure itself was anything other than straightforward, and aside from all other reassurances given above, this should further satisfy you that all was safe and above board.
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Hi, and thanks for the observations. I thought that your place of residence determined where you paid your tax, wherever you earned the dough, but I may be wrong about that. I think the truth for me would be to get my max 2 years cover through an E106, then pay for private health cover (unless I got some form of employment in France). Then it is a case of taking the hit, being a very good citizen and once 5 years of residency are completed to the french authories' satisfaction, I should be able to access the french health system? Probably cheaper overall than any other option.
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Hi, if you are living in france as an 'inactif' but have substantial income from commercial and residential property letting in the UK, my understanding is that the income will be taxed in France (as a french resident). Does anyone know however if such an income (say £25k a year for arguement's sake) or one's tax status can be packaged in such a way in France to attract cotisations and the benefits of access to the French health care system? Or, is it just a case of paying only the tax in France? If the latter, what happens to the NI contributions you would normally pay in the UK on such income. Do they just cease or do you continue to have any liability to HMRC in the UK? Could there be any aspect of the new autoentrepreneur scheme that might be applicable to landlords with this level of income? Many thanks for any insight.
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Hi
I have waded through the Michel Thomas french CD's and at the end he recommends regularly reading newspapers or magazines with interviews and quotations in, making it easier to transfer knowledge of spoken french to help understand the written language.
Not living in France, I wondered if anyone could recommend some french online magazines or newspapers that might be useful in this respect (without the need to pay a subscription). Any advice is gratefully received, thank you.
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Thanks. I can't remember what I opted for when I opened the account, but none of my statements or annual summaries mentions any tax taken at source, so I thinks it is indeed being paid gross.
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Hi, a fairly simple question really. I have an Axa current account with a Livret account (not a Livret A) attached. I earned a few Euro interest on this in 2008. Is any tax deducted at source by Axa (as with most UK savings accounts) and paid direct to the French authorities, or is interest always paid gross?
As I am a non-resident, am I right that this interest should be declared on my UK tax return rather than my French one?
Many thanks for your advice
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Hi
Really interesting post. Wouldn't you agree though that in the UK most of us find it irritating and perplexing when non-english speakers move into the UK permanently and then seem to make very little effort to learn English either in the short term or long term? Why should the French (or any other nationality) feel any different in their country? No offence to anyone intended, but surely commitment to the country should include commitment to the language.
We are planning to move to France in the next 2-3 years. We can speak very basic French already, but wouldn't dream of making such a colossal move without putting the time, effort and education in to become as proficient as possible at both spoken and written French BEFORE the move. Anyone who does move to France should surely be prepared to work bl***y hard on their language skills from day 1 so they can fully integrate (and cope)? Obviously it must take a good while to feel confident in most circumstances, and some initial support and help from a friendly ex-pat would be a welcome bonus, but I can understand the frustration expressed by some of the previous posters when the same people keep coming back and don't seem to be willing to put the level of commitment in to learn. I am sure many French people will fall over backwards to help, but what I am certain of from my own experience of visiting France is that any effort to communicate in French rather than English goes a very very long way indeed!
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On the back of a previous post of mine regarding GP work for myself in France, which yielded masses of useful information and opinion, my OH has asked me to pose a similar question for her. She is a highly experienced and specialist qualified musculoskeletal physiotherapist and when our proposed move to France comes to fruition, would be interested in carrying on this work (she is bl**dy good at what she does!).
We would be locating to the St Gervais area of Haute Savoie and wondered if anyone knows what the demand or availability for her kind of expertise might be? Also, are there any pitfalls that anyone knows regarding english physiotherapists being allowed to work in France, or any limitations there are on their mode of practice? I presume that all physio's practice as private practitioners, either alone or in a group setting, but correct me if I'm wrong on that one.
As usual, all comments and advice will be most gratefully received
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Hi Cooperlola, thank you very much for that, hopefully someone will fill me in on the employment angles.
Just one thing, would my son be afforded any french healthcare cover as a minor, or would he be considered as 'part of me' for such purposes?
Thanks again
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Hi, I am interested in this whole issue, as I may well be retiring to France at the tender age of 53 in a couple of years time (on an actuarially reduced NHS pension). I understand that as I won't have an E121, my E106 will give me a max of 2 years state health care in France, depending how clever I am with timing the move. My understanding is that I would then need to take out full private health cover for myself, wife and (then) 12 year old son, until I have either been resident in France for 5 years, or get a job (which I am not averse to doing - if possible!). Is the 5 years residence thing correct, or would I need to wait until I reached 65 and got an E121 unless I worked?
Am I also right in thinking that I cannot simply make voluntary contributions to the french tax and social system to obtain healthcare benefits, and would have to either work or gain this 'autoentrepreneur' status somehow? I have a leaseback property in France and am registered with the french tax and TVA system regarding this (as a BIC non-professional & non-resident) but as I have a french mortgage on the property, it will never make a true taxable profit. I can't see how I will be able to make contributions through this route unless I didnt declare all the expenses and so make an artificial profit. Would that make any difference once I was resident? If I were working as an employee, is there a minimum you must earn to qualify for healthcare benefits?
What sort of businesses can attract this 'autoentrepreneur' status and is there a good link in english that explains this status (and what it means for tax and social contributions purposes) in detail? Finally, I don't fully understand all the abbreviations flying around regarding the health system in France (CPAM, CMU, etc). Is there either a good link which fully explains everything, or can anyone out there put their own personal gloss on it. A lot of questions there and sorry for my ignorance. I would as always be very grateful for any info and advice on offer.
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Hi Derek, sorry, I read that many websites and fora on this subject, I lost track of where the info came from. Certainly didn't mean to steal your glory, and thanks for the info.
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Thanks ErnieY. Since posting this morning I found out that none of the Rhone-Alps operators have favourable deals at present. I also found out that ALIS-SA, who cover some of northern France offer a no subscription and no deposit liber-t 'confort' telepeage service. They deliver the box to the UK for free and you only pay for the tolls. They require a direct debit with a french bank account to take the tolls, but as I have one with Axa that isn't a problem. I suppose doing it that way means that you don't have to update payment methods when your credit or debit card expires or (god forbid) they were to be lost or stolen. I read that some people have also received a free detailed map of france and a high vis jacket with their box.
It seems like a pretty good deal so I will order one. Application is one a one page form, downloaded from the website, sent with a R.I.B. See what happens! Thanks again
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I'm sure someone out there will help me with 3 small questions relating to obtaining a telepeage box directly online and having it delivered to the UK:
Firstly, are SANEF the only one's to do it or are there others? (Reason is I do most of my driving in the rhone-alps, so if a company out that way does the same thing, there may be some occasional bonus deals to be had).
Secondly, is it a standard deal that the 2 euro a month subscription is only payable for the months you actually use the telepeage on an autoroute?
Finally, can you pay the deposit, subscriptions and tolls with a Nationwide Flexaccount debitcard (taking advantage of interbank exchange rates), or does it need to be a credit card?
Thanks in anticipation
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Hi, I think you'll find that people use a Nationwide Flex Account for transactions where you can use a debit card, e.g ATM's and purchases, because the exchange rate used is the very top 'interbank' rate and there are no charges or loading, making for excellent value. If purchasing a proprty however, you will need to be able to transfer funds directly to the Notaire's Account, including the cost of the property and his fees, taxes, etc. The best way of doing this is to use an FX company in the UK such as HiFX. They will give you a spot rate (or forward contract if you don't want the funds straight away) which is better the larger the amount, and they will then transfer the sums to either the notaire's account or your own french account for free. The rate isn't quite interbank, but it is hassle free and there are no associated charges. I'm not aware of any advantages over FX companies in making swift transfers from nationwide accounts to france in Euro, but others may know different.
Hope this helps
Double Taxation Query
in French Finance
Posted