Hester

Thank you Bob T and other posters, yes I did get my years mixed up! Hester.

Could anyone in receipt of a UK state pension tell me if they have received a Christmas Bonus for 2009. I received £10 in December 2008 but not for 2009. Thanks Hester. Edit: was there also a further £60 one off payment made for 2008?

I had my bathroom done in this way and chose my fittings from the large plumbers mechants that the plumber used. However I insisted on getting my own tiles as I thought that the tile supplier was too expensive. A bad decision as the some of the tiles in the shower started to discolour after a couple of months. The tiler who works with the plumber was very sympathetic but did explain that if I had used his supplier he would have re-placed the tiles for me. Regards Hester.

I have used the above to calculate my tax liability for 2009. Could anyone tell my why the following deductions don't appear in the results when I enter a higher income figure. Thanks Hester. There are three deductions which are applied when using a slightly lower income figure. Viz. Abattements spéciaux Droits simples Décote

Would it be simply because it allows them to be sure you are eligible either for the French EHIC card or the English EHIC . Probably as there is also a box to be ticked if you are in receipt of a French pension. I have just sent another copy of my E121 as proof of UK pension. Hester.

Further to the above we have had a letter telling us to return our CEAM cards to the CPAM before the end of April along with proof that we are still in receipt of a UK pension. Regards Hester.

Many thanks for the replies, I now know that it is a genuine message.  Will probably continue to use IE but will try and check that I am getting all the microsoft automatic updates that have been mentioned. Regards Hester.

When I switched on my computer today there was a pop-up message telling me that I could now choose other browsers and that I should click on OK to find out more.  I closed the message down as was wary about going further and now there is an icon "Browser Choice" alongside my other icons.  Please could anyone else let me know if they have also had this message or if they know if it is a genuine message from Microsoft. I have read in a french newspaper that there are some possible security issues now when using internet explorer and wondered if I might be better choosing another browser.  Again does anyone have any other information about this.  Thanks Hester.

Thanks for the replies, including the wry smile, think that I'll stop over analyzing and get packing! Hester.

I would be grateful if anyone who has experience of taking non-prescription tablets or sachets of medication in their hand luggage or handbags, could let me know if they had any problems.  I have read all the information applicable to liquids etc., but I cannot determine whether I will be able to take headache/travel sickness/sleeping pills etc. either in my handbag or hand luggage.  (I have not travelled by air since the regulations came into place). Thanks Hester.

I had an ordonnance which was nearly two year's old which I hadn't used.  I printed off some info from the Ameli website, "Comment changer vos verres correcteurs chez votre opticien?", which says that your optician can correct your glasses as required if the ordonnance is less than three year's old. The exception being if you now need lenses for "une presbytie" which was previously not known about.  I am now in a position to be able to buy some new specs and I didn't want to wait another six months for a new test.  I had to try three opticians before I found one that would do the re-testing.  They were able to carry out the usual checks with the letter charts using what seemed to be relatively new equipment.  I was informed that my ordonnance hadn't changed so I ordered the specs.  Hester.

Thanks for your reply Junlesley and your "welcome to the club".  Yes the info is very useful.  Did the pension services send you details in writing about the date that you would receive your first payment? Hadn't really given too much thought about reaching the big 60, too excited about having a bit more cash to spend; new specs, teeth etc... Regards,  Hester.

Following my application for the above, I have received details of the amount of UK state pension that I will receive every four weeks.  I have been trying to gain more information as to exactly what date I can expect the first payment but have been given conflicting replies, ie "four weeks to the day from your birthday", "could be between 2 - 5 weeks from your birthday", "end of the fourth week after your birthday".  I would be grateful if anyone could tell me of their experiences of receiving their first payment of the UK state pension ( I have given them french bank a/c details) Many thanks, Hester.

My hedge planted in Sept 2005 when the trees were very small seemed to be growing well until I pruned it for the first time last Autumn.  I thought that Leylandii were tough as old boots but they have all started to go brown and branches are falling off. I bought some special crystals from the garden centre (there are lots of products that are specifically for conifers) and watered them in.  Then I cut out as much of the brown as I could, though I only have twenty trees. There is quite a lot of new growth but I think that some of it is still starting to turn brown, it's very frustrating! I researched on the internet and they are prone to a form of canker for which "effective chemical control is not available" so I am crossing my fingers that they will recover.  Regards Hester.

Thanks for your reply Ron; if others are receiving the usual 2042K then I think that I might have been sent a different version in error.  I will look into downloading the 2042 K.  Regards Hester. 

I have today received the above form to complete for my revenue 2008.  I wonder if anyone else has received this version, which is the same as last year's except for the third page.  There is space for pensions, interest etc. but there doesn't appear to be the box CH where I was hoping to enter the profits from a UK life assurance policy that I have surrendered. From looking at other postings I am trying to check whether or not I have been sent the correct form this year and would be grateful if anyone else who has noticed changes on their form could let me know.  Thanks Hester.

[quote user="Will"]The current AVG free version is 8.5, and this seems considerably better - at least on our old French machine.[/quote] I held out until the deadline they kept giving me (12th April) to update to the 8.5.  Did it yesterday and although it took a couple of hours everything seems to be OK today if not somewhat quicker than when on the older version.  Does it give the same cover? Regards Hester. 

Thank you.  Looks like I should have bought last month's newspaper as from one of Krusty's postings I see that the paper published a guidance rate for 2008 in their March edition. Will check out the threads and links further. Cooperlola, no you could never sound grumpy, I was very grateful for what you did in your campaign on French Health Issues. Regards Hester. Edit: just talking about you Krusty!

I have always used the figure given by an English written newspaper to calculate the exchange rate to complete my annual tax return.  However, although their tax guidance notes are given as usual in this month's paper, this year there is no exchange rate guidance without obtaining a supplement from them via the internet. I would be grateful if anyone who has already accessed this information could post it on the forum.  Thanks Hester. 

[quote user="freddy"] the benefit in your case could also be that you should get a pretty good idea what the expectation of the terminal bonus might be based on what is offered. [/quote] Thanks for that freddy.  I too am considering surrendering or selling my policy.  It has nearly two years left and I was trying to hold out for the final bonus, especially as there have been no annual bonuses for a few years.  However I need it now and as I don't think that it will make very much more I have enquired re. surrendering/selling.  The insurance company sent me a form which they will then send on to potential buyers for them to make me an offer.  I was wary of this and thought that I would prefer to go through my insurance company, but now I think that I may as well see what figures the third parties come up with.  I would expect to enter the profit on my 2010 tax form should I sell this year. Regards Hester.

Could you tell me what bait you used? Tried chocolate, bread and cheese, but whatever it is it's still up there.  Regards Hester.

I will always be in awe at the way that cooperlola gave so much of her time and energy to the health issue; without the u-turn for current residents I would have had a constant worry about my health care situation.  She seems such a positive, knowledgeable, caring person and hopefully with such strength of character she will make a speedy recovery.  Regards Hester.

Thank you Boiling a frog, it's the first time I have had to renew and the letter confused me as it is asking for proof of residency again. Will complete the form and send of with just the avis.  Regards Hester.

This is only on the back of the standard form.  It is in the actual body of the letter that the carte de sejour is being requested. Perhaps it is just a standard phrase that has been added to meet the requirements for non EU residents. Could anyone tell me how the letter they received last year differs from this one.  Thanks Hester. 

Can I enquire what you have been asked for previously.  Has is just been a declaration of income in order to be assessed on what your contribution might be?  As we were accepted on the criteria of residence at the end of February I cannot see why they should be asking once more for this type of proof.  I was just expecting to have to declare income ie copy of impot sur revenues. I hope that this is not going to be an excuse to exclude us from the CMU again. If anyone can tell me that it is not normally the case to have to prove residency each year then I intend to go to the CPAM to discuss why they need this. Otherwise I shall probably just send the same documents as in the original application ie passport,copy of Carte Vitales and attestation, impot sur revenues, EDF bills.  Regards Hester