Lollie

Hi I attended my course last Friday. It was actually a session for creating an enterprise, so it was a mixed bag of people, AE, new start ups and people taking over existing business. As I expected here in France, the formator did all the talking and few questions were asked! In fact he started with, directed at me, I dont speak English so he you struggle to understand feel free to leave at any time!!!. Then he told us that we should all respect each others ideas and not ridicule anyone, but when he asked someone ideally when they wanted to be up and running and they answered tomorrow, he ridiculed them, he told us to be served coffee at the the break was a revolution at the pole-emploi and how lucky we were, and finally towards the end he said he recognised we would probably all be tired now after listening to him but we should think about how tiring it is for him standing in front of us and talking for 4 hours!!!!! I did get some useful information from it, and I will go ahead, I can get one to one help from my pole emploi conseillor and financial aide is available, basically you can choose if you want to take your chommage in a lump sum or not, thats for those on chommage, as was the case at this session. Here is a very useful website that he went through. www.acpe.com from here you can get links to other useful sites to help you along the process. He did warn us at the end, about the company that contacts you after set up offering to put you in various directorys for a one off fee, this is a scam. Si I will continue with my work through CESU and set up as an AE for work outside of the CESU rules.

But Barclays do!!!!! When I worked there before leaving for France, anyone speaking another language registered the language with the call centre so as to take calls if required in the language they could speak.

This is what I have been told by the DGFIP today. An auto entrepreneur who begins his/her activity in 2011 has exoneration of contribution foncière des entreprises ( taxe professionnelle before ) for 2011, 2012 and 2013. You begin to pay this tax in 2014 But the Parlement has voted a tax for formation of auto entrepreneur, further info on that to follow!!

When trying to access my emails on Orange tonight a site called Metagate Orange appeared and asked for my log in details, I closed it and did a quick google search. It seems many others are having the same problem and are asking the question, is it a virus? I could not find a definitive answer. Can anyone advise? I have a MAC. Lollie

At over 2000 euros pp a week not cheap either!! I will just have to stay slightly overweight!

Hi RB I am attending a one day course for setting up as an AE next week, will email you afterwards. If you have any questions I can raise them next week ? I used posters in shops initially to set up and its going well. December was quiet but I am hoping to see an increase after January.

Hi Jo, Happy New Year. No, I never found out why, still waiting a response. The cards arrive on time with no problems and as with the UK site I receive emails offering free this and that almost daily! Loliie

The christmas cake has arrived in Grenada safe and well, travelled as hand luggage all the way.

Hi I was told the same a few years ago. but I have my tesco vouchers delivered to my Mums address and my credit card is to my address here in France, no problems at all. It is possible to have two different addresses. Lollie

First a warning. I have an orange M6 mobile contract with free calls to orange mobiles weekends and evenings. It was only when a french friend told me his problems I checked my account, only to see that infact I was always being charged for calls to orange mobiles evenings and weekends. They have offered me a small sum, but I have noticed that the same problem is still occurring. Service Client cannot help with this I have to wait for 'technicien' to contact me within five days. The lady at service client could not distingush which numbers were in fact orange numbers, so I have little faith 2nd problem. I recently changed my mobile to a Samsung Naos and I have noticed many multimedia session charges. Service Client response. Oh yes this phone is set up to connect directly to the internet when you want to make a call!!!! It can be changed not to but I must visit and presumably queue for a long time at a Orange shop. Anyone know how to do this? Lollie

Unfortunately its not me travelling. A boy who lives with us term time is travelling home for christmas and I have baked his family a christmas cake. But next year I will be delivering personally.

first leg, air caribes to Martinique, dont think they will mind a bit of cake, its almost internal flight. 2nd leg Liat Airways to Greneda. Now they may want to eat it!!

Anyone know if you can take a christmas cake in your hand luggage on a long haul flight from Paris?

Remember its the last day today to change to rewards at four times the points value, it decreases to 3 x tomorrow. I have just ordered my Goldsmiths vouchers, a nice pressie on my next visit to UK. Lollie

By my income being too low to actually pay tax, you mean the 'household' income? Mine certainly would be, but with hubbies salary no chance. I dont like big bills at the end of the year! Thanks Will.

PAYE in the lose term, ie pay my tax and cotisations monthly or quarterly as is permitted under the AE scheme. Having paid taxes in France as a family unit for over 7 years I am well aware of how it works. Still it is a good explanation for people who are perhaps looking to move to France or who are in their first year here.

Perhaps I didnt write it very clear. When I am working in their home I will be employed by them and will receive payment under CESU> When I have group lessons at home that will be my business under the AE scheme. As far as I am aware there is no reason not to do this, however I have a meeting this week with the guy who is responsible for promoting AE in this area so I will clarify with him.

Am I right in thinking that as a family with two children, as long as my husbands salary and my earnings do not go over 75k I can register and opt for PAYE at 23% under the AE scheme. Lollie

Hi, Having been employed by the education dept for the last three years, this year I am teaching privately. I started by using CESU as it has advantages for the parents regarding tax deductions. However, it is 'officially' for working at their home. I am about to start small groups at my home which will not be covered under this scheme. I am thinking of registering as AE and therefore will be able to offer both methods of payment.

Please say why I should not have ordered from the french site, I am curious now! Lollie

Its too late, I have ordered, why not the french site????

Vistaprint it is. Thank you all for your advice. Lollie

I am searching the web looking for a simple free to download template where I can type in my details and a small logo. In fact a flag as I will be teaching English. Can anyone recommend a simple one. Each one I have tried seems to cost at some point. Hopefully I will print them off myself or take them to a local printer here.

Ditto, We are hoping to travel to the UK Thursday evening from Caen. We have saved our diesel!! I dont want to book the boat if it doesnt sail. Lola

Ella, I would enjoy your year in France, learn about the country,you will soon pick up the language, then make your decision based on your own personal experiences here in France.