mowerman

[quote user="AnOther"]Hello mowerman, I see someone's been catching up on their back reading [:D] [quote user="mowerman"]Your "numpties" are invariably computer newbies which you were once, the innocent or in most cases the elderly who have been shown the very basics of using a computer by their family and until now have lived a life of trusting everyone. [/quote]Invariably ? On the contrary, there have been countless cases where ordinary, otherwise seemingly reasonably intelligent and sane people of all ages and levels of online experience, have been sucked into all sorts of completely obvious scams. I think you do the elderly a disservice too by portraying them as naive. I would say that these days they are probably amongst the most cautious and unless specifically mentally feeble are only too well aware that the days of trusting everyone are long since past. Also, as far as I'm concerned anyone who let's an elderly relative loose on the Internet without adequately warning them of the dangers has to qualify as both a numptie and criminally stupid to boot. Thank you for predicting my future BTW, can you perhaps also predict when I might be assured of winning the lottery [:D] [/quote] Continued shallow thinking by putting words into my mouth. I did not say, suggest or even portray the elderly as 'naive'-your words. I indicated that we are all vulnerable to crime beit internet or in any other form  (except of course you) with some more than others. Sadly your critism of the victims as "numpties" is now compounded further to include the "criminally stupid" !   How easy and arrogant-by the implication that it could never happen to you- to blame the victims in the absence of any constructive comment or ability to address the issue and how it might be resolved. "...there have been countless cases where ordinary, otherwise seemingly reasonably intelligent and sane people of all ages and levels of online experience, have been sucked into all sorts of completely obvious scams." I'm out of here but will leave you to read that sentence again and see the contradiction in your own argument. PS You'll not win the lottery.

[quote user="AnOther"]Trouble is there are legions of numpties out there who WILL respond and as long as there are Phishing scams will continue.................[:-))] The out and out ignorance and stupidity of the so called "man in the street" never ceases to astound me, all present company excepted I'm sure [;-)] [/quote] Those comments have got my hackles up so I must politely disagree. Your "numpties" are invariably computer newbies which you were once, the innocent or in most cases the elderly who have been shown the very basics of using a computer by their family and untill now have lived a life of trusting everyone. And be assured when you're elderly you'll be caught out by a scam so sophisticated by todays standards you wont even know it's happened. We are all vulnerable to crime whatever form it takes and criticising the victims as "numpties" is shallow thinking.

Thanks milkybar kid. Have been working all day,tired,will respond via pm tomorrow.

Thanks POB most grateful. Firstly in my post:   "......but no nothing......."  should be 'know'.  How can I begin to learn French when I haven't yet mastered simple English! I'm ashamed. No specific questions as we have no idea what to expect. I guess what we are looking for are any negatives. I recall a post a while back from someone who after an expensive viewing trip to see what appeared to be their ideal property expressed their shock upon discovering the house was in the middle of an industrial area.This is what we're trying to avoid. Invariably it's what the agents don't tell you or sidestep that's important! Whilst trying not to assume agents in France should behave the same as those in the UK I do have a problem with their secretive approach to a properties address and exact location - prior to visiting - for fear of the competition or dealing direct with the seller.Whenever we've moved in the UK we have first obtained the address from the agent,viewed from the outside and then,if impressed, returned to the agent for an appointment to view. Simple. French agents wont even disclose a properties coordinates on google earth or bother to find out. Hence my post.

My wife and I are considering buying a property in Aiguillon, Lot et Garonne but no nothing of the town or area. Viewing visits are time consuming and expensive so we try to research an area first. Any information-including negatives-would be very much appreciated.

The best advice I keep reading in the broadsheets is that for every 'expert' there is an equal and opposite opinion. By all means argue over running a gite, but macro economics and currency speculation......!

Hi all, My partner and I are thinking about buying close to this village. We have several questions which agents have declined to answer so is there anyone living in or near to Lauzerte who can help?

New here as of today and what we know about buying in France could be written on the back of a postage stamp. Doubtless many of our queries are already covered on existing posts and we'll read these over time. However our initial question relates to the correlation of asking/achieved prices. Accepting that we may be generalising most UK property sales achieve about 5% less than the asking price and in the current market this percentage is increasing as sellers expectations lag behind the reality of the market. From all we read in the property section of the weekend broadsheets this differential is even greater in France where asking prices are historically way in excess of true values.Indeed most pundits suggest at least a 20% reduction as a starting point for negotiations. Should we believe what we read in the press? Does anyone have experience of negotiating with French sellers?