benson

I received recently from our bank a form detailing all info concerning each of our childrens savings accounts. the accompanying letter said dont forget to send the top section of each form off with you tax declaration and keep the bottom section for your records. We have never had this before and we havnt received one for our own accounts. Has there been some changes made to the tax forms this year regarding bank accounts?

Hi I have a quick but very important taxation question regarding earnings thresholds for micro enterprises.  Are the limits applicable before or after the abattements are taken off?  ie the limit for labour is 27,000.00 if you declare this amount then have your deduction of 52% you are at 14,040.00 or is it that you can earn 54,000.00 because after the 52% abattement you are at the limit of 27,000.00 Also what do you do if your earnings are higher than the threshold? Many thanks

Hi Our car was a jap import to UK where it was registered.  We started the proceedure to re-register it in france and when we applied for a certificate de conformite we only achaived partial conformite as 1 letter on the vin plate was marked as a number on the uk log book. Today it has been for its inspection for  reception de titre isole.  The only thing that doesn't comply are the seat belts as we have lap belts in the back but we have been told that the japenese vin plate is no good here even though it displays all the required info so we have to get a new one made the kind chap even drew a picture of it and marked all the info it has to show but where can we get this done?  Any ideas??

Hello again and thankyou for your helpful replies to my previous post. Could anybody tell me where to find the DRIRE in Gueret?? I have heard tell that it is easier to go in person than to phone for an appointment.

Many thanks

Hi all We are in the process of trying to register our car in France.  I started the process by sending off the form to the DRIRE as suggested on this site.  They sent my form (and cheque) back and told me I had to apply to Mitsubushi France.  So I wrote a letter asking for a certificate de conformite and they sent me an attestation de conformite partielle.  The attestation stated that the car complied with all aspects of the code de la route francais but the structure of the chassis number is different. (by 1 letter) There was nothing to say what I had to do next so we went to the prefecture.  They said I have to apply to the DRIRE but as stated above they directed me to the manufacturer.  Maybe its me but I feel like I'm going round in circles!!  Has anyone else been issued with a partielle or can anyone suggest what I should do now many thanks

Thankyou and fingers crossed!!

...17 month old male Labrador. He is fantastic with other people, children, chickens, geese and other dogs and cats but no good around our sheep.  He doesnt attack them but will not leave them alone and this is causing them great stress.  We do not want to leave him tied up all the time and so it is with great regret that we have decided to rehome him. We are in La creuse (23) If you require any further details please contact me. Many thanks.

Bobc I understood you were agreeing with me! -Thankyou.  It was just to point it out as when we first started trading sevaral years ago the CdM advised us to register as a micro and we felt it sensible - at the time as we were unsure how well the business would do.  It was fine for the first 6-12 months but you are quite right if your business does well as thankfully ours is, it is impossible to run as a micro not just due to the amount of turnover but in most other aspects such as banking finance etc, if you are a micro, for some reason you are not really considered a serious business as they do not consider your finances transparent enough to judge your financial situation!!

Anton Sorry, please dont get narky, I realised as soon as i posted that you meant stage payments by stages of completion and work in this way ourselves but still ask for a deposit to cover start up costs etc, which is the norm around here for french and english artisans, then a payment either midway or in stages depending on the size of the project and final payment on reception of the facture after completion. You are quite right that trust is a 2 way street which is why I suppose we have not had to many problems as most of the work we do is now through reccommendations as previous clients are more than happy to put our name forward although we have had problems in the past with people who live abroad and who have taken weeks after compltion of work to come up with the final payment. As pointed out by another poster, proving you have the money and actually paying it are 2 different things.  in response to a different post it is not just people on the black who arent TVA registered   Micro enterprises are TVA exempt  but are a legit business and devis and facture in euros.

'I will prove I have the money available and will make arrangements for weekly stage payments on evidence of completion of work' You will begin stage payments AFTER completion of work??? I dont think that would work!!! Payment in FULL after completion maybe!! Another solution maybe is to pay for the materials yourself before commencement of work and be billed for labour only after completion. 

 The same was said to us at the stage CdM It must vary from dept to dept .  If the builder is well established ie built up a busniess over many many years or owns a fairly large company he maybe he could afford to purchase materials etc himself but many of us can not.  We were told a deposit up front is the norm with stage payments (unless the job is very small)  All the work we have had done by French Artisans has worked this way. and this is the way we work to.  It works well and we have never received complaint.  It is  very frustraiting if working for a client who does not live near (abroad) by waiting for payments sometimes many weeks after completion.    I sometimes feel that some people think that money builders make goes straight into their pocket as profit. We have social charges, bills, a young family to raise and a renovation of or own to finance amongst other things. Just like everyone else. I understand that people are wary of parting with money to strangers but if you have checked that the artisan is registered etc and you have signed a Devis you have a legal contract should anything go wrong.  Artisans to are wary of going into debt purchasing materials incase the client then dissapears or changes their mind. Reccommendations help to build trust and confidence on both sides.

It is a sad fact that this sort of thing happens fairly frequently in all areas.  It makes things very difficult for the 'real' artisans.  It does appear to be a case of the 'British' praying on the British.  In some cases allthough unfair the clients themselves are partly to blame as it is their responsibility to ensure the artisan is registered etc.  My hubby is an English, French registered Artisan and most of the work he obtains is through previous clients who are more than happy to reccommend him to others. This means less money needed on Advertising! Recently more and more clients are calling on him to put right the work of others, work they have already paid for that is unfinished badly done or worst of all to do work for people who have paid builders who never even started the work after recieving payment. All I can say is be careful and try to source your Artisans through reliable means ask to see projects they have worked on previously and make sure the owner of the property is availiable to verify that the work was done by that person. 

Hi dept 23 nr aubusson, last 4 days between -4 and -7 night up to 10 degrees in day. Hope this helps

(La Creuse) This morning at 6.30am we had a second phase  of cranes flying overhead (the first being back in Oct) Better than an alarm clock!!

Insulation is most deffinately the key.  Last winter was our 1st in our unrenovated barn.  The temp dropped as low as -20 at times but we managed to keep 1 area warm by insulating very well and using just a tiny wood burner bought from a brocante.  Apart from that we used electric convecter heaters (2) in the caravan and our electric bill was over 700€ the only other electicity we used was for the basics 2 lights 2 sockets to run TV and fridge freezer.  The upside to this in a funny sort of way was that our water stayed frozen for most of the winter so our water bill was very small!!! This year we have expanded our living space and so have invested in a insert with turbine (14kw) this is heating front room kitchen and dining room quite well the only thing left to do is fit a ceiling over the front room to keep the heat in!! We also have 2 basic petrole heaters as a top up just in case!! We only pay 35€ a stere for our wood and are determined to stay away from oil, gas or electic heting due to costs.  We will be installing arayburn type appliance eventually to run radiators for the upstairs rooms (when they finally get built)

We have them here in 23, they only seem to come out on rainy evenings!!

Hi We did it 2 years ago our children we then aged 9, 6 and 8 months.  The children settled in extremely well in fact we had less problems with them going to school here than in UK my eldest started college this September with no problems.  We have found that most schools have had at least  1 english pupil in the school at some point and quite often provide extra french lessons.  I have kept this reply brief as quite often people who post positive replies on this site are slated for apparently wearing 'rose tinted specs'!!! This we deffinately dont do!! If you would like more in depth info feel free to pm me.

Hi to all watching this thread. There were some questions posted a few pages back (to many to trawl through to pick out all the relevant quotes) We moved here (23) 2 years ago I suppose we would be classed a young familly as I was 27 with 3 young children.  So heres my contribution from that angle. We didnt watch any TV shows untill after making the decision Scince moving here I can say without a doubt Im glad this was the case as they really dont portray 'real life' We did use this forum for many many questions most of which are still being asked by most newbies.  We had nothing but helpful friendly replies.  It was a mine of information although there is no substitute for being here and finding out for yourself as every different place seems to work by a different set of rules!!  and were were well overprepared on the paperwork side of things before we arrived (better safe than sorry!) The forum nowadays is still posting useful and constructive comments but does seem less friendly to those considering the move than to those already here.Any ideas why and It is a shame that so much was lost in the revamp. It was a book which I'm sure many of you have read called 'Bon courage' that firmed our decision as it was based in Limousin, involved a renovation project and certainly wasnt through rose tinted specks! Funilly enough this chap who wrote the book has given up (so Im told) and the house is up for sale!! It was house prices which enabled us to make the move. We did no forward planning we arrived with a trailer tent in October with only a rough idea of where the campsite was located.  It took us 4 hours to travel a distance which now takes us just 1.  We ripped the canvas roof of the trailer tent when seeting up in the pitch black in the pouring rain.  and the next week it was sub zero temps!  Not the best start!!! We weren't put off we spent the next 5 months property hunting,  and put the eldest 2 children a the local school. We were well aware that we wanted to purchase a renovation project and even in this 'cheap' department it would have been all we could afford.  We have no interest in making a profit just a nice family home. We finally found the 'one' and deliberatly chose to move away from the 'little brit' community we had accidently arrived in ( although it has to be said it made life easier meeting other brits who were extremely helpful) we wanted to live a french life in a french hamlet with french neighbours.  Our French is coming along well even my written skills are improving but we are having to work very hard at it. My husband started his own business even though his French was limited. and we are renovating very slowly.  As many of you will be aware last winter was very cold and snowy.  We were living in a barn with very little heating and the mains water frozen for weeks at a time. Our french neighbours have been friendly and welcoming and also told us that they 'The french' tend to be more welcoming to those who have to earn a living and are perminant residents to those ( like the parisiens) who buy up property for profit or holiday homes. I understand that this is not everyones cup of tea and I also appreciate everyones comments and opinions.  Many aspects of living here are similar to living anywhere but we are happier doing it here.  Everyones situation is different but you have to give it a go and if it works for you then great if not well at least you can say you tried. As you can see we are not rose tinted but we are all happy so we will stay! Im sorry this has turned into a VERY long Blog type post

I know this is going to be very contraversial (spelling???) but here goes. What are your views on slimming pills??  Those prescribed by a doctor (not the ones so easily availiable on the net. As I cant see that these would work or could be dangerous and are very expensive)

Have done some searching of the archieves but cant find what I'm looking for. I would like some recipies for cherries, pies, tarts etc (not clafoutis) any suggestions welcome thanks in advance

Hi can anyone tell me if you can buy cottage cheese or equivelent here in France and what its called. thanx

haven't had time to post for a couple of weeks (have been to busy eating:hehe The weather is soooo hot Ive not eaten much this last week so maybe i'm back on track Would love to feel comfortable in some shorts or the like so looks like i'll have to stick at it. 

Cinq sur cinq from pharmacie around 5 euros is a repellant and treatment in 1. No one complains of itching after being sprayed in my house. Lavender is excellent for detering mozzies I use air freshener type or candles and you can buy in balm form for rubbing on skin.  Also eating garlic apparently is helpful!

We have it on our peach tree and apple tree which are fruiting and our cherry tree which is not. What causes it and how do we treat it?