Bills

[Caz<H2><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" size=3>Carole (87)<FONT><H2>]

We sign in December but what happens about paying the owners tax in January if we are not over there? Do they send it to your British address or does it lay on the door mat (not that we'll have one straight away) until as such time as you visit again?
Can you register your home address with anyone to get post re-directed?
When you phone the elec and water companies do they speak any English? Oh God I hope so!!!
I'm not beginning to panic - HONEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mazan]

>We sign in December but what
>happens about paying the owners
>tax in January if
>we are not over there?
You don't pay it in January. The two bills come in late summer and early autumn.
They will probably sit on your doormat incurring late penalties.
You can pay all such bills and taxes by direct debit and should do so. It has nothing but advantages.

> Can you register your
>home address with anyone to
>get post re-directed?
Yes. The Post Office.

> When you phone the
>elec and water companies do
>they speak any English?

Does your UK electricity and water supplier speak French?

[0bill thomsonddMMyyyy0Falseen-USTrue]

Most people we know with second homes in France get these bills sent to their UK addresses, that way you can avoid late payment charges, particularly if, as Mazan suggests, you pay by direct debit.

You will find it far easier and cheaper to have a French bank account if you don't have one already. When you have one, just send a RIB (a piece of paper which the bank will give you containing your full account details) when you get your first bill and the debit will automatically be set up. After this you will continue to receive bills telling you how much you owe, but you don't have to worry about paying as the money is taken automatically.

Just don't let your French account go overdrawn.

Bill



http://www.letheil.com

[IanSue]

As you are using an agent to buy your property they will 'hold your hand' as far as registering your services if you ask.

Make sure you have a French Bank Account - the agent will help if you need it. The Electric and Water and sometimes the Insurance will automatically be transferred over to you as the new owner.

Get the agent to help in ensuring all bills are paid direct from your bank account with the actual bill being forwarded to your UK address. You will receive the bill generally 5 - 7 days before the debit takes place ( they actually send it out earlier but it has to get over the channel first ). Do not ever let your French Bank account go overdrawn so remember to keep it topped up on your visits.

If you are thinking of having a telephone installed or taking an existing service over, please bear in mind that you cannot do this until AFTER you have completed and France Telecom will always give you a new telephone number. Otherwise the comments above also apply.

Good luck and hope the above helps

Ian

[Jc]

Go personally to the water and electricity offices-much easier and you can sign forms directly.If you could defer signing for your property until 2nd. January,the current owner would have to pay all property taxes for the next year.

[Jc]

The local town hall and utilities will send your bill to the address you ask them to send them to.I pay by direct debit in France but all my bills are sent to the UK.

[Liz]

If you are as nervous about direct debit as I am you can also use the TIP system but make sure that the various utilities send you the bill first. You just sign and return it to authorise the deduction. This gives you the chance to check that you really do have money in your account

I used this sytem successfully when living in UK and had enough time to sign and return the chit without making the payment too late.

The choice of automatic direct debit or the 'sign first' version should be apparent on the bill.