Here are a few words on the realities of living in France and is it always the “rosey’ picture you get on TV programmes.
First, there is a very good monthly English newspaper, produced by an English, husband and wife team that gives all sorts of useful and mainly factual, information about modern French life. It is well worth subscribing to this paper, delivered by post, as includes all sorts of details about things that concern ex-pats and provides a useful “bridge”. See: http://www.connexionfrance.com
Second, the French are not the best self publicists. In fact my opinion is that they are their own worst enemies when it comes to creating a good image and publicising their business attributes.
This is particularly borne out by the outward appearance of shops and supermarkets, which in UK terms might reasonably be described as needing a ‘good scrub’ or a serious revamp. In the main, the exterior of public and private building fare no better.
Your only solution is ‘not to judge the book by its cover’ but to simply find out the truth by “going inside”.
On a personnel level the French don’t push themselves nearly as much or as hard as the British. A fact noted to me by the French manager of my local mini-market.
In their defence I would guess the high taxes and history of France lead to a philosophy that says “I know the inside is good; it’s up to you to trust me and find out”
In the main I have found the average French person to be honest and trust worthy. However as with “image” the concept of blindly good “Customer Service” also lacks a degree of ‘zing’ to it. If you expect company employees to fall over themselves to get and retain your custom you are in for a bit of a shock.
Yes, they will deliver, yes, they will provide quality products etc, but in their own time, and, sometimes only when pushed into it.
Sadly, some of the worst offenders are the big internationals rather than the smaller family owned organisations.
Artisans are a law unto themselves. Whilst standards of workmanship are usually good their ‘project management’ skills are often poor or non-existent. It is not uncommon to have to chase several times to get them to provide quotes or to start or complete the work, and they will often only offer superficial advice.
The reasons for this are not at all clear, but it is said that there is a great shortage of skilled artisans, so I suppose they may have to prioritise their work based on urgency, and, they can pick and choose.
However once the work is completed the final account will arrive “promptly” often on the final day of completing work….
Whether it is generally cheaper in France compared to the UK is rather dependent on where you live. I believe a rule of thumb would say if you live in the southern half of the UK, or London, then France is cheaper. If you live in the Midlands or North of the UK then it may be the same or more expensive.
TVA (VAT), varies according to the work and whether, if it relates to work on your property, it is your primary residence. When formally accepting the quote you are usually asked to sign a declaration as to your relationship with the property. Since this is part for the tax laws there is no way of avoiding it.
Some works can be set against income tax payable in France as it might relate to eco-friendly schemes examples include; wood burning stoves and modern efficient heating boilers come within this category.
I have a fridge magnet which states “You are no-one until you’ve been ignored by a cat”. The same is true of French artisans… A French acquaintance of mine has often confirmed this to me, which may account for the thriving DIY business, which produces many useful and quality products.
The Health Service, reputed to be the “best in the world” is, sadly, also very bureaucratic and takes a bit of experience to understand. Any medical consultation, procedure etc is almost always accompanied by paperwork that the patient has to deal with. Healthcare, in some of its forms, is not “free at point of delivery” as in the UK. Refunds have to be applied for, which can depend on your status, income and insurance cover. If you have “top-up” health insurance, this often means 2 letters have to be sent each time to obtain a full refund.
In summation, if you expect to live in France and get the same or better levels of service to those in the UK you may be disappointed. If you just want an overall better quality of life and are prepared to downgrade some expectations then life can be very pleasant without so many of the social pressures associated with a small overcrowded island.
Letter from France 4
By
Letter from France
By ‘Nom de Plume de Normandy’
I’m not sure if it’s me getting older or that I am just always busy, but the time seems to fly by, as has another month.
I promised to give an insight into owning a car, when living in France. It really isn’t very much different to the UK except that there isn’t any road tax – I hear a loud cheer – you pay anyway but via a different method – general taxes.
UK, RH-drive, cars may be registered in France and driven without any problems from the Police or Authorities, however there are a few things worth knowing.
Before your final UK tax, MOT and/or insurance expires you must first obtain an ‘Import Licence’, (Certificat d’Acquisition), from your local French tax office. To do this you must take the logbook and proof of residency, a utility bill, together with your passport. The service is free but without this document you will not be able to re-register your car.
To obtain a ‘Carte Gris’, the French equivalent of a logbook, and to get a French registration number, you must go to your local Prefecture offices and get a copy of the relevant form, (Demande d’Identification – pour voiture particulière uniquement). Having completed the form take this, the log book, and the import document back to the Prefecture where they will issue you with a Carte Gris and a French registration number for the car. There is a fee involved and this varies according to whether or not you have, the relevant, original, manufacturer’s EEC conformancy, (Certificat de Conformité) document issued when the car was new.
If you car is 4 years old or more you will also need a ‘Contrôle Technique’ document, the French equivalent of an MOT certificate. You will also need an insurance document.
In the first instance it is worth going to the main dealer for your make of car and getting them to carry out the Contrôle Technique as they will know the ropes and know what to do if there are any problems i.e. re-testing etc. Assuming your car is in good condition passing the French ‘MOT’ shouldn’t be a problem as the requirements are much the same as in the UK. You will need the ‘MOT’ ‘pass’ document to apply for a Carte Gris.
After the first test subsequent tests are only required every 2 years unless you are told otherwise.
If your car is less than 4 years old the date for the first Contrôle Technique will be shown on the Carte Gris.
Once all the documents are complete and you have the Carte Gris, you can go to your service garage and order your French number plates.
Your local Prefecture office may be the one in the Department capital – mine is in Rouen – or it may be a sub-office. For instance Seine Maritime has 2 offices – one in Rouen and the other is in Dieppe.
Insurance can be bought direct from any appropriate Insurance Company or via your local bank. Beware – insurance cover varies considerably, although car insurance is based along much the same lines as in the UK, with a minimum legal requirement of 3rd party. Before buying it is worth doing some research, and, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You will not be able to use your UK renewal notice to get a no-claims discount this will start from scratch as if you were a first-time insuree.
A useful website,
http://riviera.angloinfo.com/countries/france/cartegrise.asp#change,
although originally aimed at those moving to the South of France, has a lot of detailed information regarding driving in France. It is well worth a read and also contains information on what to do in the event of an accident.
Your UK driving licence can be retained, normally without limit, unless you are involved in an accident or infringe a traffic law, such as being caught for speeding. Although not strictly enforceable, the French Police will expect you to exchange your UK licence for a French one, especially after more than 1 years residence.
Again this is done at your local Prefecture office. You will need 2 passport photos. Having received your new licence, the Prefecture will take your old UK licence and return it to the UK. There is one main advantage in having a French licence in that there is no upper age limit as in the UK.
My experience of the Prefecture offices is that they are very friendly and helpful, and, everything can be done while you wait. Mine even has a passport photo machine on one of the floors, but, don’t expect them to speak English. If they do you will be in luck.
When you apply for your insurance make sure they give you a copy of the standard form to use in the event of an accident. If possible this is completed at the time of the accident and will help to speed your claim.
Also don’t forget to tell the DVLA you have exported your car or you may remain liable to UK Road Tax.
Finally, remember that in France, as in many other EU countries, you will need to carry a regulation warning triangle, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, although I have never been asked to show these.
Letter from France 2
By
Letter from France 1
By
Categories
Tag Cloud
Blog RSS
Comments RSS
Last 50 Posts
Back
Void 
Life 
Earth 
Wind 
Water 
Fire