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** NEWSFLASH **
HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE MOVING TO FRANCE:
There was a new directive issued in March 2007 which significantly
altered the rules to be applied to people moving to France. If you are
in possession of a Form E121, you will be allowed to affiliate to the
French Health System. However, if you have a Form E106, you will only
be allowed to affiliate whilst the E106 is valid. Once the form
expires, you will refused affiliation and will need to take out private
health insurance to cover medical bills, until you have lived in France
for 5 years or are entitled to an E121. The French state will
contribute nothing towards the cost of any treatment you may need and
costs incurred can be significant. Anyone moving to France without any
sort of form from the UK will be refused affiliation straightaway.
Insurance cost are high and will generally not cover pre- existing
conditions. It is very important that anyone considering a move,
investigates these implications fully.
TOWING A CARAVAN OR LARGE TRAILER IN FRANCE: If
you hold a french driving licence then the regulations for towing are
quite different from the UK. Up to age 60 you must have a medical
examination with a qualified doctor every 5 years from the date of
issue of the licence to extend your right to tow
( this date will be printed on the licence). Once you are
60 to 76 years old this medical is required every 2 years. The
examination costs 24.40 euros & a list of qualified doctors can be
obtained from your Prefecture, Sous Prefecture or Mairie.
Failiure to follow this procedure will make it an offence to tow
& any vehicle insurance may be invalid. For more information
contact your Prefecture, Sous Prefecture or Mairie
NEW COMPULSORY CAR EQUIPMENT: From
1st July 2008 all cars in France must be equipped with a fluorescent
waistcoat and a warning triangle. The triangle should carry an approved
code number e.g. E2 27R 08088. The Waiscoat must be flourescent &
carry an EU mark & the code EN471 or EN1150. We recommend you carry
two waiscoats which must be kept in the cab accesible from the drivers
seat. Failiure to comply will result in a
fine. Remember you must also turn on your hazard warning lights if
stopped by a breakdown or accident.
DRIVING TEST IN FRANCE: It
is not obligitory to go to a Driving School in order to take a test.
Contact your Prefecture or Sous Prefecture for information &
application forms, an article called " Code et Conduite" on www.reponseatout.com gives more info.
BANK ACCOUNTS, FINANCIAL PROTECTION: With
the current uncertainties in the financial sector, please note that if
you have a bank account in the U/K, or offshore on the Isle of Man the first £50,000 (
£50,000 per holder in a joint account ) is guaranteed under the
compensation scheme. However, if you have an off-shore account
ie: Jersey or Guernsey the protection may not be as good.
In these circumstances it may be wortwhile checking with you bank to
establish what guarantees you may have.
UK Benefits :
On 18th October 2007 the European Court decided that certain disability
& carers benefits may be paid to people who leave the UK to live
elsewhere in the EU. This decision affects Attendance Allowance,
Carer's Allowance & Disability Living Allowance ( care component
only ) .
If you are receiving any of these benefits whilst
still living in the UK, then they are transferable to France. To ensure that
you retain these benefits you must contact the Exportability Co-ordinator, Room
B120D, Pension, Disability and Carers Service, Warbreck House, Warbreck Hill
road FY2 0YE.
UK Winter Fuel Allowance :
A European
Regulation, enacted on 20th May 2004, has determined that where a benefit/
payment etc relies on residency as qualifying criteria, then residency in any
country within the European Community would count. We do know of members who
have obtained this allowance even though they were living in France at the
qualifying week. The EU regulations can be found on :
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/cha/c10521.htm
As this new regulation has not been widely publicised, we
would urge anyone who think they qualify to contact the relevant body in
the UK. The address is Winter Fuel Payment Centre, Southgate House, Cardiff
Central, Royal Mail, Cardiff CF91 1ZH.
Petrol Stations & Motorway Toll Booths :
Most
French petrol stations only open during working hours although they
display an open 24 hours sign. This means that petrol can be bought out
of hours using a self service pump. Unfortunatly most of these pumps
will only accept a French Bank debit card (carte bancaire). English
credit & debit cards will not work so always keep your car topped
up or else you may run out of fuel because most rural stations close in
the evenings & sundays.
There is a similar problem on the
motorway toll booths as they are often unmanned at the smaller exits
during evenings & weekends. Mastercard, Visa & French carte
Bancaire are accepted but other credit or debit cards are not. Please
ensure you have a usable card if travelling out of hours or you could
be stuck at an exit for some time. No problems during the day as you
can always pay in cash although I have known rural exits to be unmanned
even then.
Importing A New Motor Vehicle to France :
If you purchase a new car, boat, etc from another Member
State and bring it back for use in your own Member State, you do not pay VAT in
the country of sale. Instead, VAT must be paid on return to your own Member
State, at the rate of VAT applied there.
A motor vehicle is new if it:
has travelled less than 6.000km or
is less than 6 months old.
This means that a car, for example which is 2 years old, but
has only travelled for 4.000km is still a "new" car for VAT purposes.
Similarly, a 4-month old car, which has travelled 60.000km, is still “new” for
VAT purposes.
The problem arises when someone tries to re-register the car
and is asked for proof of TVA payment.
I can't find anything at the moment about who to pay the TVA
to but I think it's the Impots. That would be my first port of call.
Motor vehicles cannot
be driven until they have a certificate of conformity- provided by the
manufacturer.
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