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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.htmAs 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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