can't stand this place anymore
Discussion
I played semi-pro / pro rugby there in 2001-2002 and can understand your pain 
The club agreed that on my arrival there would be
Accomodation, furnished and ready
Help for setting up in France (bank, insurance etc)
All paperwork for my transfer finalised
None of that was done and I lived in a hotel room with a bed and a sink which acted as shower and toilet for two months. During this period I was not registered and so could not play which meant no income (paid per match) but I was thankfully able to setup my banking and insurance.
Eventually they registered me and so I was earning a decent living but I found my own accomodation as I became fed up of waiting for them to do anything
I loved the life out there once I was settled in (especially as I paid for very little due to the high regard for sportsmen in the town), but the incompetence of anyone involved in admin or planning was just unbelievable!
Most of my friends in France made a rapid exit when Hollande came to power, one even said she'd prefer to see the Front National gain power than his party!
The club agreed that on my arrival there would be
Accomodation, furnished and ready
Help for setting up in France (bank, insurance etc)
All paperwork for my transfer finalised
None of that was done and I lived in a hotel room with a bed and a sink which acted as shower and toilet for two months. During this period I was not registered and so could not play which meant no income (paid per match) but I was thankfully able to setup my banking and insurance.
Eventually they registered me and so I was earning a decent living but I found my own accomodation as I became fed up of waiting for them to do anything
I loved the life out there once I was settled in (especially as I paid for very little due to the high regard for sportsmen in the town), but the incompetence of anyone involved in admin or planning was just unbelievable!
Most of my friends in France made a rapid exit when Hollande came to power, one even said she'd prefer to see the Front National gain power than his party!
aarrrhh! my rubbish collection for tomorrow has been postponed until Thursday wot is bloody boxing day..... Bloody French workers! AND I'll have to interrupt my Christmas evening to PUT THE BLOODY BIN OUT!!! AND I'll have to bring it in on Boxing day FCS. WTF are they thinking of not working all the time? They're obviously hell-bent on wrecking my Christmas.
Nevertheless, Joyeux Noël à Tous!
Steve
Nevertheless, Joyeux Noël à Tous!
Steve
I am in Versailles for Christmas this year and looking at the queues in the market it looked like Soviet Russia. But when you see what people were actually buying you realise that parts of the economy must be doing OK.
M Holland is spending the day in the hall of mirrors so he can know that at least one person in France still loves him.
Merry Christmas to all PHers
Rodger
M Holland is spending the day in the hall of mirrors so he can know that at least one person in France still loves him.
Merry Christmas to all PHers
Rodger
My Christmas present from the RSI was waiting when I got back from Blighty: a cheque for slightly more than 1,100€! Cashed it this morning. Also in the post: a separate letter saying I still owe them money, and to please pay up. Couldn't make this up. A belated Merry Christmas à vous tous.
Thought you'd like this one. It's my daughter's 40th this year, and I asked her if she'd like a big party with her friends (Chelmsford) and she wasn't keen. A single mum since a year back, she says she'd prefer something quiet so we are going en famille to Center Parcs in Norfolk. So, SWMBO and I have discussed, and she can't really take time off. I've set the scene.
She is secretary to the director of the University, and with the 35 hours rule she has about 10 weeks of holiday a year to compensate for the hours worked. Except she has no work virtually at all to do. So, she can take time off during the "school holidays" without problems, but taking a holiday during term time can't be done. Even though she sits twiddling her thumbs every day with not a lot to do. I asked why they don't make her redundant and top up her pension (silly me - I'm English!) to age 60. But, it turns out, if she goes then they will have difficulty justifying the two new employees they'll need to cover her work when she retires in two years. Figure that one out. It's quite normal apparently, since she's been approached by a few members of staff telling her to work more slowly, since otherwise the others might get pushed to work harder. One of the cleaners is being sacked because she does one floor level on her own while the other floors take two. The rest complained about her working too hard and the result is that her contract isn't being renewed.
So, thinking that she has the square root of sweet FA to do, I am about to book for the anniversary; no, it can't be done because it isn't in the university holidays, despite her lack of work. I've told her, when she finally finishes work in a year we are moving to the UK. I really am pissed off now with all the bureaucracy, the "flics" everywhere with radars (saw four going to Paris and back Wednesday), and the general way of thinking here now. My "commune" is more or less communist, or at least so far left that the difference doesn't matter. I don't even really want to mix with people today.
She is secretary to the director of the University, and with the 35 hours rule she has about 10 weeks of holiday a year to compensate for the hours worked. Except she has no work virtually at all to do. So, she can take time off during the "school holidays" without problems, but taking a holiday during term time can't be done. Even though she sits twiddling her thumbs every day with not a lot to do. I asked why they don't make her redundant and top up her pension (silly me - I'm English!) to age 60. But, it turns out, if she goes then they will have difficulty justifying the two new employees they'll need to cover her work when she retires in two years. Figure that one out. It's quite normal apparently, since she's been approached by a few members of staff telling her to work more slowly, since otherwise the others might get pushed to work harder. One of the cleaners is being sacked because she does one floor level on her own while the other floors take two. The rest complained about her working too hard and the result is that her contract isn't being renewed.
So, thinking that she has the square root of sweet FA to do, I am about to book for the anniversary; no, it can't be done because it isn't in the university holidays, despite her lack of work. I've told her, when she finally finishes work in a year we are moving to the UK. I really am pissed off now with all the bureaucracy, the "flics" everywhere with radars (saw four going to Paris and back Wednesday), and the general way of thinking here now. My "commune" is more or less communist, or at least so far left that the difference doesn't matter. I don't even really want to mix with people today.
lowdrag said:
Thought you'd like this one. It's my daughter's 40th this year, and I asked her if she'd like a big party with her friends (Chelmsford) and she wasn't keen. A single mum since a year back, she says she'd prefer something quiet so we are going en famille to Center Parcs in Norfolk. So, SWMBO and I have discussed, and she can't really take time off. I've set the scene.
She is secretary to the director of the University, and with the 35 hours rule she has about 10 weeks of holiday a year to compensate for the hours worked. Except she has no work virtually at all to do. So, she can take time off during the "school holidays" without problems, but taking a holiday during term time can't be done. Even though she sits twiddling her thumbs every day with not a lot to do. I asked why they don't make her redundant and top up her pension (silly me - I'm English!) to age 60. But, it turns out, if she goes then they will have difficulty justifying the two new employees they'll need to cover her work when she retires in two years. Figure that one out. It's quite normal apparently, since she's been approached by a few members of staff telling her to work more slowly, since otherwise the others might get pushed to work harder. One of the cleaners is being sacked because she does one floor level on her own while the other floors take two. The rest complained about her working too hard and the result is that her contract isn't being renewed.
So, thinking that she has the square root of sweet FA to do, I am about to book for the anniversary; no, it can't be done because it isn't in the university holidays, despite her lack of work. I've told her, when she finally finishes work in a year we are moving to the UK. I really am pissed off now with all the bureaucracy, the "flics" everywhere with radars (saw four going to Paris and back Wednesday), and the general way of thinking here now. My "commune" is more or less communist, or at least so far left that the difference doesn't matter. I don't even really want to mix with people today.
Ahh, you gotta drop into the French way of thinking. Just book it up, she goes to the quack on the Friday, gets signed off, have a long weekend enjoying your family, and then she just goes back to work when she's "better"... It's sad that the system reduces people to behaving like this. She is secretary to the director of the University, and with the 35 hours rule she has about 10 weeks of holiday a year to compensate for the hours worked. Except she has no work virtually at all to do. So, she can take time off during the "school holidays" without problems, but taking a holiday during term time can't be done. Even though she sits twiddling her thumbs every day with not a lot to do. I asked why they don't make her redundant and top up her pension (silly me - I'm English!) to age 60. But, it turns out, if she goes then they will have difficulty justifying the two new employees they'll need to cover her work when she retires in two years. Figure that one out. It's quite normal apparently, since she's been approached by a few members of staff telling her to work more slowly, since otherwise the others might get pushed to work harder. One of the cleaners is being sacked because she does one floor level on her own while the other floors take two. The rest complained about her working too hard and the result is that her contract isn't being renewed.
So, thinking that she has the square root of sweet FA to do, I am about to book for the anniversary; no, it can't be done because it isn't in the university holidays, despite her lack of work. I've told her, when she finally finishes work in a year we are moving to the UK. I really am pissed off now with all the bureaucracy, the "flics" everywhere with radars (saw four going to Paris and back Wednesday), and the general way of thinking here now. My "commune" is more or less communist, or at least so far left that the difference doesn't matter. I don't even really want to mix with people today.
Ask any backpacker, they'll have met Frenchies travelling on their (generous) unemployment benefits.
Or indeed be typically French and just take the time off anyway. It is almost impossible to get sacked here in France, especially if you work for a quasi-public institution. In any event if she's so close to retirement there's no chance that they'd even think of a disciplinary procedure. Doctors however are getting more pressure not to sign people off sick for no good reason. French people in a similar position would take the day off, then on return say that they had the usual gastro for this time of year, couldn't get to the doctor and if really hassled offer to take the day out of their holidays.
After 17 years of living I finally got the chance and moved back to the Uk (via Oz). F*ck me I'm so happy not to be there any more. Even though I left nearly 4 years ago now I still get tax bills (which are pretty much just made up) every 2 months. So far about 30K worths of bills , none of which we have yet to pay so far after 100's of phone calls and letters explaining that we have paid everything due (which they finally agree), however they still keep making them up and keep on sending them. Can't seem to shake France off - horrid system and apathy. Its a classic every time - you call up explain the situation, get told someone will get back to you then no one every does. We actually had to fly over to France and walk into the tax office and talk to someone face to face - still took 4 months after that meeting to resolve that particular set of bills. We got another bill this week for various social charges (that the EU has ruled is unlawful - not that the French take any notice).
Seriously - do not move there unless you are retiring. Do not run and business there or own rental property otherwise I guarantee 98% of you will regret it in time.
Seriously - do not move there unless you are retiring. Do not run and business there or own rental property otherwise I guarantee 98% of you will regret it in time.
I had a house there for the last 10 years that I have just managed to sell, and I'm so relieved to be shot of the place for all the reasons above (apart from the fact that I can't get them to close my bank account for love nor money!) It was just not fun anymore .. even where I was in rural France there was a high probability of encountering 5 or 6 motorcycling jack booted gendarmes strutting round the roundabouts in the middle of nowhere ready to stop errant motorists lasered a few kilometres back.
As for the attitude and beauracracy, well I didn't have a business there but even running a house was a challenge. And the cost of getting any work done legally was almost laughable (for reasons I do understand).
As for the attitude and beauracracy, well I didn't have a business there but even running a house was a challenge. And the cost of getting any work done legally was almost laughable (for reasons I do understand).
Things are getting silly now. We are looking into the possibility of putting our place on the market next year or the year after but have hit a big problem. We have a lake as part of the property, it's not large at about a half acre, and has carp, pike and roach in it but it's in a bit of a state and sorting it out has always been something I would get around to when I have the time. Anyway, we had an agent round and she mentioned that seeing as we are in the Limousin the lake has to be "regularized" and registered with the lakes and rivers authority. We got a friend who is a councillor at the mairie to find put what we have to do and she arranged for some "officials" to visit, they came, umm'd and aghed for about two hours then went away and today we get a letter saying that they have to come and do study of the lake to get the initial paperwork underway and to tell us what work needs to be done and the cost for this initial study and paperwork will be €1,800.00 and that's before they tell us what work needs to be done like creating another pond to empty this lake into, creating a by-pass pipe system etc. (est. €20,000.00+!!).
We don't have anything like this money available having only a small company pension and state pension as all our funds have gone into rebuilding this place, it would be hard to even get the money for the initial study so we are effectively stuffed and in a Catch-22 situation. We said that we would drain the lake and leave it as a stream bed but apparently this won't make any difference as it is on the deeds as an étang, an added problem is that the property is "owned" by an SCI with myself, my wife, daughter and son-in-law as shareholders.
We said that we would close down the SCI and take the property back into private ownership and then sell the rest of the property and keep the lake and just forget about it, but, we can't do that as closing the SCI effectively means that property has to be sold to myself and my wife and that means in order to do that the lake has to "regularized" which we can't do as we don't have the money.
Apparently this "law" came in in the Limousin a couple of years ago so wasn't a problem when we bought the property in 2004 and the lake was created after 1815 (not on map) but before 1890 (appears on map) and it's one of five in a descending series from higher ground and is the last lake in the series.
My mood is not good and our friend at the marie said that we have a big problem looming as now that the authorities are aware they will insist that it is "regularized".
We don't have anything like this money available having only a small company pension and state pension as all our funds have gone into rebuilding this place, it would be hard to even get the money for the initial study so we are effectively stuffed and in a Catch-22 situation. We said that we would drain the lake and leave it as a stream bed but apparently this won't make any difference as it is on the deeds as an étang, an added problem is that the property is "owned" by an SCI with myself, my wife, daughter and son-in-law as shareholders.
We said that we would close down the SCI and take the property back into private ownership and then sell the rest of the property and keep the lake and just forget about it, but, we can't do that as closing the SCI effectively means that property has to be sold to myself and my wife and that means in order to do that the lake has to "regularized" which we can't do as we don't have the money.
Apparently this "law" came in in the Limousin a couple of years ago so wasn't a problem when we bought the property in 2004 and the lake was created after 1815 (not on map) but before 1890 (appears on map) and it's one of five in a descending series from higher ground and is the last lake in the series.
My mood is not good and our friend at the marie said that we have a big problem looming as now that the authorities are aware they will insist that it is "regularized".
I am of course speechless and yet somehow not in the least surprised. I wish I could suggest something. i wonder if, had you not mentioned it to the Marie and just gone ahead and marketed the place, it would have reared it's ugly head during the selling process or just slipped through without incident? Probably not I guess. I feel for your predicament. Perhaps the Marie can suggest some sort of grant to help out? If you can't fund it yourselves, they can hardly force you to be imprisoned here against your will!
[quote=Russwhitehouse]I am of course speechless and yet somehow not in the least surprised. I wish I could suggest something. i wonder if, had you not mentioned it to the Marie and just gone ahead and marketed the place, it would have reared it's ugly head during the selling process or just slipped through without incident? /quote]
Not possible, we have spoken to a notaire in the north Dordogne (only about 30 mins from us) as we thought that he might not know about it but he did and said that it was part of the check list for any property now sold in the Limousin.
Just another way of robbing you. It makes no difference to properties handed down generation to generation as they are inherited and not "sold" so not an issue. Apparently it won't be an issue according to the marie until the day that the property is put up for sale as they reckon we can stall until then and it's at that point that the "regularization" must take place, that is in itself an issue because the works to be carried out will be substantial because of the state that it's in and would cause a very long delay in the sale process.
We are effectively trapped here now.
Not possible, we have spoken to a notaire in the north Dordogne (only about 30 mins from us) as we thought that he might not know about it but he did and said that it was part of the check list for any property now sold in the Limousin.
Just another way of robbing you. It makes no difference to properties handed down generation to generation as they are inherited and not "sold" so not an issue. Apparently it won't be an issue according to the marie until the day that the property is put up for sale as they reckon we can stall until then and it's at that point that the "regularization" must take place, that is in itself an issue because the works to be carried out will be substantial because of the state that it's in and would cause a very long delay in the sale process.
We are effectively trapped here now.
Hi Perik
Sounds like a nightmare... But there might be a way through...
1. Raising finance off the house. Have you explored a loan with the bank who could then take a charge on the house until it is sold?
2. Could you ask any other family members to sub you with a deal to payback with a little interest?
3. I think it might be worth having this initial survey done (1800 or so) to really know what you might be in for.
4. The type of buyer you eventually find here is crucial...if someone really falls for the place then there might be some sort of deal you can cut...if you're upfront with the situation. E.g a buyer subs you until the work is done in return for a more reasonable asking price etc.
.
Best of luck.
A
Sounds like a nightmare... But there might be a way through...
1. Raising finance off the house. Have you explored a loan with the bank who could then take a charge on the house until it is sold?
2. Could you ask any other family members to sub you with a deal to payback with a little interest?
3. I think it might be worth having this initial survey done (1800 or so) to really know what you might be in for.
4. The type of buyer you eventually find here is crucial...if someone really falls for the place then there might be some sort of deal you can cut...if you're upfront with the situation. E.g a buyer subs you until the work is done in return for a more reasonable asking price etc.
.
Best of luck.
A
bosshog said:
really? I didn't know that. Are you sure?
No.http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_fre...
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