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Everything you always wanted to know about France - from France |
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I remember a lot of stuff about this years ago and though it was illegal - the way of sending you goods you had not asked for and then billing you for them, sometimes with aggressive debt collection methods. Carbon paper delivered to offices at lunchtime and signed for by an office junior, was a classic one of these scams.. However the techniques is alive and well all over the world still and strong in France - banks,insurance companies, government services all assume you to owe for something and frequently make is very hard to get unhitched from the monthly charges. I have had threats from all the Internet service providers in France, Tiscali were the worst, but now they are Italian Telecom or something I seem to have got back on their evil radar - never replying to their premium phone numbers, nor their own email service, to get rid of them I had to close my bank account with the ghastly Credit Agricole in Pezenas (every cloud has a silver lining ...). The big difference in France is that you are automatically guilty of a charge and then have to prove your innocence. So if someone claims money, the onus can be on you to prove you do not owe it. her is a recent mail on TV licences === Tony Have just read your response about TV licensing in France which was very helpful. We received a letter asking if we have a post receiver of television or an assimilated device? The letter says if we do have one we do not need to respond, so we didnt. We have purchased an apartment in a large block in a ski resort and believe we are connected to a communal satellite dish. Do you know what this is all about? Thank you Gary === Hello Gary The assumption is that you DO have a tv or video and you automatically pay for the licence in you tax d'habitation each year - they are saying if you DO have one then do nothing and they will charge you - you have to tell them if you do not and then they may not charge you - if your apartment group has a dish or whatever this is not relevant - it is the receiver (set or video DVD etc) which is taxed. As with most situations in France you are guilty and have to prove your innocence. Tony === Hi Tony, Many thanks for your prompt response. Had kind of assumed this and decided not to return the form. You have satisfied my curiosity though and clarified the French approach - thank you. Best Regards Gary There are over 2,000 features and articles on this site about French life and living in France. You can search from the search box above. Do browse through our website and please use the advertising links, they help pay for the site. I do try to reply to all mail - Contact Me - most is about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers for people wanting to come to France. I hope readers will go to the adverts which help support our overheads. |
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