Your Questions

Do you have a question about life in France? Email our man in the know, Oliver Rowland, at news@connexionfrance.com

Why can I not cancel health policy with a month’s notice?

My health mutuelle provider says I cannot cancel with a month’s notice but need to wait until the anniversary date. Do mutuelles not come under the same rules as other contracts which you can cancel with a month’s notice? J.G.

French law inheritance arrangements?

My wife and I are British residents who own a holiday flat in southern France which we have not included in wills drawn up in England. We assume, by default, French inheritance rules will apply to this property after our deaths. If that is the case, our two daughters should inherit but we want our only grandchild to inherit instead. Can we make such arrangements entirely within French law?

Junk mail at French second-home

I get a lot of junk mail at my second home. Is there anything I can do?

Insurance for house-sitters for my French home?

If I allow house-sitters to live in my house out of season, are there any tax/insurance implications?

Turning off telephone service when not in France

For many years we have been using Orange for our internet and home landline. As we are only in France for the summer, they allowed us to turn off the service when we were not there and restore it when we returned, so we only paid for three months a year. Now it is stopping, are there alternatives?

Why do the French buy so much UHT milk, not fresh?

Why do French people prefer UHT milk to fresh milk? J.G.

Can I insure for car rental excess in France?

Are there firms which insure French residents for the excess on car rental insurance in France? J.H.

What are French SCI's benefits?

As a married couple, are there inheritance planning advantages to buying a home through an SCI property company? R.C.

What if I go over French VAT threshold this year?

I am a micro-entrepreneur and am going to go over the limit this year when I must start charging VAT. Does that mean I must charge VAT retrospectively to all my clients from the start of the year? L.D.

Effects of taking French nationality

We are British and live in France. Will our inheritance or tax status change if we take French nationality? G.R.

Topping up UK pension from France

Is it still possible to top up a UK state pension while living in France? I have heard it has changed and will Brexit affect this? P.W.

Working for foreign firm in France

A firm in Italy wants to employ me working from home in France. Is it possible? H.E.

Why are calls to mobiles cheaper?

My French mobile phone company has reduced the cost of calls to UK mobiles. Is this due to an EU law? G.S.

Do I have to renew my French driving licence?

I am confused about whether I need to renew my French permis de conduire (driving licence). It was issued on December 1, 2014, and the face of the card says it expires on December 1, 2019. The reverse shows no expiry in column 11 for category B – a car. Should I renew it or not? G.W.

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French law inheritance arrangements?

Junk mail at French second-home

Insurance for house-sitters for my French home?

Turning off telephone service when not in France

Why do the French buy so much UHT milk, not fresh?

Can I insure for car rental excess in France?

What are French SCI's benefits?

What if I go over French VAT threshold this year?

Effects of taking French nationality

Topping up UK pension from France

Working for foreign firm in France

Why are calls to mobiles cheaper?

Do I have to renew my French driving licence?

French computer keyboards to change - what is Bépo?

Can I get grant for new fosse at French home?

Can an Irish early-retiree join Puma?

Loi Madelin policies for the self-employed in France?

Cartes de séjour do you get answer immediately?

What will happen to circus animals?

Where can I sit a language test to become French?

Can French taxi drivers refuse card payments?