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‘It is my right to work beyond retirement age - but France says no’
Age discrimination in the workplace is real but hidden, says (soon to be forcibly retired) English teacher Nick Inman
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‘Ponds in rural France are beautifully maintained but no longer used’
Columnist Peter Wyeth laments that these large, impressive sites, once the fresh-aired setting for family picnics, barbecues and fun, now fail to attract people
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‘New French speeding rule encourages aggressive drivers’
The change has enabled reckless motorists to drive even more wildly without fear of losing points, argues columnist Samantha David
France is costly for foreigners
If you are a foreigner in France, be prepared to pay more and put up with more for the privilege.
Even if you want to pay bills, organisations will not readily accept cards, or take money from overseas accounts – but will add extra charges apparently on a whim.
You cannot make taxe foncière or habitation payments without specific conditions, and try to pay by phone from the UK at your peril!
Direct debits for utility companies are a nightmare. Once, EDF estimated a bill at €2,000 for a house that was empty, with the power off, so only a standing charge was owed.
Name and address supplied
To avoid some of these problems we would suggest anyone living in France – permanently or for a large part of the year – has a bank account here.
One that is easy to set up is the Compte-Nickel (compte-nickel.fr). It can be set up at a tabac by anyone with an address in France. It gives internet banking and Mastercard debit card.
