You'd think that six months after leaving France we'd have severed our connection by now. Not so mes braves.
We have only just managed to cancel our mutuelle insurance and have now received a substantial cheque to reimburse overpayment. So far so good, but then, out of the blue, we have also just received a bill for assainissment (water treatment).
Seeing as we sold the house in France last October you'd have thought that by now these things would have been sorted. Frankly I can't be bothered to investigate the ins and outs of it especially as the bill has been redirected by a (very good looking) friend from the Marie, so it's safe to assume that it is payable.
I only mention this to highlight that living in France is nowhere near as simple or as straightforward as living in England.
As you head towards France, to your idyllic new lifestyle, with your Anglo Saxon head on your shoulders and rose tinted glasses, I caution that life isn't quite as straightforward as you might have been used to.
In France there are 'rules,' many of them, some obscure and to a simple mind like mine illogical but, of course, 'rules' have to be obeyed.
Liberté isn't all it's cracked up to be!
I do agree regarding the frustrations. But then again, I miss the summer weather and the short winters. We kept our French bank account open for six months after leaving and it was only just long enough to settle all outstanding bills and credits.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that things like this are much easier in the UK. Not just the language, but the customer service aspect and the competitive set up.
I must sound at times that I'm anti France, which I'm not. We had over eight really good years there and met some nice people. I post the above so that anybody thinking of moving there understands that there is a somewhat quite oppressive legal/business system that has to be dealt with and that is not straightforward or consumer friendly.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex... no you don't sound anti France at all. I completely get what you are saying. We had similar frustrations. Frankly it's nice to read balance as there are a few too many "rose tinted" views expressed... "oh someone just farted, doesn't it smell so much better here in France" sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteAs usual you got it in one.
ReplyDeleteAlex - I disagree.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are hundreds (even thousands) of laws, but everyone ignores them.
Understand that and living in France is not too bad ?