We are moving to france soon to run a gites business, has anyone used Blevins franks for tax advice? They say i will get 'written report' which is great but i dont want to spend £1500 plus vat if its going to be the same stuff I can read and have already read online! However good advice is worth every penny!

Anyone used them?

I called them and left a message but no one called me back.

Blevin Franks purport to give independent financial advice, however when we used their services, they recommended investing in a fund which we later found out was managed by a company wholly owned by Blevins Franks. This company had a completely different name and Blevins Franks did not indicate their interest in this firm. It is also unclear whether advice provided by their staff in France is covered by FSA regulations. The FSA told us probably not. However we were happy with the tax advice provided on a fee basis. We found their book useful but it does direct people to Assurance Vie based investments (in which they have interests) without describing alternatives.

If you get their book too, check out the date of publication as there have been major changes to the tax laws here in France since it was first published.

You should count as one of the lucky one`s. You did not have to get away,they let you.

I wouldn't bother. We contacted Siddalls before we left the UK, eventually someone came and interviewed us, and were going to charge the earth for things we managed to find out for ourselves. Another concern was that having made a point of specifically selling the product in terms of security of information, the rep then managed to copy my wife into an E mail to his colleague with the details of another client! Not impressed. I know it's another company, but they're all much of a muchness, and not worth the outlay in my opinion.

Chris