Notwithstanding the fact that there are very few "legal businesses" set up by British ouvriers, I have to ask the OP why he asked this question to this list.

The obvious thing to do is ask your local EDF office or at the very least your mairie who will do it for you. Maybe his French isn't up to scratch.

While we are on the subject of "not reading", I did mention the need for the EDF to inspect electrical installations last Wednesday in a rather long post to a gentleman who wants to do a renovation in France. I do so detest repeating things.

And yes KO, I do have close German relatives, thanks. Perhaps we cculd stay OT.

My understanding of this list was to disseminate information that could be of use to a range of people, not use it as a personal Citizen's Advice Bureau. The question in the OP was already answered when I posted for the first time. The problem led logically to situations about working on the black, and being shopped is not a pleasant experience. An aquaintance of mine could tell you all about it. He is currently in GB and not able to come back to France.

I have been in France for 11 years , 8 of which were home renovation. There isn't much that happens in home renovation that I haven't experienced and I had no list of English speakers to fall back on. I also have lived in very rural settings, run a small farm, mixed with French shepherds and farmers on an equal footing, spent hours with all kinds of French people, and have been involved in dogs for longer. I have also experienced town life, problems with bills, insurance, legal matters, have encountered a range of French and British people and have travelled all over France. Not to mention doing qualifications in French and reading extensively about French history and modern culture, newspapers and watch and listen to French media. In French.

I have not however met the kind of name calling and defensive rudeness that I have done this afternoon by a Brit. But I am afraid I am not surprised. It is one reason I left the country.

So instead of spending time sharing experience, advice (repetitively) and encouragement, and then being dissed by the OP and childishly ridiculed by his accomplice, I shall leave you all to it. I really don't need this from those who should be able to sort out such basic information for themselves IN FRENCH. I have far more important things to do.

There ought to be a bloody language exam for ALL immigrants to France. Makes life far easier for all concerned.

Spelling OK for you TP? Good.

Etoile.

I speak French, German, Spanish, Italian, English, Gaelic and a bit of Urdu.

Du kannst mi' mal.

Sorry mods but this is just silly.

That, my friend, was all down to your attitude ... nothing more!
You've been asked before, and wont be asked again.

People can post on what topic they want here ... it's not your place to decide on what is and what isnt acceptable.

End of story .... OK? ... Thank you

Blimey!

The reason I came to France - and most others I assumed, is to live a stress-free life.

I take it you're referring to me as the 'accomplice'?

The way I see it is...

This forum has been set-up to help people and share ideas, discuss experiences etc.. Undoubtedly then, the same or similar questions will crop up repeatedly and whilst this happens, members can not and should not be chastised for not finding the information elsewhere by trawling through the thousands of previous posts on the forum. The OP is clearly in a mess. His builder appears to have left him in the lurch (for whatever reason) whilst owing him a rather large amount of money. I would have thought that people like yourself - with your experience - would only be too willing to help. I'm sure we're all very sorry that you do so detest having to repeat yourself so maybe the best course of action is for you not to?

In my opinion, you are completely over reacting and have jumped on your high horse - and now it seems, you've flounced off into the sunset to do all these better things that you have to do.

Well, good luck with that!

No it wasn't a reference to you.

Help is fine. AFAIK I was offering advice around the subject which had already been answered. Do I have to write specifically to the OP and am not allowed to open up the subject? Working on the black is a serious affair here. You never know who is watching and there have been times when French neighbours have shopped such behaviour.

Being called self-righteous for my efforts is not my idea of someone knowing how to behave. It is crass and unnecessary. I don't stand for uppity namecalling. Where I come from if someone doesn't like the answer he either ignores it or dismisses it, not call someone names as a supposed adult.

Hmmm... Let's leave it at that shall we?

Like you calling someone a prat then ........

Lets leave it alone. We established that "black" isnt involved, so lets give meaningful positive advice on the subject now

Ignoring all the righteous preening, following on from le plumbers point way above, you can start the electrical certification yourself at www.consuel.com which is independent of EDF and then they will check and sign off on your installation. Once you have been signed off you are completely covered with insurance etc.

Now as I understand it, if it's a completely new installation EDF will not connect to your breaker board feed line without the attestation from the Consuel. If however it is a re-wiring you are not obligated to get a consuel but any electrical problems then become the responsibility of the electrician/home owner. Hope it helps.

Cuthbert

Thank you. I have filed that one away. The written stuff looks straightforward enough. As for the technical stuff that doubtless follows, well there is always BE!
As it happens, we are already connected. The previous owner (French) had put in a new supply and most of the wiring, which I imagine must have been signed off by EdF as they simply transferred the account into my name. We are planning on putting some new stuff into two as yet unused rooms. So what I wanted was clarity as to where I stand with those minimal alterations that have been made, plus those larger ones that WILL be made, when I talk to the chaps who are coming round to quote.

There is a Le Grand booklet which you can get in places like Castorama which explains exactly what can be on a circuit what trip switch is needed amperage wise etc for different types of installation to meet the French Code of Practice for electrics.

Hope this helps.

What a cracking booklet. A bit over my head at times, (a hammer is my preferred tool for most tasks) but I will puzzle away at it. Thank you.

Worth suggesting posting in FAQs perhaps?

Try this, hope it helps. There's usually an unsubscribe from the thread link towards the bottom of the e-mail.

There seems to be no way to get out of this place entirely. I can only unsub from threads. If this is so, it is illegal.

And thanks guys for all your insults. You make being British an embarrassment.

Ask politely? After being insulted by you all from the first post I made in this thread and which seems to be supported by the mods?

YOU HAVE TO BE JOKING!

Contact Sue "Admin" She will be happy to facilitate this for you.

Pardon? The FaQ Section of the site gives all the relevant info.

The ambiguity in your first post second line came across in a mildly insulting fashion.

Not every one that employs British Nationals working in France picks ones working on the black there are plenty of folk here that are Qualified and all Legal like.


Your doing a better job than anyone else here.

As I said your first post came across as mildly rude. And you are continuing to derail the thread even after having posts deleted by Mitzy.

Pot Kettle Black















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