Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Thanks for that (and I managed to open it this time!)

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Becky, I'm just about to send you a private message with my friend's details. She would love to meet you.

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Becky did you get the message?

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

That's a very useful link Shirtback. amazingly some of the info is also available in English. See Le portail du service public de la Sécurité sociale / Information.

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

I spent seven or eight years in Halifax then escaped to Wales. Hendaye is much like West Wales except with palm trees and bigger mountains!

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Dmu thats not quite true. You just need a letter from the owner saying you are living there. This needs to be accompanied with a copy of her ID (colour and recto-verso) and a recent utility bill - (not a a mobile phone bill). That worked for me for opening a bank and mobile phone account. This is the fourth time I've moved country and every time it's a headache. Free movement of EU citizens my arse !

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Or visit their website and get him to help you find the associations / groups you might like to join. I found several on my Marie's website and managed to join a couple within a few weeks.

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Becky if you have a postal address (family?) you can use in the UK just transfer your DVL and insurance policy there. The DVL is important in case you get speeding/parking tickets! The key thing is to ensure the MOT stays valid. Without that no insurance! You should have already adjusted your headlights. In my opinion unless you're very attached your car its probably too much hassle to re-register it here. I did it between NL/B and it was a nightmare. And that was without the problem a right hand drive. If I were in your shoes I would wait till the next MOT take it back to UK and sell it (or scrap it afterwards). Then buy a French car. Much easier. If you do need to re-register I can help you through the process (in principle) having done it in Belgium three years ago. And good luck with everything!

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

It won't be easy to acquire a utility bill in the OP's name, as she's living at her bf's and he himself must occasionally need to justify his own domicile for various reasons. It's surprising how often this is necessary. They might become joint-subscribers for the EdF and France Télécom (Orange) landline (if they have one), but the Contracts would have to be amended.
I think the OP is in the UK at the moment, as she hasn't posted for over a week....

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Sorry DMU i wasn't clear. The ID of, and bill addressed to, the person who owns/ has legal tenure on the flat.

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

No the utility bill is going to be in the name of the owner / tenant, it needs to tie up with his ID.
I had all this rigmarole when I first bought my house here but I wanted to keep it as a résidence secondaire to start off with, but I didn't have my own place in the UK (campervans don't count apparently). So I got an attestation d'hébergement from somebody in the UK to say that I was staying with him, together with utility bills in his name. Plus there was the added complication that he doesn't have a passport since he never goes abroad, so he provided a copy of his driving licence instead; try explaining to a French bank that in the UK a person is not actually obliged to possess a passport or an identity card... in the end I think they were just so confused, especially with it being a Welsh address full of double-L's and double-d's and y's, that they lost the will to argue any more.

Edit - sorry TH, posts crossed.

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

exactly!
I miss my welsh language driving licence. it used to drive officials in the UK and abroad potty :-)

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Hi Becky,

I would like to send you a private message but, as this is my first post, I am restricted! I came to France at the end of 2014 (after 4 years of flying between the UK and France every other weekend). I completely understand what you are going through. I have literally pulled my hair out at every turn over here - the administration, way of life and obstacles that get thrown our way just add to the challenge of feeling a million miles away from home. My boyfriend is also French, hence why I am here and although my understanding of French is now pretty good, I'm certainly not fluent. I am also very shy which doesn't help, I know!

Please feel free to private message me if you want to chat. I am quite well rehearsed with the ways of life over here now and would be happy to help, if I can. Until then, I will post some more so I can send a private message! :) Kelly

Re: Lost in Perpignan
 

Sorry I've been MIA! I've been in England for a week with my family having some much needed "me" time! Flying back tomorrow morning feeling very bittersweet! Although feeling much more positive about things!

Thank you all for your messages and your suggestions! I've managed to get 4 months insurance in France then after I have to convert my car to French plates and Carte grise? So I'm going ahead with that while deciding what to do with my car, I'm thinking to sell would be easier however I know for a fact I wouldn't get even nearly as good as a car as I have now! So feeling a bit in limbo but we will see what time brings.

As for the medical I need to look into that more. It seems such a nightmare trying to get the right solution but I'm noticing France isn't exactly a straight forward place!

For now I'm going to try harder with learning the language and see what the next few months bring! Hopefully a little job to get the bf off my back haha

Thanks again guys!