Any UK people moved to France recently - was it an easy transition?

Question

what are facilties like i.e. medical etc. Thanks

Answer 1

Yes - moved into our French house on 12/7/07.

Medical facilities are excellent cost of paying our doctor privately and getting a prescription filled at checmist is less than €25.

Seeing dentist for a filling - 1/2 hour long treatment cost €22.

If you are over retirement age or working in France and paying their equivalent to NI, these costs (less €1) are refunded.

If you have private medical insurance (which is what we have) then treatments below you individual excess you pay yourself.

Trsnaport facilities (in towns and some rural areas) are excellent, but like UK if you are in a remote area there well be no public transport, but a bakers van, butchers van and a 'general store' van will almost certainly visit your village at least 2 times per week (each)

Don't know what else you wish to know, but we regret not having the made the moce several years ago - it is great!

Answer 2

Good for the English who are rich. If you are a poor foreigner and expect to find a job here in France, you can think again. There is no job for million of  French who speak fluent French, let alone a foreigner who probably speaks no or broken French. The guy above is probably rich enough to pay 21€ for a visit of the doctor coz even if you never work in France, the fact that you are European and had worked in Britain  entitles you to apply for a vital card ( social security card ) which covers 70% of your medical expenses.(But the process of applying and waiting are a long hasale.)

If you know the social structure and system well enough, you can get help from different departments, such as La caf, la maison de soliditaire, Conseil General, la maison de commerce etc. The problem is, you have to make yourself understood by speaking fluent French.( I once heard 2 English at La maison de soliditaire asking for help of accomodation, nobody understood what they 're talking about and finally they left.)

Things are not convenient like in UK. For example, you must have a French debit or credit card, otherwise after 7 o'clock in the evening when all petrol station closed , you can't fill up your car with a foreign bankcard from the automatic filling station.(unless you go to the motorway service ) Shops and government offices are all closed between 12 to 2 o'clock for lunch. Les Alpes area has a tradition that everything closed on Monday. Unless in city like Paris, all shops are closed on Sunday.

One more thing, the French love paper work, whatever you ask for help , they send you loads and loads of documents including attestation (declaration)and other correspondences. Don't throw them away, they may ask you a particular thing they sent you few years later, if you can't provide it you will lose your right.