Beware
Work needs to be done to the house, Scary stuff.
Sunday 27th January
We went to the house Yesterday, to meet the builder, his wife and the man who was going to install doors and windows for about €10k . That is two double fronted sets of doors and five double sided windows on two more levels. This includes shutters. See photo.
Having done some homework, Micky questioned the builder’s wife once again about insurance, tax and so on. Reiterating the fact that we could be prosecuted if the paperwork is not in place, and indeed be responsible for any personal injuries. Once again, we were assured that the builder would look after us and accompany us to all stores where materials were being purchased so that we had receipts, but such would not be available from him. We conceded these issues, but Micky was obviously concerned.
As we were leaving the house, we passed the box in which various electricity supply boxes have been placed. It transpired that the system has not been earthed. Clearly a problem when having a shower, I am curly enough. Over to the vendor for fixing.
This morning Micky received a text from the builder’s wife. The statement was that ‘we should go elsewhere’. Obviously, he had taken umbrage at his wife being grilled, even though we had ok’d the work. Now Micky took umbrage and rooted around some ex-pat sites and found this article:
Any client using unregistered labour can be prosecuted, this is France's policy to stop unregistered labour - they put the obligation on the client to ensure that any artisan they use is correctly registered, and in the case of black [cash] labour they fine the client not the worker because the client is more likely to have the money to pay.
We have accepted the warning and requested the original English builder to complete his quote. This fiasco is causing us timing issues, because having chased the Notaire to pull his finger out on Monday, he came back on Wednesday saying that we would be signing documents this coming week, the inference being an early completion, February, not March, if not next week. Remember the above saying: “Be Careful Of What You Wish For Because You May Get It?”
Wednesday was more successful than I dared to think. I had booked rail tickets to Perigeaux, to visit the tax office that would issue a QUITUS FISCAL, so that we could register the van in France and satisfy our insurers. This office location was established after visiting the local tax office half an hour up the road, where what I required was supposed to be dealt with. I sent an email to Perigeaux stating that I would attend. A 150km round trip.
As we were leaving the house at 7.30am there was an email telling us that we should go to another location, Riberac, half the distance, but no railway station. Optimistically, we stuck with plan A. We were lucky, because the government officers in Perigeaux bent over backwards to help. I was in and out in 10 minutes with what I needed, 4 hours earlier than I expected regardless of offices. Then there was the farting around to send 11 documents and copies by recorded mail to another government department. Just before sending, I discovered that each and every page needed signing. 50 pages later job done. Fingers crossed.
A good week really, but still pissed off. The exchange rate went up to ￡1 = €1.155. We exchanged at €1.125. Ouch.
Just spoke to an English builder friend, who had his own renovation company in France until 3 years ago. He has straightened us out. Why we didn’t speak to him at the outset, I don’t know. Thank god we have stopped in our tracks. Desperation is not the catalyst we need.