Latest News   13th July 2010

IMPORTANT FLOOD ASSURANCE CLAIM GUIDANCE
One of our BA members is Luc de Bardonnéche an Aviva Assurance agent and to help both our members and those of you who visit this website, he has taken the time to compile a guide, in English, to help provide some useful guidelines to follow. To access his advice follow this link       http://aviva-vidauban.fr/advices.aspx
One of the most important things that you must do, if considering a claim, is register that intent before 31st July 2010. That initial claim can be made by visiting your assurance agent or a 'phone call. If your local area has become a Catastrophe Naturelle commune even if your assurance company excludes floods from your policy, you can MAKE a claim with that company. However, be aware that time limits still apply and that you can only claim in respect of the insured property, the house, the contents and the swimming pool if it is included in your current policy. You cannot claim in respect of damage to the garden, driveway or outbuildings.

FULL POSTAGE INCREASE IS NOW AVAILABLE
The French la poste website has now made available a comprehensive list of their recent round of postal charge increases, which came into effect on 1st July. For those of you requiring more details this is the website link which has the full details in English, http://timbres.laposte.fr/tarifs.jgi
Their excellent website is available, covering details of all their products including first day issues etc, at this link in English. http://timbres.laposte.fr/homepage.jgi?siteLanguage=en 

EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARDS
The following website link has been circulated by the British Consulate concerning European health cards and who is responsible for issuing them. This is important so please follow this link http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/EUregulations.aspx
As the link was only circulated at the beginning of July, that is the reason this link shows the new rules coming into force from 1st May 2010, and comments made in May.

FRENCH LIVERET A INTEREST RATE RISE
Millions of French savers, which will include those many British savers who have a Liveret A savings account, will see the interest paid raise from the 1st August. It is acknowledged that currently the interest paid is 1.25% which is below the inflation rate of 1.6%. The rise in August will be to 1.5% but it could rise to 1.75% later in the year. 

SOLDES
Down in the Var, which is part of PACAS region the sales started on July 7th and will continue until August 10th. During these official government controlled sales periods, shops are legally allowed to sell stock at less then its purchase price. Other times of the year they are only allowed to provide promotional price reductions, not loss leader promotions. So perhaps now is the time to hunt out that bargain, or do your Christmas pressie shopping.

HOME PAGE PICTURE
As the month of June in the Var, after the 15th of the month, seemed to be governed by those storms and floods, thought you might like to see that in true British Bulldog spirit our very own BATs amateur dramatics troupe put on two excellent performances of their "Our Favourite Things" one at Plage de Gigaro and the other in the north at the chateau in Sillans la Cascade. For further pictures of the performance at Plage de Cigaro go to this websites Photo Gallery section.