Hi there everyone,I am currently toying with the idea of moving to France.I’m sick of the this Blair government and all they stand for.
I’ve got a class 1,and contacted Nobbys about jobs in France.They said they can put me on the waiting list and notify me when something comes up! I wasn’t sure whether this meant the ‘brush off’.Are there any other reputable firms in France who employ Brits,and would not require you to have the dreaded F.I.M.O certificate?
Maybe Craig or Froggy can give me the answer here.If thats possible chaps,thank you very much.
La Langue n’est pas de probleme.Je parle assez le francais,je crois pour faire la travaille.J’espere que J’ai raison.Correct me if I’m wrong.
Ca va,first thing how long have you been driving,if before ,95 you dont need a fimo,but even then you will need a fcos,it,s crazyI,ve been driving over 20years but still needed a fcos.The other day I was talking to a father and son who are drivers the young lad drivers a bull nosed mack,he when to college to learn to drive a truck!as for work there is some about,but the unemployment rate over here is over 11%.Where are you looking to move too.
Fed up with Blair’s government? I think you’ll find that the majority of French are no more content with the men at the head of this country, thanks to Raffarin and Chirac’s belief that the British model is one to aspire to
Anyway, politics aside la vie est assez belle ici. The driver shortage (that beloved topic) is also quite prominent here, meaning that if a company wants you badly enough they’ll usually assist in getting the FIMO/FCOS sorted. If you’re crafty enough and speak sufficient French I understand that the ANPE can also help with funding the relevant courses.
Your ability with the language will also prove an advantage as the French give you a lot more respect if you can speak with them in their own tongue. You’ll obviously make lots of mistakes (I do every time I open my mouth) but don’t be put off, the only time you need near-perfect French is when dealing with the administration (which unfortunately is quite a bit at first).
Hope that’s of help, send a PM if you want more specific info.
Thanks for the replies Froggy and Craig.I appreciate your help.I am thinking of going sometime in the next 12 months.I do have coach driving experience abroad,but not any with a truck,and alas I have only had a class 1 since September 2003.Another thing,do licence endorsements count against you on the continent,and is there a similiar policy to the U.K with respect to experience?
I am not fussed about which part of France I would live.I like the north of the country as much as any other part,although the south is lovely of course and a lot warmer!
Can’t add anything to what Froggy and Craig have already told you except to disagree with Craig re. ‘near perfect French’ dealing with initial admin. I didn’t find my less than perfect French a drawback apart from for my own self esteem. You feel a bit like Manuel at times Que? Que? (but Quoi? Quoi?) but as Craig says they appreciate the effort. You won’t get away without a FIMO. That’s obligatoire.
Hi Glen,
I also live in Franve, area 36, I dont have a FIMO, so to over come this I work for a Dutch company, and base my truck at home, and am contracted to a french company doing French, German, and UK work. Just to let you know that there always ways around most things.
hi glen
i live down in 43 the haute-loire and there are plenty of big companys down here looking for drivers ie tnt yes the ones with big orange units!!
and plenty of others.
i am in the same boat no fimo but i only want to work through the winter as me and my family own a hotel, bar and resterant, so i dont want to get caught up in expensive contracts
if you want a good mix of weather come down for a look around here, the property prices are still very low and our tax de habitation cost us the same for a year as what it did for 3 months in the uk and we have got 13 bedrooms instead of just 4
check out our web site for more info www.auvergne-hotel.com or drop me a pm for help or info
chris
Hiya caveman I,ve a fcos and do,nt need a fimo(wish there was a raspberry)and down here in 66 the sun is shinning and I,m getting a tan do,nt like eating carrots and ate crunching them,then again each to their own,sorry could,nt resist that,perfere the sun and the beach to the hills.
me too froggy me too, but it was hotter up here last summer than down south and we have are own imported beaches next to crystal clear lakes in the top of volcanos, the purest water in france from the tap and maybe the frendlyest people in france too
chris
probly nicer the poor mans version anyway froggy, the real ones not all its cracked up to be to much atitude and too damed expensive
dosent help my ex came from down there but the town she lives in is the armpit of the south
not that im bitter thou…
chris
Hi guys,myself ,and my girlfriend and her daughter would like more information on moving to France.(somewhere in the north).Where can I get good information from concerning every aspect.Like signing up to a french bank,getting a mortgage,or would I be better using an English bank,and sorting out the beaurocracy,and getting young Paige into a school.
Would I have any trouble finding work,if I paid to do my F.I.M.O myself,and how do you go about it.? Do you have to be employed first?I just wondered if their was an agency over here,that specialise in moving people to France.I aplogogise for my lack of knowledge.Many thanks.I was thinking of coming out to France in August or September to look round.Would it be possible to meet any of you to get an idea of what to expect? I’d appreciate that.Also,as long as you are trying,is the language problem a real barrier.I’m not fluent in French,but pick things up quickly,and can converse.Cheers again to all the drivers in France who have given me advice.All the best,
Glenn,
Glad to see you’re still keen to try the French life. I’ll try to tackle some of your questions in order. Firstly, concerning the banks, one or two of them now have affiliations with British banks. HSBC is known as CCF over here and advertises their ex-pat mortgages. Worth popping into yr local branch to see what they can offer. I recall David (Bonditram) telling me about another UK-Fr alliance but I don’t remember which ones they were - no doubt he’ll fill in the blanks.
We’ve got some friends down in Marseille (from where I’m writing this mail - on a quick visit) who moved their young family down 18 months ago and they’ve had very few problems with getting the kids into school. In reality the young kids normally cope better than adults with the culture change as they adapt more swiftly, and pick up the language more naturally. As several of us have said before the French appreciate Brits making the effort with the language, even if you do make mistakes (and with French grammer you certainly will!). As far as working with the language if you work for a firm that regularly runs to the UK they’ll inevitably have someone in the office that speaks english. The ones that come to mind include ND, Transports Giraud, Transalliance, Deroo, JC Fiolet, TSA and Jean-Luc Landais. All of these have a presence in the northern part of the country.
You will probably end up paying for at least part of the FIMO yourself, but as I mentioned in an earlier posting the ANPE may be able to help you out, or if a firm is keen enough you may get the course paid for. I noticed last week in Normandy that at least a couple of the agencies will pay for your FIMO on the condition that you stay with them for some predetermined period, so that’s one way around the cost. Once you’re in the French system the additional benefits exceed those on offer in the UK, subsidised prescriptions, almost instantaneous doctor and dentist’s appointment … you’ll quickly understand why so many people are moving here. It’s not all clover though, and each area has its own problems, from racism to unemployment to dangerous drivers. House prices are soaring in certain areas too, with the south east the worst affected.
Send me a PM if you want to meet up when you visit France - we’re only 35 mins from Calais.
Craig 111:
I recall David (Bonditram) telling me about another UK-Fr alliance but I don’t remember which ones they were - no doubt he’ll fill in the blanks.
Craig & Glenn,
The only thing I remember in this context is that some years ago Credit Agricole had a London branch which supplied French mortgages to Brits.
Also Credit Agricole Calvados based in Normandy appear to have an English Language service although when I contacted them for an English internet account they replied that this wasn’t available except in French. As I had enough trouble setting up the same service in English with Yorks Bank I declined!
Even if it still operates (CA London) I can’t vouch for it as when I bought a dozen or so years ago believe it or not I used my flexible friend - Access!! Well, I withdrew the cash here in Francs with the card and paid it back with a bank loan (Yorks) later. But there aren’t many places as cheap as that nowadays.
brummie:
Can I ask a dumb question ? What’s FIMO/FCOS ?
Brummie,
No doubt Craig will tell you the exact meaning in French connected to the initials but briefly both are periodic tests in France for PL ((poids lourds)(HGV)) drivers. FIMO is for the less experienced drivers and is quite expensive. FCOS is for the longer servers and is a 3 day course every 5 years. It is in French but if you are that experienced it should be no problem. Can’t speak for the cost, my boss paid the fee.
hiya all like alot of folk im thinking of moving to france but it would be northern france as the wife doesnt want to be to far away from family in england but also i used to do collections around nothern france on route to paris and really liked the look of the countryside so maybe craigs the best man to ask ive been driving artics 8 years so what would i need over there fimo fcos whatever they are or would it be possible to work for a french firm but run by there english office i know transalliance have depot near me and also what are house prices like.cheers jonah
