Census form

[Hotrodder]

The last time there was a census we were staying in winter quarters in the Charente. Came back home to find the letter in the box. It was several weeks overdue so I went to the mairie, bricking it thinking I was in deep poo but no. They filled it in for me there and then with a smile. Haven't a clue what they wrote down but it must have been OK. This time if I can do it online at least with online translation I will know what I am putting on the form.

[rsm]

Ours came with a contact number, that you could ring the census form collector on, who would help you fill it in, then take the form away with them.

[Oldblueraincoat]

Ours came with a contact number, that you could ring the census form collector on, who would help you fill it in, then take the form away with them.

Usual lack of common practice - each department, village, town will do it their way with no national policy for collecting this important data

[Loup-garou]

How easy it is to moan about things French! How can the fact that a village or town does things differently to your own impact on you? Just do as you are asked.

Our notification arrived in our box sometime Thursday morning whilst we were at someone's birthday lunch. There was no alternative information in English but it was hardly mind challenging. It was done and dusted on line by 4 pm. The only problem was that you had to identify your french qualifications and there was no opt out. This meant looking up french/english equivalents, if I got it wrong, I doubt I'll be fined or imprisoned for impersonating someone intelligent.

[Oldblueraincoat]

@Loup-garou - How easy it is to make assumptions about others. My comment about French bureaucratic differences from town to town, department to department is an accurate statement not an easy way of criticising or moaning about things french. Madame OBR is a fierce critic of many things in France and thought your 'just do as you are asked' statement hilarious

[MAD87]

How easy it is to moan about things French!

France is where many of us pay our taxes and wrestle with the inconsistencies of l'administration! That doesn't mean that we moaners hate France or the French.

[Char]

'tis the time of year for moaning though isn't it, I put it down to lack of vitamin D.

[Pathca]

I never understand why they do dry January,in a month when things are miserable enough.Dry April or March would be better when you can see signs of spring and can do outdoor things Add Veganuary as well and you could be completely miserable

[Veem]

Our letter arrived on Thursday. I scanned it quickly and gathered we needed to wait for an official to come to give us the access codes for the online questionnaire. Wrong. Will I ever be able to read anything bureaucratic or official without finding the first good reason to put it to one side to delay further action ...........

So, (sorry LIF but in this case, I can justify beginning with 'So') I am really pleased that Hotrodder began this thread because it prompted me to look more closely at the letter, where I found the said access codes, as clear as day. And the form has now been completed and sent in. Tick. Thank you @Hotrodder.

[Hotrodder]

You're most welcome. I didn't see that the required info was included in the letter either. I assumed it was a generic printed letter with the numbers filled in as "an example". I much rather do stuff like this online where it is easy to copy and paste into a translator. Contact numbers are only useful for those who can speak enough French on the telephone. And waiting for someone to turn up to help with the paper form will still not solve the problems unless that person happens to speak English. No reason why they should as this is France but I just mention it to maybe remind "some" out there that not all of us speak fluent French.