Advice for new owners from Australia coming to Europe to collect a boat

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

This is the situation we find ourselves in. We're still trying to get a copy of the original bill of sale to show VAT paid.

Why , where is the boat registered. Do you wish to leave it there for more then 18 months, if so consider getting into taken into bond.


dave

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

If you fly , there might be an issue, if you depart by yacht , very unlikely to be anything said.

The worst really is a denied retry stamp and/or fine. Greece seems to have been active at that in regards Backpacker. Most ABC groups, just get a finger wagging.

Dave

The fine is quite heavy I believe (2,000 Euros plus) and have heard of a few people having problems at airports. In Greece (Kos port) an American next to me was refused entry from Turkey as had exceeded the 90 days but wasn't fined, just told to sail back to Turkey. Having a passport full of stamps definitely helps - a few times they have started to look at my passport and seemingly decided it was too hard. Also met a few people who never check in anywhere in the EU countries but that is a higher risk and you can't use marinas.

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by The Miss

I have to be honest I will need to get my map out later and look at these places to confirm where they all are. Plus I need to check the VAT conditions off course but for the main we think this is an issue we will deal with once we arrive.

The destinations mentioned are what you call "stuff of dreams" coming from Tasmania. Tassie is almost as far away as you can get from Europe, I sometimes have to pinch myself to think this world will soon be our new home.

Not a fan of most take out food but good kebab and pizza is wonderful I think I will aim to try pizza in every country and do a review. Is this possible without becoming too fat?

Cheers the Miss

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TwT

[The Miss]

Thanks TwT
Sounds like we are only a few steps behind you and June 4th will race here.
We start on the 16th to leave Australia for 5 weeks then full time January 2015.
Are you planning to stay in Med over the winter? As we will start in the winter we think a heater will be a sure thing but as yet are unsure as to what is best.

(I love winter in Tasmania not quite as much as summer but the different seasons offer different things so looking forward to the experience.)

I've started a note book to write down these pearls like Chefchaouen otherwise I will forget!

Cheers the Miss
Homepage | Miss Catana

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Toys_with_time

The fine is quite heavy I believe (2,000 Euros plus) and have heard of a few people having problems at airports. In Greece (Kos port) an American next to me was refused entry from Turkey as had exceeded the 90 days but wasn't fined, just told to sail back to Turkey. Having a passport full of stamps definitely helps - a few times they have started to look at my passport and seemingly decided it was too hard. Also met a few people who never check in anywhere in the EU countries but that is a higher risk and you can't use marinas.

Yes , the trouble is usually at airports, maritime immigration really is not fussed about yachts overstaying.

The fines are few and far between, so wouldn't like to give any impression its a regular occurrence


Like you said having a big passports full of stamps helps, these days with the med not stamping passports , I get only a few.

dave

[simonpickard]

Hello again,

I was wondering what people from Oz are doing in terms of Health insurance?
We have Medibank insurance which I'm guessing won't cover us in the Med. Do we just cancel? As we won't be earning any money this shouldn't effect our Medicare levi should it?

Anyone been through this?

Regards,
Simon

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Hello again,

I was wondering what people from Oz are doing in terms of Health insurance?
We have Medibank insurance which I'm guessing won't cover us in the Med. Do we just cancel? As we won't be earning any money this shouldn't effect our Medicare levi should it?

Anyone been through this?

Regards,
Simon

Depending on different countries, there are different requirements, Some will bill you for emergency treatment , others will not.

I would suggest talking to your current health insurer and get an extension to cover the Med. shouldn't be expensive.

Dave

[Toys_with_time]

Originally Posted by The Miss

Thanks TwT
Sounds like we are only a few steps behind you and June 4th will race here.
Are you planning to stay in Med over the winter? As we will start in the winter we think a heater will be a sure thing but as yet are unsure as to what is best.


Cheers the Miss
Homepage | Miss Catana

No plans to winter in the Med although current high temperatures in Australia (including Tasmania) might make me rethink that. We just bought 2 electric blow heaters for start and end of season - find that with the boat shut up and cabin doors shut it warms up easily.
BTW I found (as many others have) that getting the boat prepared in France is a slowwwwww process. We picked her up from factory in La Rochelle in March and left beginning of June. As the weather warmed up all of the contractors were increasingly busy and even though there are about 10 chandlers they never seemed to carry any decent stock. if interested can give you copy of my spreadsheet of all that we bought to complete the fit out and some tips on La Rochelle.

TwT

[simonpickard]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Depending on different countries, there are different requirements, Some will bill you for emergency treatment , others will not.

I would suggest talking to your current health insurer and get an extension to cover the Med. shouldn't be expensive.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Sorry I should have mentioned I have dual passports (Uk as well) so I should be covered by the E111 insurance.

E111 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

So I was hoping I can just cancle my Oz insurance and save quite a bit of cash.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Hi Dave,

Sorry I should have mentioned I have dual passports (Uk as well) so I should be covered by the E111 insurance.

E111 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

So I was hoping I can just cancle my Oz insurance and save quite a bit of cash.

You are not entitled to the EIHC ( thats replaced the E111) if you do not reside in the UK.

Furthermore the EIHC only covers you for that which the other countries normal national health system covers, typically this may only be emergency cover. for example in France you are only covered unto 70% of the costs, and does not include GPs fees.

In general the EIHC is great , but often you might need topup insurance.

Anyway short of lying unless you are ordinary resident in the UK , you are not entitled purely by having a UK passport

dave

[simonpickard]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

You are not entitled to the EIHC ( thats replaced the E111) if you do not reside in the UK.

Arhh... just looked that up and you are correct, I always thought it was if you were a Citizen, thanks for letting me know. Looks like I'll be sticking wih my Oz insurance, and getting it extended to cover the Med, afterall!

Thanks,
Simon

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Arhh... just looked that up and you are correct, I always thought it was if you were a Citizen, thanks for letting me know. Looks like I'll be sticking wih my Oz insurance, and getting it extended to cover the Med, afterall!

Thanks,
Simon

sorry bout that, kinda involves you needing to be paying Ma'am some taxes!!!

dave

[simonpickard]

Haha, oh trust me I've paid her plenty of those in the past, but I guess those 15 years of paying taxes don't count if you've been out of the country for more than six months in a tax year.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

Haha, oh trust me I've paid her plenty of those in the past, but I guess those 15 years of paying taxes don't count if you've been out of the country for more than six months in a tax year.

the first rule of the taxman. What you paid me in the past is quickly forgotten. unless of course you didn't pay me enough

dave

[Barra]

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

This is the situation we find ourselves in. We're still trying to get a copy of the original bill of sale to show VAT paid.

If your at all worried about the boats VAT status and proving it I would consider avoiding France with your boat right now. Last summer they were having a crack down on VAT for boats and customs boats were very active. Lots of in harbour inspections and boardings at sea.

We saw one incidence first hand where they waited for a lagoon 60 to leave harbour on a tip off, impounded it and gave the new owner a 230,000 euro tax bill. ( he was english and had bought it off a german, near new. VAT had not been paid by original owner)