Brits in Turkey - Have Your Voice Heard

[nichola]

A report is being prepared by British officials for the British government on national issues facing British nationals living in Turkey.

This forum topic is an opportunity to inform the content of this report and data is required by early next week, Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Someone (not me, I am just the messenger) will read through your contributions, collate them and ensure that they are raised at a meeting with British Government officials next week. I believe that consultation meetings are taking place across Turkey.

Please feel free to list here the national (as opposed to local) issues that are affecting you personally and if possible a brief explanation of why and how.

Do include issues that others mention if they also affect you so relevant weight is given to a particular issue.

It is not often that we are asked to take part in consultations such as this. Hopefully the result of the consultations will be a report that comprehensively outlines the issues with some concrete examples will be used as a basis for negotiations to try and resolve some if not all of the issues. The recent reduction in resident permit fees does seem to suggest that some measure of success could be accomplished...

Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Nichola

[Mark G]

How about wills, and the difficulties which have apparently been faced by people who have lost a loved one in accessing the will or having the property or whatever else passed to the surviving partner. Is this the type of thing you mean nichola or am I way off track here?

[nichola]

This would be OK Mark as this would apply across to nationals living everywhere in Turkey.

[LeeGlo]

What about foreigners having to have a special i.e. M? number plate on their car, this is discriminatory. Also that only persons whose names appear on the vehicle ownership document are legally allowed to drive said vehicle, even if the "owner" was willing to insure someone else to drive, as in England. I know this is a minor grumble but it is discrimination.

I do agree with Mark - if you make a Will to dispose of YOUR assets the Turkish courts should uphold YOUR wishes. Then if someone wants to dispute the Will they should only have a set period in which to do so.

[col]

The 'Will' situation seems to be a big and important issue for all foreign nationals in Turkey, and I doubt it's not only the English who are concerned. We are not asking the Turkish govt to change their laws on Wills, but (for the most) we have paid and been told our Wills would be recognised, to find out they are not. It's the difference between the wishes of foreign nationals compared to Turkish citizens that should be recognised.

[Firo]

Wills are our main concern and it would be so much easier for all expats here if they were legally binding in Turkish law.
We,and thousands of others, have taken the time and paid the money to have a will drawn up because we were told by Turkish lawyers that it would ensure our wishes would be carried out, only to now find out that this is not the case.
Fair enough if an expat has not bothered to make a will then his assets should come under Turkish inheritance laws.
Thanks

[martinp2502]

quote:Originally posted by LeeGlo

What about foreigners having to have a special i.e. M? number plate on their car, this is discriminatory.

Agreed 100%.

[Scunner]

What is the problem you think that causes? I used to find it a superb way to get waved straight through Jandarma road blocks. And an excellent way for the pork man to find Brits  

[loz]

Thanks Nichola for explaining to me, I am just having a bad day, so other than copy it again  can I just point to the Thread so it does not get lost explaining a little more about Wills and Testaments.

{A Link to an old CBF topic was here - no longer available}45962

Not changes to the Turkish System just the British Emabassy Website or Turkish Website confirming the legalities in laymans terms and making it clear to all Turkish Lawyers, ensuring that money is not taken on false information.

Cars and number plates, it is another law/legality of Turkey, a legality required by all foreign nationals to indicate they are the owners of a automobile in Turkey. live in Turkey accept the requirement or don't buy a car.

[nichola]

Thanks Loz  

It may be worth clarifying that solutions to "issues" may not have anything to do with changing the law but more about ensuring information is easily available and clearly explained thereby avoiding the issues and ensuing problems in the first place.

That said please do continue to raise your issues here.