Gironde Gal

I'm sorry in advance to hijack this thread! I was micro bic until December for my gites. I had to visit the RSI lady at the local permenance as I had received loads of mail from them that I wasn't expecting. She persuaded me to change over to AE from January, and we sent the forms off. Of course at the end of Jan I had the avis for the first quarter micro bic cotisations. I sent this back to RSI to state I was AE. Then I had the demand, by which time I had received a letter from another department confirming I was AE, so I returned them both asking to cancel the micro bic demands. Now I have had 2 'overdue' demands, the latest is giving me 8 days to pay. I assumed that once I swapped to AE that would be the only cotisations this year, not to pay the micro bic ones too! Can anyone confirm this? Please don't ask me to phone them as I guarantee not to get a definitive reply.   Karen

After several years of heating with expensive electric wall heaters, we decided to purchase an Airton pompe à chaleur 'dc inverter' from Bricodepot, with a 2 year guarantee. We put a 6 inch hole through our foot thick kitchen wall and put up both units, and in November the Airton appointed frigoriste came and fixed it all together and we were up and running. 2 months later, it had broken down. The exterior unit appeared to run normally, and the interior one also appeared ok for aircon, but when set to heat mode sat inert as if the required temperature had been reached in the room. After 3 weeks of fruitless calling a premium SAV line, and 4 ignored emails I finally spoke to Aircon after the installer had intervened on my behalf. I confirmed that I had run the test of 20 minutes cold and 20 minutes hot. "Were the valves cold?" "Yes". "Then you have a gas leak. We will send you a form, you have to dismount the units and take them back to Bricodepot, they will return them to us for repair and then return them to you." Just like that. "So I have to live with a huge hole in my wall until you decide to repair my pump, do I not have any choice, can't you send someone round to look at it?" "If you want it to work again you have to send it to our workshop for repair". Aaaarrgghh! I don't truly understand how these things work, but it is only 2 months old. Is it worth getting a frigoriste out at my own expense for a second opinion? How come I am authorised to dismantle the thing when I was forbidden to install it in the first place? Could I get a full refund from Bricodepot, I would still be 300€ down for the installation though. If I did send it for repair and it was returned (by which time it would be spring and not really required) who would pay the frigoriste to reinstall it? DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS AT ALL or was I just a big mug to part with my money in the first place? I doubt that a registered letter would really be a magic wand in this case. If anyone can advise me I would be so grateful, it has all turned into an expensive farce. Last resort is to take the blasted thing down and back to the shop. Meanwhile we are back to using the expensive wall heaters... Karen      

Aren't Mums great? Bit late for the 4x value but I might have another try at changing the registered address, thanks. Karen

I had a run in with tesco clubcard a couple of years ago on the phone. They insisted that as I have a French address I can only redeem my points in store ie. for face value and not for rewards at x4 value. They suggested that I get my statement sent to my Mum's in the UK but as it is linked to my credit card she would get those bills too! Can anyone advise a way round this please? I don'twant to get my poor um involved, she already has to put up with my magazines coming through her door every month.

Ok, thanks I will. I just thought I was being techno phobic and it was something everyone knew except me....if you see my thread on the money saving section I am trying to use up my large credit before I swap, I don't want to lose it accidentaly.

Apparently I have to call Orange so they can give me a code to release the number to the new operator...what I want to know is if Orange will cancel my PAYG account as soon as they give me the code?

I am going to change my mobile sim and want to keep the number. I know I have to call the old operator and get an ROI to give to the new people, but at what point will they cut me off? Is it straight away? Or do I get a continuation of service? I can't see anything in the small print, maybe it's just that my French isn't good enough...   Karen

And where can I use up my 115€ credit before I change sims? I have to top up by Wednesday or lose it anyway [:@]  

With the Leclerc there is a standing charge of 1.50€ per month which gives you calls on a sliding scale starting at 0.40€. Or a charge of 3.50€ per month with calls at 0.16€. No charge with Zero Forfait. Swings and roundabouts maybe?   Are there any other "light use" sims lurking out there?   Karen

I too have a problem with phone credit. I have been on Mobicarte PAYG for a couple of years, try as I might I cannot get rid of the credit but have to recharge it to keep the service. I have had over 100€ on it minimum for the last 9 months. I have decided that I will cut my losses and go for a "low use" tariff. I was on the verge of getting a Leclerc sim as I thought this was the only one on the market until I saw the 'zeroforfait' link, which looks even better. Are there any drawbacks, does anyone know - it looks too good to be true?   Karen