joidevie

Hi.. I'm sure someone's had this before.. I urgently need to phone GDF to arrange putting in a meter, but 0810 numbers won't accept calls from the UK, nor can I enter a UK nimber for their callback service.. Does anyone have a 'normal' number where I could start out from and get transferred? Many thanks..

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Ah sorry, I read your post as being in the past tense, like when you said ....the barn is used........ There's probably no good way of knowing what you will use.  Is there a scheme that you can pick for the first year that will not lock you in and then re-assess based on actual usage?  Then at worst, you only run the risk of not being on the optimal tariff for one year. [/quote] No problem.. I think I'll just go for a 1 year GDF deal combined with the electricity.. It's only €2 for the 3k electricity and €5 for the gaz - and the unit costs are not too much more.. That way I can adjust later on.. Many thanks

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]Can you just not look at last year's bills?  As well as the cost, it will have the number of units used.[/quote] I have no last year's bills as it's a brand new branchement!

I'm just diciphering the various tariffs for Gaz de Ville usage for a new contract with the 2 main suppliers. GDF offer a low abonnement/slightly higher unit price for usage below 6 000 kWh pa. EDF offer an 'option cuisson/eau chaude' for a similar use pattern, though no 6k ceiling, just not including chauffage. Both offer cheaper unit prices with higher abonnements. My barn is used around 20-35% of the year (currently) and is in Languedoc (heating required say 3-4mths a year). All hot water, heating & cooking run from an efficient combi boiler. There is a good chiminée downstairs too.. Roughly how many kWh could I expect to use pa? 3 Bedrooms (not all heated during winter, maybe one) 2 baths and a large open plan Kitchen/sitting room.. All newly insulated but with high ceilings.. Would it be sensible to save on the abonnement and pay the slightly higer unit price in this situation? Also, EDF specify 'option cuisson/eau chaude' or 'option chauffage'. Is it 'obligatory' to take the option chauffage or is this just a rate structure? Also, I have heard that once I leave EDF, I cannot ever return to them.. Is this something to take into account or will this change in the future? Many thanks.. And I know this may be like asking how long is a piece of string!

And just to add, I am now having the whole incomming EDF cable / meter etc replaced which was quoted at around 350 Euros.. To replace the ancient Bakerlite compteur!

I recently had my barn re-wired by a local (ex fridge service man) aquaintance (160m2) during the construction of the partition walling etc. Fortunately the barn already had one light bulb connected so no CONSUEL required! 3 Bedrooms, large living room / kitchen, 2 bathrooms, laundry room. He took roughly 7 days and charged 160 Euros a day. I supplied all the bits which probably came to another 1000. 4 halogens per bedroom, about 12 for the living room and say another 3 ceiling roses. Bathrooms 4 halogens, hall 4 too. 2 sockets per bedroom. (go for doubles!) No radiators though as I am on Gaz. So, around 2500 Euros total.. However, I think I got a good deal there..

[quote user="ErnieY"][quote user="joidevie"]Apparently I would need to cease the French policy in order to 'transfer' the NCB back to the UK.. Only thing is, I need both vehicles! Also, any claims made in France would I'm sure affect any UK premium ?[/quote]I find this rather surprising. From the tone of your initial post I got the impression that your house in France was more a holiday home which you were proposing letting friends use, + car. From you latest post however, judging by the fact that you have "transferred your bonus to France", (presumably therefore giving up your UK car insurance), it would seem to imply that it may not be and that you are actually resident in France in which case, strictly speaking, you are probably not entitled to insure a car in UK anyway. [/quote] ... You're close.. And maybe my posts have meandered a little, but basically I am resident in the UK but exported my UK car to France and used a letter from my UK insurers to get healthy bonus discounts. I leave the car in France and visit around 30% of the year. My main thrust of the initial question was one of allowing friends to use it while they stay, but trying to 'protect' my policy should any claim arise (ie. not losing my discounts whilst they may (or may not) have an accident, and how this may in turn affect any new policy I may try to commence here in the UK). A French version of protecting the bonus (as in the UK, usually around 10% extra allowing up to 2 claims in 3/5 years etc) would be ideal, but apparently not available. I'm thinking of particular friends who want to use it for 2 months (they are Canadian and have no policy/car of their own in Canada).. I guess I may go to my AXA and see if they can 'add' names in their own right for a short period.. I hope this makes a little more sense & thanks for the suggestions..

I could have sworn I checked ever button! I'm back in the UK for a bit, but all will be revealed in a couple of weeks.. Hmm, egg on faced possibility..

[quote user="Timco"]Yes, it will receive radio stations - have you found the 'TV/Radio' button the remote control - silly question, perhaps.[/quote] I got that far.. The remote doesn't seem to have a 'radio' option, nor do I find the radio stations in the high channel numbers (which you find normally.. ) Hence my query!

Great - got it all working now.. Except I seem unable to receive any radio stations ? Is this model able to do this ? Thanks..

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] Your French insurance policy works on the bonus/malus principal.  Each is a specified coefficient percentage which is then applied to the base premium, effectively reducing or increasing the amount to be paid.  In the event of a claim, the malus percentage increases as does the premium.  Once a further period has passed without a claim, the bonus percentage increases, restoring the original position. Why not ask your insurer what the effect of a single claim would be on your bonus/malus, then get your friends to indemnify you for this? [/quote] Thanks for this - How might this affect any future new insurance policy I may want to take up in the UK? I originally 'transferred' my UK 20+ year NCB to France, and I have now inquired into commencing a new policy in the UK for a new business there.. Apparently I would need to cease the French policy in order to 'transfer' the NCB back to the UK.. Only thing is, I need both vehicles! Also, any claims made in France would I'm sure affect any UK premium ? Many thanks.

Sorry to bounce this one, but I thought someone might have a quick suggestion ? Thanks...

I'm having a Veissmann Vitopend 222 fitted and I've read nothing but superb reviews.. Also, my plumber is very well informed and says yes! Got it for ... Combi, plus has it's own mini ballon.. We got it for 1100 euro on promo..

Hi everyone .. I'm just about to have my combi boiler 'certificated' by GDF (in a couple of weeks). My plumber has told me I then need to phone then to have a meter fitted by GDF.. Question - What's the current situation on gaz de ville prices (Aude) ? Looking at the tariffs I can 'fix' for 1 or 2 years and get a discount on the electricity abonnement.. Is there an imminent risk of a price rise like in the UK (up to 22% !) ? If so, if I now 'booked' a meter installation for my next visit (Feb 20th) would I be able to avert a price hike ? Thanks for any suggestions ....

Thanks for the answers.. Downstairs uneven stone wall, upstairs placo.. The placo ones only rock a little, and may stop when the PER pipes are fillered in (encastré).. No rocking lengthways! Only back and forth.. No 'spacers' supplied in the 'hook kits' - just a pair of 'U''s that slot in to a zinc wall bracket... I guess it might be hard to 'register' 4 mounts all together ?

Hi all.. Per radiator, should we be using 2 or 4 "U" type radiator hangers ? They're the aluminium 'element' type, one is 18 elements, the others 8-10.. I left the plumber 2 per rad and he has gone ahead and 'hung' each one with 2 supports along the top.. However they 'rock' a bit.. Is this normal? The system's not been filled yet, so should I go out and buy more? Thanks very much!

In France and much of Europe, the services come up from the floor, so if you can, have these  installed like this.. IKEA is the same worldwide, and personally I have not found anything than comes close in terms of choice and decent quality/price.. You could try to find a local builder/handyman who could 'assemble' the units once bought. Also, they do a decent range of 'freestanding' units too.. As do Habitat, though not sure about branches in Bordeaux (Toulouse yes..)..

[quote user="cooperlola"]Ask your friends to phone their own insurers and ask them if they can be covered by their own policy whilst driving a foreign registered car which does not belong to them, in another country. That's the only way to be really safe, imo.[/quote] Thanks again for all the suggestions.. I may see if they can get some kind of "cover" for Canada, and also go and have a word with Axa about a first possible claim..

[quote user="opas"] We contacted his insurer)Credit Agricole) who said that as long as I hold a full licence and have permission from the owner then there is no problem......I cannot remember now if I am fully insured or only for the other person(3rd party) [/quote] Thanks for all the responses, but I think that my point has been missed a little. I am quite aware that I can let another driver use my car, but the point is that I am worried about keeping my no claims bonus (I don't think you can "protect" this in France like in the UK) should they have any sort of claim. I was hoping to explore a way to get around this - even if an additional premium was required etc.. Any French insurance experts out there?

I have some friends going to use my French house for a couple of months and they have asked whether I could let them "use" my car for the period (on French plates/insurance).. I don't have a huge problem with it, but am nervous about any possible claims/accidents and the implications with my insurance - I have a 20 year full no claims record which I am very proud of! Am I mad to consider this? Does anyone have any idea of a way around this, possibly via the insurers to temporarily insure them as individuals with their own policy?? Many thanks for any suggestions..

Great, thanks. Probably some grit or something..

For some reason my cold water is not running from my recently fitted bath mixer tap.. All was fine, but after grouting it barely runs. I've removed it and tried blowing through it with cold open - and seems blocked. The hot is fine. I've tried blowing, rinsing but to no avail.. Is it ready for the bin? Many thanks... PS It's not thermostatic, just a plain mixer type.

So how do I now address the "bumpy" edge of the tiles ? They're a bit like shuare uneven biscuits grouted with 'cemijoint rustique' - a grainy, sandy type grout....

[quote user="Gastines"]Another tip is to fill the void behind bath and panel with insulation. [/quote] Very nice idea ! Thanks for all... Bath's in, drilled 2 corners and screwed to wall.. However I may drill the leg that I can still get to to the ground too..

Crikey, clearly I'm not the only one who has found this an issue! I can feel a cartouche or two of sealant against sone old bits of timber to practice coming along... White spirit, spit, washing up liquid, nail varnish remover.... Any more? PS. I like the idea of filling the bath first, makes perfect sense!