JJ

Sorry folks, but I have just found out that she is only on a short term contract and leaving at the end of June. So will have to get practising my technical French again.

Baz and Andrew, Many thanks for that guys, I have a feeling that Andrew did tell me before to only use the DPD tablets.  

Some help and guidance please. Which is the best and most reliable testing method for free chlorine. I have tried them all, the dip strips, the liquid drop test, and the DTP tablet, and guess what, they all give different results. So please, which is the most reliable?    

So Joe, are you going to tell us who this company is then?

The product works by means of a small explosive charge which erradicates the mole. Very easy to use,only downside is cost at between 50 to 60 euros, available at Gamm Vert, and is called "Le Detauper" Sorry if I have broken any advertising rules, but I have no financial interest whatsoever.    

I have been trying for 3 years to get rid of the little buggers, and now at last I think I have found a device that actually works. This is not a sales pitch, honest, but if you want details, then PM or e-mail me, and I will supply details. And please, no replies from friends of moles.    

Had exactly the same problem last year, also used Revatop, which seemed to work for about six weeks. But I had the dreaded green dust all summer long. This year, touch wood I have not had the same problems. My pool is a saltwater system, I spoke with Poolguy, and he suggested upping my filtration times to get the chlorinated water circulating at a high enough rate to keep on top of the algae, and to produce enough as my pool was undersized on the pump and sand filter. Ultimately the best system would appear to be an automatic liquid chlorinator system, which are supposed to be very easy to run, when I can afford one I will be getting one. Poolguy does not advocate the use of chemicals like revatop or anti algae. He is very good, and he also lives in the Charente Maritime. Good Luck.

Sorry folks, but I am going to be tad controversial here. Some time ago I put a post asking about tax incentives for installing renewable energy, I got some very helpful advice and info from other forum members. But TU's post will stay with me until I go to my grave. My aviator is a picture of my very nice pool, which is there for my gite business. TU's post was to slag me off for having a luxury pool and asking about tax breaks. Whilst I accept that she may have helped a lot of people out over time, the one time she replied to my post asking for advice was nothing more than vitriolic and offensive.

I look forward to greeting my local Gendarmerie. However, have anyone heard about the meeting that took place on 1st June about alarms, does anyone know what the decision was, are they still in the AFNOR list? Just to cheer everyone up in Dept 17, they are meeting today in La Rochelle to decide whether or not to impose water restrictions, I apologise if this is slightly off the thread, but then not if you cannot top up youre pool and you are one of the lucky ones with an immersion alarm which needs a constant water level. So it is relevant, this was discussed last year, and with no conclusion I am afraid to say.

We live in the Charente Maritime and have loads of vapour trails, all on a north/south axis,having looked at the maps I am convinced they are flying between the UK and Spain, so not exactly exotic.

Having left the UK in 2003, I witnessed flag fever in 2002 for the World Cup. And I have to say I was very pleased to see the St George's Cross flag had been taken back from the far right. But what of France, I have seen not one car flag or any other flag for the world cup? Am I just in an area that does not like football, or do the French only get the flags out when they win?  

Aware that one is not allowed to advertise a business, but I have found a pool shop in Saintes, Charente Maritime with an English assistant, very helpful and useful if your technical/poolspeak French is a bad as mine. It means I will not have to drag my wife in evertytime I visit. If you want details, then please PM or e-mail me.

No, the webiste is not there? Lotman and Rasputin, I agree with all you have said.

Sunday Driver, Many thanks, you have raised lots of good points for us to think about. We will have to go through all the documentation.Bottom line is that I think it would be very hard to prove intent on the deception front, in particular as they are now in liquidation, and will say that they would have sorted any problems if they were still in business.  

Sunday Driver, Many thanks, you have raised lots of good points for us to think about. We will have to go through all the documentation.Bottom line is that I think it would be very hard to prove intent on the deception front, in particular as they are now in liquidation, and will say that they would have sorted any problems if they were still in business.  

Val, Many thanks, we did look at the insurance, but being a tad green, we did not realise that the different trades had to be specified, the company in question was only insured for general building. Hindsight is a valuable tool. As far as contacting them to rectify the problem, well, we have been trying for over a year, they are in liquidation, and it was when we contacted the insurance company we found out about the fraud. Sunday Driver, Yes, it was because of a problem with part of the pool that caused us to find out that the comapny were not covered for building pools. My question is has a criminal fraud taken place? Thayt is what my originalpost asked, what to do next, has anyone else had a similar problem?

Does anyone know what the legal situation is when one has work done by a registered and insured enterprise, only to find out that the said company were not covered to carry out those works? We had a pool built in 2004 by a company who made a great sales pitch about their 10 year guarentee, we now find that they were only insured for general building and not the construction of pools. Any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Piscines de l'estuaire  (Sports Loisirs Concept) Charente Maritime I am fully aware of the Forum's code re naming and shaming, however, I feel that this info is important for all the customers of the above named company who are in liquidation and no longer trading. It appears that when they built our pool in 2004, they were not insured to build swimming pools, so in effect their claim of a a ten year guarentee was a con and a fraud. We will be looking into whether or not any criminal offence has been committed or not. And will report back to this forum.          

Facts, Alarms can be and are often de-activated. Covers and Abris can and are often left open Gates can and are often left propped open Adults supervising children can be so drunk, they do not see their child die! No device, however clever will save a child from dying, this has been said on this forum many times before, so I apologise for this. Whilst I accept that alarms are useless, some people have made a lot of money out of people like me, who now realise that we are going to have to pay a lot more for suitable security, that is until a child dies in a fenced pool, a pool with an abri or cover!

So what happens to all us mugs who shelled out 700 euros for an aquasensor alarm? Yes I agree with everybody that they are useless, but we did not all know that when we were sold them. But if one pays out a lot of money to comply with some ill thought out legislation, then surely there must be some form of compensation so we can put in a proper system for security. Rant over.

Sabina, I thought I would take a look at www.arbitel.com to see what it is like. But alas, it does not seem exist, well not when I entered it????

Margie, I am not an expert, that's PoolGuy's dept. but I have a salt water in-ground pool, which is in its 3rd season. Salt water pools are another way of making chlorine, the salt water itself is not the sanitizing agent, it is the sodium chloride that is produced that is the important thing. I know hindsight is a great thing, but if I had the limited knowledge I have now when I had a pool installed 3 years ago I would have not gone for a salt water system. What I would have had is a liquid chlorine system which would be regulated by an automatic system, I have an auto system for Ph, but I wish I had one for chlorine. I have had lots of probs keeping the water sanitized, but I am getting on top of it now. The only prob is that the auto systems, which seem very good, are not cheap, anything between 1700 and 2300 euros. Speak to Poolguy, he is the font of all knowledge on this forum. Good Luck.    

Mark You need to speak with Poolguy aka Andrew who may have what you are looking for. Good Luck, Jim.    

We live near Gemozac in the Charente Maritime. We have a litter of four baby guinea pigs that will be available after 7th May. They are free to anyone who would like them. They are great pets for young children, and are easy to care for.

We live near Gemozac in the Charente Maritime We have four baby guinea pigs, male and female, which will be available after 7th May. They are free to anyone who would like a very easy to care for pet. Great for children.