YCCMB

I think you have a point, over a certain amount. I had a phone call from our bank a week or so back, needing to authenticate a cheque written by my husband for a six figure sum. That I understand, although the cheque was subsequently honoured without me providing the info they wanted as Mr Betty was in Germany and I contactable at the time. According to the bank, they start conducting checks at six figures, which isn't really an everyday sum of money. However, I've done bank transfers when buying cars, where I've sat down with the vendor, transferred the funds on my mobile phone and had them receive those funds in their own bank account whilst we have still been sitting together. Those times have involved at least a few thousand, and clearly didn't relate to payments I was going to be making on a regular basis. ETA: mint, you posted whilst I was replying to the previous post. I agree, French banking is laborious. As I've joked in the past, I'd have more joy getting my own money out of a bank in France with a balaclava and a sawn off shotgun.

In the UK, in my experience, even new transfers are pretty much immediate. Security questions asked online and one-time codes sent by SMS are usually done instantly, and transfers go through.

The Rest of the World. It went to a penalty shootout. Nicky Byrne was excellent in goal, saving 3 England penalties. I hate football...even charity matches. But I would have watched paint dry before I'd switch to that debate...

Not saying it's not easy, as all that seems sensible and straightforward...until you get to "wait ...2-3 days" What is it with French banks? I'm surprised if a bank transfer from my bank takes as long as a couple of hours.

Generally, it tends to be a bigger problem for those whose party didn't win. Strangely, the party in power (whoever) never seem to want to address it. Still, it seems we may well be in for an increasing number of hung parliaments going forward. Maybe that will encourage a consensus for change.

Just chucking this out there, but don't we have a form of proportional representation for EU elections? In which case, be very careful what you wish for. One of the few consolations under the current system would be to see Farage fail to get elected for an eighth time. I'd rather that than a hung parliament with his "party" holding the balance of power.

Well...it will be a blow to many of the so-called French "supporters" who will have to redirect their bad sportsmanship towards someone else. Real shame for Froome. Hope Thomas can repeat his success. Or Yates.

I confess to being slightly baffled, mint, as to why it's any more "shameful" this time than all the other times it's happened throughout history? Did you know how common this actually is? https://fullfact.org/news/unelected-prime-ministers-common-or-not/ Chucking red herrings at Brexit isn't the answer, I'm sad to say.

There's a real litter problem on the tube these days. It was that or the Standard. I had to choose which might give me the best laugh.

No idea but I might never recover from the mental image of you with dreads.

Angry and betrayed: the people choosing the next PM https://f7td5.app.goo.gl/aPYpm I don't know if that link will work....but it makes quite an interesting read. Not least because yet again it looks as though the fate of the UK (or the Tories at keast)will be decided by the over 70's. But, if you were a millenial, would you want to even be associated with a completely broken political system? Or would You just be happy to bide your time and elect 70 year old Jeremy Corbyn when the time comes?

I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and say that I actually didn't mind him when he was mayor. Just for the record, I said the same about Ken Livingstone, and I'm currently fine with Sadiq Khan. In the end, Mayor of London is a pretty benign role. Would I want him running the country? I wouldn't let him run a bath. And I'd also say that about the other two incumbents mentioned above.

As a matter of fact/interest, I read all about it in the Socialist Worker, so I don't need the "context" further explained.

Shadow education secretary. She had the dubious honour of being the third appointee to the role in the space of a week when Jezza was facing a spate of mass resignations a while back. Almost as forgettable as all those Brexit secretaries nobody had ever heard of.

That's social justice, that is. According to Angela Rayner. Is there a prize?

It's actually useful in ones own home, though, if a weak mobile signal indoors stops you making it receiving mobile calls. Or texts. Just saying. You need a 4G capable phone tho.

Are you talking about "picking up" WiFi as in automatically using your home(or any available) WiFi signal to make calls if your 3/4G signal is too weak? Or are you talking about being able to link your phone to the internet? Curious. Do you get a small symbol that looks like a combination of a telephone handset and a WiFi logo when you're making calls? I suggest reading this: https://www.4g.co.uk/news/ee-o2-three-and-vodafone-which-networks-offer-wi-fi-calling/ It explains which networks offer the service and which telephones are compatible. As you will note, nothing prior to the Samsung S6 works. Mine is a very early S6 so it won't. Nothing to do with the network or operator. I'm pretty sure you're not referring to the above when describing how you can phone using your household WiFi, however I await your further explanation. Of course, I can connect my telephone to any WiFi and use that to make calls using WhatsApp for example. Oh, and https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/02/mobile-firms-not-ruling-out-roaming-charges-after-brexit/amp/ ETA: Just to be clear. My point is that as ET points out (and BB , later, reiterates), you need a phone that will receive SMS on the mobile network. If your mobile signal is rubbish, the SMS won't come through either. Having wifi connection to your phone changes nothing, because wifi still won't deliver the SMS. if your phone is newer, then it will make and receive calls and SMS over the wifi network. Connecting your phone to wifi is not the same thing.

[quote user="richard51"]My oh has a contract with 3. she cant get a signal in a lot of places in the UK and its krap totally in france. My O2 no problem. No point talking to them, even in France - change. Simple.[/quote] I'm more than happy for now. I have found that the ability to use my data etc. unrestricted in France for three months of the year, as well as being able to make unrestricted use of my phone when on holiday in places as far afield as Vietnam and Sri Lanka has served well. Not to mention the fact that for now they're the only mobile company to say unreservedly that they'll maintain the current roaming arrangements post-Brexit. I check my alternatives monthly by means of an online tool, and I can't get a better deal from any other mobile provider. So, thanks for the advice but I won't be taking it.

Fascinating. My S6 doesn't. In fact, I had quite a long conversation with Three on this very topic only last week.

That depends on the smartphone, I'm afraid. If it's a secondhand one from a relative and it's more than four or five years old, it might not.

Definitely. However, if you want a phone that is a computer and can access tinternet, you can't avoid having a phone that does lots of things. I spend most of my "phone call" time in France outdoors regardless of weather, because the house has many black spots. I bought a Bouygues dongle a few years back when the price was attractive and roaming charges were still high....only to find that although at that point my phone had indicated the best signal was Bouygues, a month later it was Orange. In my house, my UK mobile alternates between those two networks, picking up the strongest on the day. This also means that its constant search for the best signal drains the battery faster than a very fast thing, unless I disable mobile data and roaming.which somewhat defeats the object.

Minnie: you might be shocked to discover that your"just 75 euros a year for 6 months actual usage" is actually very expensive compared to available smartphone deals. If you just want, say 5Gb of data: enough to do the little you seem to need, then there ar deals available with introductory offers for as little as €2.99 a month. Even when they revert to non-promo prices, there are deals at €7.99 and 9.99 per month. (ETA: all the prices quoted are for "forfaits sans engagement" so they don't tie you into a contract) https://alloforfait.fr/mobile/comparatif-sans-engagement The above take no account of bundled deals available from your internet provider (you might find Orange have a bundle for you as an existing customer that beats the above). Your main consideration will be to find a provider whose signal allows you to use it at home. That's something nobody can advise you about. Your best bet may well be to ask friends with smartphones to pop round and see if they can get a good signal in, or close to, your house.

Naturally, I'm unable to tell you if the content is blocked in France, as I'm not there, but it seems to be available on YouTube if you really want to watch. At least one episode of this current batch is: https://youtu.be/X5zDW48vnJM Looks like previous episodes in the strand are there too. Knock yourselves out.

They might value them at half the price.... But what a shame they don't reflect that in their premiums.

That's nearly as many people as Trumpton claims to have seen at his inauguration! You're very right, Cajal. A mob we must be.