lindamarilyn

Having been recommended to use phonexpat, I am now making big savings on my telephone calls. Savings are around 75% to 95%. The first 240 minutes are free to any country you wish. There is no number to prefix and the service is quick and efficient to set up. So here is the link to start saving. www.phonexpat.com Office         01 30 61 17 72 Fax             01 39 73 44 85 @               [email protected] Adresse   11 rue d'Ourches. Bat I                   78100 St.Germain-en-Laye                   France Happy Calling Linda

Just had aerothermique heating and water heater installed. It works on 70% free energy from the air and uses only 30% electricity. There is also geothermique, but the aero is cheaper and easier to install. The installer Franck Massacret, was quick, efficient and pleasant. He also speaks good English. If interested his link is [email protected] You can say Linda and Peter recommended if you wish. I am certainly pleased with it.    

Bonjour We live in the countryside near Limoges and have been freezing the last couple of months. Would like some advice about central heating for next year. Blazing log fires are great, but hard work and not as warm as needed. We dont have town gas, but use canister gaz. Are there any experts who know which is the best, cheapest to run forms out of oil, gaz or electricity? If you are an installer, I sure would like to speak to you. Also we need a mobile home for all our impending visitors. Does anyone know of a supplier of used mobile homes, other than Canvas homes or have one they wish to sell on? Thanks for help Lindamarilyn

Thanks again for that suggestion, simple but I hadn't thought of it. Linda

Hi We are moving with Rogers Removals, because we are lucky enough to be personal friends with the boss. However they have done all our family and friends removals very professionally and reasonably. So I feel I can recommend them on. They are London based but of course travel anywhere. [email protected]  for quote. www.rogersremovals.co.uk Mention recommended by Linda and Peter 

Hi Saffron A long shot, but might be of interest. We are moving on Feb. 3rd to an area near Limoges. Rogers Removals are doing the move. He will be returning to the UK with a large, empty removal wagon. You could see what quote he would give to do your job, if you wish. [email protected]     08002799043/02089536777 Hope this might be of use Linda  

Hi What is a Regie please and how do you know whether you are with EDF or not?

Did some research on the subject and came up with this. Hope it will be useful. Linda Electricity in FranceElectricity is supplied by EDF (Electricité de France)www.edf.fr Connection: Apply to your local EDF office (if you buy through an agent they may do this for you). Make sure you get them to read the meter (releve special). You will need proof of ownership and some other form of ID to set up your account. Power Supply: 220-240v is now pretty much the universal standard in France (as in the UK) therefore most appliances will work fine once you have the right adapters or plugs connected. What makes life more interesting is the fact that you can choose your level of power supply in France! You can upgrade or downgrade between 3KW to 36KW and various levels in between according to the size of your house, the type of heating you use, the number of electrical devices you use, your peak times of consumption etc. The higher your KW rating the higher your standing charge. If you find your power keeps tripping off it is quite likely to be at a time when certain appliances are in use and your supply is insufficient to cope with the demand. Some people are quite happy with this arrangement and are content to keep the lower rating supply, switch off the offending appliance and switch the power back on each time it happens. If this becomes a nuisance it would be a sound move to upgrade - it is worth asking EDF for a free evaluation of your existing connection. Call 0 810 126 126 (local call rate). Did you know: that a survey carried out showing costs in euros per 100 Kwh gave the following information: Fuel 3.81E. Town Gas 4.25E. Gas propane 9.14E and electricity 10.75E ( From the Minister Economics for Finances and Industry April 2003 ) PC and TV protection In many rural areas the power supply can be unstable at times, particularly during thunderstorms, when you may sometimes lose power altogether. You can purchase a number of plug-in accessories which will help protect your TV and PC equipment. Cheapest of these is a surge protector which protects your equipment from power spikes and irregularities which could cause a sudden failure of your appliance. You can buy various forms of these in local DIY stores. More expensive, but a worthwhjile investment, especially if you have valuable data on your PC, is a UPS (uninterruptable power supply), a battery based box which sits between your PC/Modem and your power supply. If the supply fails unexpectedly the battery in the UPS will autmatically keep your machine running and allow you to save your data or carry out a back-up. You can buy these from more specialist PC stores. As a precaution against lightning damage many people also unplug their TV aerial during severe storms. Tariffs There are also various tariffs which offer you choices for reduced rates depending on the times of day and peak days in the year. In this way it may be possible to upgrade your supply but switch to a more economical tariff to avoid greater overall cost. Note that the most power-hungry items are electric heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and water heaters, so if you run an oil/gas/logs household you may be pleasantly surprised to find that you only require a lower KW supply. Meters: Usually located on an external wall, or sometimes down the lane on a pole! It must be read by the EDF at least once a year. In between times, if they are unable to access the meter, you will receive a card asking you to write in the meter reading or telephone it through. Modern meters have a number of useful features allowing you to see your actual live consumption, your consumption to date etc Bills: There are two elements to your bill (facture), which will arrive every two or sometimes three months. Firstly, the standing charge (abonnement), determined by the power supply installed and secondly, the consumption of electricity units. TVA (Value Added Tax) is applied at 20.6 percent on the standing charge and 19.5 percent on the consumption. Local taxes (taxe commune/département) are added at around 12%, before TVA. Payment: By direct debit (prélèvement automatique), based upon estimated usage. Or by settling each bill by cheque or RIB payment. Contact: EDF 2 rue Louis Murat 75384 Paris Tel: +33 1 40 42 22 22 Customer Care Web Site More info (in French) at EDF FAQ Enquiry Tel: 0 810 126 126

A big Thank You to you all for your helpful advice.So much to find out, advisors are a blessing. Hope to be in the position to return favour in the near future.

Hi Has just occured to me, pending move to France in a few weeks. I believe the electrical voltage is the same and appliances should work OK. BUT..... What happens to all the electrical appliances we take with us? Do we A.... chop off the plugs and put on Euro 2 pin plugs? Or does this blow fuses as I believe the 2 pinned plugs don't have fuses in them. B. Take loads of converters 3 to 2 pin to use, but is this any different? C. Have to change all the sockets? D. is there an alternative? Then there is the wattage, can you use as much in a small, modern french house as in a UK one. Or will too much overload the system? Help needed please from any experienced people who have done 'the move.' Many thanks

Many thanks to you for your helpful advice. Have a Happy New Year Linda

Hello Diana Thanks indeed, just what I needed to find. Happy New Year Linda

Hello Are there any experts who can help me find the ultimate dream. When we move to the Limousin early next year, we will need the following. A telephone line, broadband internet provision and if poss, TV SKY/interactive/BBC connection. Have looked at sites recommended on the Forum, but not sure if these include TV with availability to connect to UK telly stations, also with  pay monthly for unlimited time on-line and on the phone, with international connections at reduced prices. Also need to know of any large Hypermarkets near Saint Yrieix sous Aixe. There are some in Aixe s Vienne, but wondered if anyone knew of any in the countryside which are nearer. It is just west of Limoges airport. Be grateful for any recommendations and thanks for your trouble. Lindamarilyn    

Many thanks James Regards Linda

Hi We will be moving to the Limoges area early next year. We will be bringing our two cars over, which are right hand drives. It did occur that if anyone was returning to the U.K. and currently owned left hand drive vehicles, there might be the possibility of a mutually convenient swap. More details if anyone is interested.