lausha

[quote user="Ron Avery"] Wanadoo deliver the modems by courier to your registered French address if you have not been there that is why you do not have one, your easist way out of this is to ask Wanadoo to send you the kit, it ony takes two or three days[:)].[/quote] 3 times I asked them to send it to me - I was there in France for a good 2 week period each time, but nothing arrived.  And no note from the postman to say he'd come but we'd been out if that had been the case.  (And other deliveries had been successful so it wasn't me giving them the wrong address or anything!)  When I complained to Wanadoo they said it was the Poste's fault, not theirs, so basically... tough.  They still took my money.  Oh, and I've never had any documentation from them at all, and certainly no CD.  If it wasn't for the money leaving my bank account each month I would have no proof whatsoever that Wanadoo even knew who I was. But thanks for your help, much appreciated.  Hopefully I will be able to log on from France and thank you again, from my newly activated Wanadoo account!! Laura

Oops - not making myself clear.  I am based in the UK, but have a place in France which FT have put broadband in - already connected up apparently - however Wanadoo have failed at least twice to send me a modem, so in order to get my broadband working I am bringing a modem from the UK.  My friend who had a spare Thompson modem, from Wanadoo UK, sent me his.  Apparently it is compatible with French Wanadoo - it's listed on their site as an alternative as far as I can tell.  (My French isn't that great)  He sent it with its "installation CD" which tells me I need to insert that and go through the directions before I plug in the modem.  Do I need to put that CD in to load up the modem onto my computer, or is it simply a CD to load Wanadoo UK on? At the French Wanadoo site I found what I think is a download for my particular modem, though I'm not sure what to do with it.  Do I - when I get to France on Sunday - just connect up my modem to the computer and to the ADSL-enabled line, and I will automatically see a French Wanadoo screen asking me for my various IDs?  Or do I have to load the CD/the download/any other specific software first?  Or do I load on any of the above after I have connected the modem?  Please could someone explain it to me in easy steps because I have been paying Wanadoo for broadband now since November but have been unable to access it because they can't seem to be able to get me a modem, though they have had absolutely no problems taking my money... (...don't get me started!!) Thanks in advance Laura

Thanks Ian, very helpful. It's a Speedtouch 330.  The CD that came with it is Wanadoo, but it's for Wanadoo in the UK.  Should I not use the CD the install it onto the computer?  It's called a "connection CD" and it's issued by Wanadoo (UK)  and it says on the cover to put in the CD before you connect up the modem - but is the CD for the modem or for Wanadoo UK?  In which case - if I don't put in the CD - will it log on to Wanadoo automatically?  And if so, how?  Will the Wanadoo screen automatically appear as soon as I plug in the modem to the phoneline/pc?  Thanks

Thanks Ron.  No, I have ADSL but when Wanadoo connected my phone line they failed twice to send me a Livebox so I'm taking matters into my own hands (anyway, don't need all the facilities Livebox has so don't want to pay a monthly fee to rent it...) The CD I'm putting in is the CD that comes with the modem.  The instructions on the box are to put the CD in first before attaching the modem so the CD installs the modem on the computer.  So presumably I install the modem on the pc with the CD, then plug everything in, then...?  You say "click on Wanadoo".  Click where?  When the modem is plugged in both ends will Wanadoo stuff automatically appear on my screen? (Sorry to be so ignorant but my UK ADSL is cable and a nice man came round and set it all up for me.  And once I get to France - without internet connection until I sort out this modem problem - I won't be able to ask anyone as I won't be connected yet!!)

Hi A friend of mine with Wanadoo in the UK just sent me his Thompson modem and his English username so I can use it.  I already have a wanadoo account in France but never received a modem from them and was told by members of this forum that an english modem will do the job.  I thought I'd just try the CD in my UK computer in case any problems occurred and... It asks me for a username - I tried typing in my French Wanadoo id but it wouldn't accept it.  At least I think it wouldn't.  The info I have been given by Wanadoo re my various log-ins are: an "id" which is a mix of letters and numbers, a password - ditto, a messagerie name which is my name @ wanadoo and a password for the messagerie. So... do I type in HIS username, which presumably the modem is registered to?  But if so, won't that give me problems as it's English on the French ADSL?  Or if it's one of my names - which one?  And will I have to reset it at all do you know? Thanks

Thanks all.  In fact, that is exactly what it looks like I'm going to do.  Many thanks for all your help. Laura

[quote user="Deimos"] If you are using e.g. a router configuration (e.g. Ethernet ADSL modem) then you would not need any ISP’s software (just the connection username and password).  You would have to configure the e-mail, IP stack, etc. manually but its not that difficult.[/quote] Hi Ian Thanks - but I'm not sure what you mean by configuration.  I'm guessing it will have a USB plug one end and go into the phoneline with the French phone adaptor on the other.  I can probably work out how to configure my emails in Outlook Express but I don't know what an IP stack is.  Is there a website I can look at to advise me on the setting up thing?  (As for Wanadoo delivery - I scheduled the modem to arrive when I was in France - and yet nothing happened, no postman, no note saying it had been delivered when I was out etc.  I'm sure this is the postal system at fault, but Wanadoo just shrug and keep on charging me regardless.) Thanks Laura  

Thanks John.  I've been looking at which modems I could buy and bring over, and when I've seen the installation instructions, they all mention a CD from the service provider.  Is that actually necessary?  Or did your modem configure itself automatically?  I can't rely on Wanadoo sending me anything, so will I be able to just "plug n play" into a Wanadoo ADSL phoneline, do you know? (Obviously each modem comes with an installation CD of its own, but I'm presuming that's not linked to any specific provider). Thanks Laura

[quote user="Jonzjob"] but if you are to use your ADSL 'modem' then won't you need your user name and password. [/quote] Interesting.  I wasn't intending to bring the modem I use in the UK as I will still be needing it here.  I was thinking of going to PC World or somesuch place and buying one from scratch.  Is every broadband modem affiliated to an isp then?  Or are they just modems, like a dial-up one is? thanks Laura

Hi Ian Perfect - that's exactly what I was hoping for!  [:D]  Thanks so much for that.  One last question then (sorry!) - I daren't order from Wanadoo as so far they've failed twice to deliver a modem as promised.  Will I be OK to use a UK broadband modem with a French phone adaptor plug? Thanks Laura

Thanks everyone, very helpful.  I think I may just cave and pay from my French account as I don't want to incur any more charges than necessary. Cheers Laura

Thanks Sevenup.  However I don't have a UK wanadoo account.  My UK broadband is with blueyonder.  Is there a good pay as you go internet provider in France that anyone can recommend?  I will have to sign up for it from here in the UK first, won't I, otherwise when I plug the modem in nothing will happen?  Or have I got that wrong? (Can you tell, I'm really not very technically au fait...) Thanks

Thanks John - extremely helpful.  I had looked at the site briefly before and couldn't find anything so I gave up, but now I've looked again properly and found it.  Many thanks!  However... they mention a username and password - none of this was discussed with me when I signed up for broadband.  And of course I have no paperwork, except for my bank statement saying the payment has gone to wanadoo - but certainly no mention of password or username. Seeing as I'm still in the UK and loathe to line their coffers further with long and difficult to understand phone converations - any idea where I might find this information?  Once again, many thanks Laura

France Telecom wrote to me saying that I didn't send a RIB with my TIP to pay my bill.  I want to pay it from an English bank account - do you know, can I just send them all the details of that account, or does it have to be a French account? Thanks Laura

Thanks everyone - wow Mark that sounds like a total pain.  I just know from everything so far (no modem - twice, no line working) that there will be more problems to come. But the livebox - nobody had problems setting it up?  You don't know anywhere that has the instructions in English do you?  I see I have to pay a further 3 euro a month to rent the thing.  I don't need wireless access or internet TV or anything so can anyone suggest a broadband modem that will work with Wanadoo that doesn't cost on top of the monthly fee? Thanks Laura

Thanks Sevenup. So you can you plug a normal modem into an ADSL-enabled phoneline?  I never thought of that!  Will that be part of the Wanadoo isp service I'm already paying for, or will I have to get a new contract and pay for a different "dial-up" isp? Thanks Laura 

Hi I'm hoping someone here can help.  I got my phoneline ADSL'ed (8mb rather than 512) and although I still have not been sent a modem, or until Tuesday, had a phone line that worked, Wanadoo began taking money from my account 2 months ago. [^o)]  Could someone tell me - as I have no paperwork whatsoever from Wanadoo - how long am I contracted to them?  When can I cancel the payments - should, or indeed can, I cancel the payments, is there someone better I should be getting broadband from?  It's just when I ordered the line from France Telecom I wasn't offered options. Next question - once I pick up the livebox from France Telecom (I'm in the UK right now), and when I do eventually get it up and running will it work alright with my already loaded-on Outlook Express and Explorer?  And if not, is there any other system I should use instead?  And is the Livebox easy to install by the way?  (I've brought an English PC over though I have a phone adaptor plug if necessary...) and is there anywhere - a site - with instructions in English..? Sorry to ask so many questions, it's just I've waited so long for this to get sorted out and there are still so many things that can go wrong and obviously if they do go wrong, I won't have internet access when I'm out there to look up the answers... [*-)] Thanking you in advance for all or any help Laura

Thanks everyone for your hlep.  I've found an English/French insurance company and they are checking the situation out for me. If they have any joy in finding a cheaper and acceptable alternative I shall post here and let you know.

Thanks Celine and Lori.  Wow - didn't know I had to undergo an examination for it!  In which case I might as well just stick with CA as they haven't mentioned anything about a medical! Laura

Hi Thanks for your reply Leslauriers.  According to the guy at CA if I can find something cheaper he says I can take it. Does that mean though that it's standard practice to take the insurance that comes with the mortgage?  In the UK banks and building societies are always trying to throw in contents or buildings cover and usually it's much more expensive than anything you'd find if you bought it separately.  I was just presuming the same thing applied in France. Laura

Hi I'm buying a place in Languedoc and have been offered a mortgage with Credit Agricole at a very good rate.  And apparently by law I need to have some kind of insurance to cover the payments. The bank have included a monthly insurance payment within the quote, but if British lenders are anything to go by, I'm presuming this is where they will be making their money and the chances are I will find a cheaper identical insurance product elsewhere if I shop around. To those who may be able to help, my question(s) are: 1.  Am I being too cynical?  Are French banks in fact decent, honest folk who just want everyone to be happy and aren't going to charge over the odds for insurance? 2. Can anyone recommend an insurer/insurance policy to go for?  (And if so, do they have a contact number, and preferably know of someone in the office who can speak a bit of English as my French is not up to discussing complex financial matters)? 3. What is this form of insurance called, as the 2 companies I have managed to call (Axa and Generali) have sounded like they don't know what I'm talking about. Any and all advice would be most gratefully received. Laura