DavyH

I don't know about the tarrifs but my standing charge and taxes for my electricity had more than doubled when I paid my last bill in April  Something like 10 euros for electricity used plus 20 euros for standing charge and the thousand or so taxes they add on!

[quote user="Suninfrance"]Change is because OH's photo ID  License runs out at the beginning of July (they only last ten years and then rip-off britain wants money for a new one).  He's got the form D1 from the Post Office in England, but it clearly states that if you don't live permanently in England and you declare false info its 6 months in prison and a £2,000 fine.  Unless you know otherwise !!!! [/quote] Does it really say you have to live permanently in England?  If so I am really worried as I have a UK licence but don't live permanently in England!!  looks like prison for me just cos I live in Scotland then lol

That may mean they have to cross the harbour 14 times in an attempt to dock!

[quote user="Sunnysandals"]I rang the English speaking FT helpline first thing this morning at 8 am (English time - as recommended on previous posts) and after three rings the phone was answered by a very helpful assistant called Paul. He verified that internet was available at my house, he registered it as "residence secondaire" (no other documentation needed), he asked for the name of the previous owner and took my French Bank Account RIB number. He asked when I will be next in France (2 June) and he confirmed that it will be connected by then. He also asked if I had my own router to take, which I have. He confirmed that it's possible to suspend telephone and internet when we come back to England. 55 euros re-connection fee for phone, 16 euros/mth line rental, 19.99 euros/mth for Decouverte Internet Sans Engagement (up to 8MB). Twenty minutes later and all done! I'm a very happy bunny - and am keeping my fingers crossed that it all works when I get there in June! Really grateful for this thread as I wouldn't have known what to ask for. Thanks again.[/quote] Sunnysandals - it appears that you may have acheived the Holy Grail for internet in residence secondaire.  As someone said before what you have described was always possible in theory but not in practice.  At present I have a residence secondaire phone line with dial-up internet. Can you conform that the internet part of this deal can be started and stopped in exactly the same way as the phone part?  i.e.  by calling FT or through their website for a fee of about 5 Euros each time you stop the service?  Can you have the internet running for say 2 weeks and only pay for 2 weeks use. The reason I ask these questions is that in the past others have posted of being charged a full month for the internet or even two full months even it it was only "live"say  for the last week of April & 1st week of May.  Others have posted of the need to start/stop the internet service by recorded delivery or registered mail. I appreciate that you may not be in a position to answer me until you have been to France and back again.  I hope it really is now as simple as it sounds!  Good Luck!

or clean up after themselves?

Can't resist saying that 0.5km will be the same distance by car or walking!  just the walking will take longer! I haven't stayed in the area but frequently use Etap hotels with no problems.  There is restaurant is 0.9 miles away - Jeremy Viguer - have a look at trip advisor, I used the RAC site for distances. If you want to be certain of a restaurant close by, I know that the Etap hotel in Abbeville is only a 5 minute walk from 3 restaurants, although it will add another hour to your journey the next day. The other alternative would be to carry on to Rouen where there a few hotels/restaurants along the D18 which follows the railway lines before it heads north to the A13.

I am able to set up my sat nav so that it warns me of fixed radar cameras, is it legal to use this facility in France?

I had no problems there at all Leo, basic clean hotel, quiet too.

[quote user="leo"]Thanks Sunday Driver & Sweet 17 for both those suggestions, I assume they are both within walking distance but will check them out anyway. It seems we won't starve then as I had visions of everywhere being closed! [/quote] Both are within 5 minutes walk of the hotel.

[quote user="Chancer"]I can also confirm that having persuaded the authorities that you are not due to pay the redevance audiovisuelle for the year in question (I used an attestation from the Mairie) that they will not ask again or impose the tax (unless you buy a TV from a retailer in France), it is your responsibility to inform them should you have a TV on the 1st January in subsequent years. Of course with all the other things going on these things can easily be forgotten so best to make a note [;-)] [:P] [/quote] Since the tv fee was added to the tax d'habitation we've had this form each March to declare we have no tv in the house - the tax d'habitation bill then arrives in November with only the amount for tax d'habitation due (well every year but one but that's another story of battling French beurocracy!) I am taking a tv over later this month so obviously will not complete the exemption form in later years.  It's been said on other forums that it is legal to remove your tv on your last visit of the year then bring it back on the 1st visit of the following year as the form only asks if there is a tv in your house on 1 January.  I for one am not brave or rich enough to test that theory though! Fot the OP - it doesn't matter what nationality of tv you watch - if you have tv equipment then you are liable to pay.

[quote user="jennib"]I want to sign up for the subscription Residence Secondary Line and it asks for either your insurance certificate indicating the nature of your home, or a tax document indicating the address of principal residence (1st page of tax return). Just wondering if others that have done this have just sent insurance paper for main house - just a bit confused as don't have tax return? or what it means by 'nature of your home'[/quote] I sent them a council tax notice for my UK home and it was accepted.

Thanks for that pachapapa, I'll be in Reffannes over that weekend so I know where to go for supplies  if my visitors empty my whisky on the Saturday night ;)

Robbo, the previous poster confirmed that these places are open on Sundays, still better to find out for certain if they are open on Easter Sunday - I'll find out what I can.

Perth is only 45 minutes by car from Edinbugh airport so Edin would be the best destination I would think.

There are 2 exits/entrances, the main one and one at the rear where buses leave from so probably best following bugsy's advice and meet at a particular platform exit.

[quote user="Bugsy"]That's because his blackmail tactics didn't work. Hopefully he'll lose Poitiers as well and then perhaps we will get a company in whose aim is more than just screwing people. . [/quote] Or to perhaps look at it another way....Ryanair and the Airport could not agree on a figure which would make the continuation of flights viable? Remarkably, Ryanair are a commercial airline, out to make a profit, not a charity. It's always a pity when routes disappear, especially for those who stay nearest to the airport, but it is happening all the time with all airlines.

[quote user="brodie19"]Just received long awaited reply from Europcar. Leave the keys in the box provided, having checked the car for damage etc. Fee is 14 Euros extra. Good surprise![/quote] So you have to pay 14 Euros extra for the benefit of Europcar not being avauilable to receive the keys/inspect the car?  I'd be asking them for a 14 euro refund! Have you already booked the hire car?  If not and you are flying with Ryanair, try the Hertz link on the Ryanair site, they were cheapest by about £25 in January for me.

I don't know about Europcar, but I returned a Hertz hire car at Poitiers Airport in January and just had to leave the key in a box at the Hertz desk.  No extra charges!

[quote user="Bugbear"]My wife has just left for a week in Monaco to see the daughters. Train from Poitiers to Paris - Charles De Gaulle, them Easyjet to Nice. Total cost, return 200 euros. Enquired about flying direct from Poitiers with Air France Poitiers - Nice. Return price 800 euros [:-))] "Is that by private Lear-jet, perhaps" Unbelieveable. . [/quote] Just a pity that Ryanair don't do Poitiers to Nice isn't it [;-)]

[quote user="Northender"]I've just had an e-mail from Easyjet stating that our booking for the 15th of August from Liverpool to Bordeaux as been cancelled. They have offered us a full refund or free transfer onto another flight on the same route within 30 days of the original booking However when I go on their website they are still offering the original flight. Just spent 15 minutes waiting to be answered on their 0871 number @ 10p/min no answer. Sent them an e-mail   Is this normal?   [/quote] Can't be -  reading all the forums, I thought only Ryanair could behave like this!  Hope you get answers soon, nothing worse than having arrangements changed.

scam?  To me a scam is when someone tries to con you out of money by false advertsining/illegal methods - Ryanair have clearly stated the exchange rate they use which is probably similar to other operators. Did you look at other airlines for your flights?  If so, were the dearer ones trying to scam you? Like Shoop, I often find booking Hertz via Ryanair is much cheaper than other companies - 7 days hire for an Astra sized car for £144 later this month from poitiers - others were at least £175.

[quote user="Shoop"]Firstly thanks for your responses and support, although John appeared to want me arrested and heavily fined for my misdemeanor.Contacted ryanairs call centre on your advice was put through in under a minute, had the name changed, conformation sent out to me and wished a happy new year..........result OL long may you reign you,ce just won another fan[/quote] This can't be true - Ryanair are meant to rip you off are they not? Oh and be uncontactable and unhelpful!  Next they will be charging me a total of £6  for my Stansted/Poitiers return trip next month Long live Ryanair, best bus service ever 

We have a similar agreement - I drive there and Mrs H drives home ;)

As with most professional sports it seems that he who gets away with cheating the most is the winner :(

[quote user="Théière"]Thanks for taking the time DavyH, As I said in my post above, will work with buildings sand, jambs up with sharp sand and by the time you have messed around emptying the tube and re-filling you would have been quicker by hand. I know I own one. Best use is large areas of grounting which can be done at an amazing speed and with a lot less mess. Like wise the pointmaster, better than the Durgun IMO but still jambs up a fair amount with sharp sand and you don't want to keep handling lime as it ruins the skin on your hands and gloves are a pain.   [/quote] Not used one myself  Theiere - I did wonder if it was too good to be true!