JacquesW

I signed up, in English, by telephone from the UK in March, about 10 days before we expected to be in France.  The Livebox was at La Poste when we went over to France on 1st April and installed with no problems.   When we left at the end of April, I suspended the phone using the Espace Client page on the internet and a few days after we returned I called the English speaking FT line to suspend the broadband connection.   Admittedly, this last call took a few attempts before I got through, but both the recent bills, from FT for the phone & from Orange for the broadband, have correctly reflected the suspension. We are not going back now until the end of July and I will try to re-post in August - from France if my FT internet still works - on how easy or otherwise it proved to be to reconnect. Like you, my French is not really up to it, but I have found the English speaking line is excellent when you can get through. It does seem rather typically French that one can suspend the phone by internet, but one can only suspend the internet by phone doesn't it ?   Whatever, I am delighted with this solution so far.

[quote user="Simon Rayfield"]Looking at the economics of this - if one spends on average more than 6 months in France in any one year, paying an extra 16 euros/month plus the disconnection charge of 4.69 euros per switch makes it barely worth it! That is assuming one gets a complete rebate each month of 39 euros for a ligne illimite fixe, for a lesser fixe it wouldn't be cost effective. sr[/quote] Yes Simon, the economics are interesting.    We have been paying 16 euros per month line rental = 192 euros per annum.   Using the residence secondaire account with line rental and internet will cost 46,90 per month (16,00 + 27,90 + 3,00), so if we are there for 4 months in total the cost should be 187 euros excluding the 3 or 4 switch offs at 4,69 each.    A good deal as far as I am concerned as we should effectively have broadband for free. Cheers J

[quote user="tegwini"]Thanks all for the help. Not difficult to get onto this system - we did it at the Orange/FT shop in town.  I am still trying to turn the phone off - almost giving up now. I tried again today via the phone - told yet again, by a machine, that they are too busy - 'call again'.   Also logged on & registered - but couldn't find a link, or means to turn the phone off.   And, I also can't find FT's email - looked everywhere for that. Help !!! Regards tegwini [/quote] After reading on France forum, I called the FT English line and signed up for a Holiday Home account with line rental at 32,00 per 2 months and Internet (Livebox) at 27,90 per month - both can be switched off at any time and we only pay for when it is on.    Switch off costs 4,69 euros each time and we are allowed 6 times per annum.    It is possible to switch off and on on the internet; alternatively this can be done by phone or by sending an email to [email protected] . Good luck J

In January, we drove from the Vendee to Beauvais Airport (for a Ryanair flight to Glasgow) via Rouen and quite enjoyed missing out the traffic and the difficulties of finding Beauvais going through Paris.  The drive to Rouen - by autoroute via Angers and Le Mans - was fine and although the last 80km across country to Beauvais was a bit slow we had no problem in finding our way.  We are coming back in April, by Eurotunnel this time, and I would like to go through Rouen again - to avoid Paris and the A10 which I find a bit boring.  Can anyone advise if the A16 and A28 autoroutes from Calais to Rouen are complete and if they would recommend this route or highlight any downside. Many thanks Jack

Hello Music I have just called FT and signed up for this after reading about it on the forum - looks ideal for what you want. Cheers M

There is a contract with Orange/Wanadoo - "Le Compte Haut Debit" which costs 10 Euros per month + includes 1 hour of usage.  Thereafter, usage is charged at 1 Euro per hour.   There is no annual contract so that you can cancel when your 3 months is complete; I think you will need a France Telecom landline for this. Please let the forum know how you get on. Thanks J