Jay

[quote user="Chancer"]The advantage to those of us handy on the tools is the 48 hour limit for repairs in the garage, I'm pretty sure my cover bundled with my motor insurance doesnt have that ........... With ADAC and with that condition............ [/quote] There is no 48hr "rule" with ADAC as far as I am aware and my friend who had his car returned to the UK said they gave him a choice of a hotel till his car was repaired, a hire car etc. Perhaps if someone knows better they could enlighten us. Added: Your friends who broke down 15km away, then 30km further to garage = 45km would not be covered by ADAC under their 50Km rule. My insurance broker said it is often possible to negotiate with the services and have your car returned home if it is less distance than to a main dealer, I wouldn't bet money on it though.

Yes that is the case - if you read my earlier post a friend's car was returned to the UK from France even though it could have been repaired (bust Turbo on a Citroen diesel) at a local garage.

[quote user="allanb"] Of course I don't know what this costs, because it's buried in the total premium.  But can you really get something better from the AA or RAC or ADAC? [/quote] Yes, recovery to your home.

German efficiency! When we broke down the French services asked us what the postcode was? How are we supposed to know that? Fortunately there was a supermarket nearby and we asked there, goodness only knows what would happen if you break down in the middle of nowhere.

That's OK - I can see how you would be distracted!

[quote user="Chancer"]Thankyou for your kind and wise words Deby. Thats a good price, do you think that its a RTB recovery service or just to local garage think like what is included in my French insurance, if its the former then given the age and mileage of my car it would be a good investment for me, I just cant afford to replace her for a few years. Val2 still posts occasionally here and often on another forum. [/quote] Suggest you read my post earlier 14/06/2013, 22:16

[quote user="Chancer"]Would you mind saying how much it costs please and is it a recovery back to base service if the repairs are more than a few hours labour or a certain amount?[/quote] I paid 79€ in April this year, I believe it's 99€ for a couple. They will fix at roadside if poss. or you can have your car taken to a garage or returned home. My friend had his car returned to a garage in the UK from Rouen. ADAC single Plusmembership http://www.adac.de/mitgliedschaft/adac_membership/

[quote user="idun"]There should be one on your car insurance policy. Ours used to start about 40kms from home. [/quote] Isn't that what Dave said?

[quote user="dave21478"] The German breakdown company ADAC offer EU-wide breakdown services similar to that offered by the UK companies. I hear good things about them, but have no experience myself.[/quote] I have cover from ADAC as I do my own service/repairs on our cars. A friend recently had a breakdown on a motorway. ADAC paid for a tow off the motorway to a main dealer (120€). The quote for repair here was 3000€ which he did not find acceptable (eventual repair cost £400). ADAC returned his car to a garage of his choice in the UK and paid for a choice of a return ticket home or 5 days hire car to continue his journey (he chose car hire). Cover only starts when you are more than 50Km from home. The German company uses local breakdown/recovery, for instance in the UK they use the AA to recover your car. Before I had ADAC cover I had a breakdown only 8km from my home and they took my car to a main dealer 70km away!

And to think I clicked to read this!

Q - May I suggest a brilliant business opportunity for you. Get a friend in the UK to download the iPlayer desktop program onto a load of cheap USB sticks, send them over here and then you can sell them at say 30€ each to people who want to watch BBC on their computers.

It matters not one jot where you download the iPlayer desktop program. All the BBC are saying is that if you download a TV programme - as in something you want to watch - and you go abroad taking that specific TV programme with you, you are still able to watch that particular TV programme on your computer. I suggest you read http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/outside_the_uk/download_uk In particular .................... If you download a programme to your laptop or a portable hard drive, you can watch this wherever you are in the world. However, you will only be able to download new programmes once you return to the UK.

[quote user="Quillan"]Whats the point of downloading it if you don't install it? If you install it in the UK you would more than likely have downloaded it in the UK. If you don't install it you can't use it or am I missing something.[/quote] You certainly are missing something. If you download a programme (for instance Top Gear) you can play it on your computer using the iPlayer desktop program. If you downloaded a programme in the UK then you have a certain length of time to view it even if you are travelling abroad.

[quote user="Quillan"]Apparently if you install I Player in the UK on any device you can then use it Internationally (with the exception of some sport events). http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/outside_the_uk/ I wonder if you remove I Player from your computer and then download and install it via a UK proxy server it would then work? When searching I noticed a couple of websites mentioning that the recent release of Chrome does not support I Player and that there is also a problem with the latest version of Adobe Air. [/quote] Where does it say that then? It actually says ".....if you have previously downloaded a programme onto your laptop or portable hard drive....."

[quote user="NormanH"]Try using Chrome with the Hola.org addon [/quote] Hola doesn't support BBC iPlayer

..........soldier was patrolling in uniform with two other men as part of France's Vigipirate anti-terrorist surveillance plan when he was approached from behind around 1800 p.m. and stabbed in the neck with a knife..... http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/25/us-france-stabbing-idUSBRE94O09420130525

[quote user="dave21478"]What can I use as a real weed destroyer...I mean scorched earth...nothing will ever grow there again kind of thing? I have Glyphosate, which works well enough but they come back within a couple of months.[/quote] The guy that did our gravel drive said diesel. If the farmers yard across the road from us is anything to go by it works well! Couldn't stand the smell myself. .

Nice to get an update, I'm glad it worked out the way it should.

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/printers_multifunction/photo_inkjet_printers/pixma_ip100

I've been using 3rd party cartridges for years and never had a problem. How about a Canon printer with cheap cartridges........ http://www.rueducommerce.fr/Peripheriques-Reseaux-wifi/Imprimantes-et-scanners/Imprimante-Jet-d-encre/CANON/4888664-Multifonction-jet-d-encre-4-en-1-couleur-PIXMA-MX395.htm http://www.amazon.fr/Cartouches-compatible-imprimantes-PGI-525BK-Silvertrade/dp/B004WBAPH6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369063279&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=PIXMA+MX395+Cartouche Also have a look in supermarkets for special offers then go on Amazon or wherever to find out if you can buy the cheap copies. I bought an Epson printer for under 50€ and 4 sets of chipped cartridges cost 13€.

They are at it again: Any duration fare from £19.00 each way email I can't find anything anywhere near that price http://www.ferrycheap.com/

[quote user="bill"]Congratulations!!! But did they send you 2042C or 2042CK? When I try to download it by clicking on 2042C, I get 2042CK! Cheers, Bill  [/quote] I got the CK and the new CK Pro forms in the post. I have completed the CK form this year.

I agree with Norman on this one. I was chased by them for two years for a bill I didn't owe. Documents went back and forwards to them until I got so fed up I sent a letter telling them to take me to court, I would enjoy explaining their stupidity and incompetence. I signed off with a nice little note on the back telling them to go forth and multiply. Never heard from them again.

[quote user="Pickles"] My understanding is that the new rules will only apply to new pensioners after 2016: existing pensioners will continue in the current system - that's why they have specifically said that those whose "normal" retirement date arises before the changes come in will get the "old" rates and cannot benefit from the "new" rates by delaying their retirement. Assuming that your mother's husband is already drawing his pension, then my reading is that that will continue as before. [/quote] That is also my understanding of what has been said on the news. I think a panic sets in when you hear this sort of news and you tend to link it to your own situation. I must admit the details given so far are somewhat vague and generalised.

Norman, reading your posts I get the impression you seem to think that you are the only one who has lived here for a considerable time. I sympathise with all the problems you have had, you have been so unlucky it is hard to believe. Perhaps you have just made some bad choices? Both my wife and I have been in hospital without any hassle from our mutuelle, in fact the biggest bill we had was 9€ for phone calls. We both have had a claim paid by our car insurance without a hitch, had protracted dealings with EDF and water authorities (who doesn’t?) all of which worked out fine in the end. We also had stupid quotes for car insurance when we first arrived but travelled around several companies and eventually had our NC Discount accepted. For third party insurance car park damage may well not be covered, I have never found fully comp. Insurance much more expensive. This is all off topic and I would be more interested in hearing what the outcome is from the OP when they have seen the insurance broker.