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I think this is what I will do too. Others have suggested the same path so AVG here I come and thanks for the replies[:D] cartref

Hi, Downloaded the new trial version of Norton AV software 2008 this morning (already have Norton on PC). Since then I have been trying to forward some e-mails which Norton stops me from doing. I have had numerous e-mails from their technical help people to no avail. They told me to switch off the Outgoing Mail Scanner and that hasn't done any good either. Now I get a message "554 message refused" with a code of 0x800ccc6f. Anybody able to help please?  If I decide to get another AV software download, presumably I uninstall Norton first????  [8-)] thanks in advance of a simple solution [:)] (silver surf of senior years!!)[:(] cartref

hi, I am a telconnect customer who was having mega problems with VOIP connection dropping several times during the day and ofcourse phone calls interrupted also. Now I did what the technical bloke told me, ditched most of the wires in telephone socket leaving grey and white. Voila..... [:)] 3 times faster download speed and no interruptions at all,  although when I get up in the morning I switch the box off then on to reinstate the VOIP as it always goes off overnight. Since the wire change, everything OK. Now they are offering to replace FT as the line provider. Think I may just stay with FT , you never know when the pc may go off.[:(] cartref

According to the letter received today, the reason they are behind with payments is they have a new billing system. I seem to have heard this one before. I haven't yet paid B.Gas from November 2006 because of 'a new billing system'!!!  And like you I do not intend to let go of my FT line, and as it only costs 16€ a month its definitely worth keeping! cartref

    In response to the guy who said about people buying from E-bay and other places I would like to commect. My mother was 85 when we purchased an electric scooter off said auction site. It was in New condition and was only being sold because the owner had put on weight and needed a bigger one. It came with full instructions, new batteries and has given my Mum a new lease of life. Maybe the OP could take that route. My Mums scooter cost £260 and was virtually new. Priceless for home and holidays. cartref

For those of us who subscribe to Teleconnect, I have paid my October bill today!!![:(] They are hoping to catch up on the backlog over the next 4 months (for me anyway). They also mentioned that they are about to introduce a 'complete' package to include their phone line, thus doing away for your need to have a FT bill at all. Not sure about that myself but it would be interesting to see how much they would charge for this new service. cartref

Hi coops, I'm going down your chosen route. It saves me worrying about d/d's and s/o's etc. I also know that the rest of my income (basically) is all MINE!!!!![:D] thanks for all your help everyone who has contributed to this post. cartref

Benjamin You are quite right decisions, decisions ( and yes it is my state pension that I would like transferred).  My recent hole-in-the-wall transaction this week gave me 1.337€ using my Nationwide card. But for me it would be just so much easier to have the money paid direct to my French bank, as that account is only used to cover standing orders/direct debits. My other pensions will still be paid direct into Nationwide. Best of both worlds???? cartref

As the OP of this thread, I just needed to know if it would be more advantageous to go via the payment from DWP rather than having to travel into town to take money out of one bank (via Nationwide card) to put into another. I know there are no charges from either sending or receiving the money, just wondered about the rate used. I am still confused with the different replies I have received. [8-)] cartref

Had I been paid into a french bank in September (when I moved to france) I would have been 51€ better off than I am now using a Nationwide account to withdraw money in France. So it doesn't appear to be anything to do with transfers via Citibank but the very great problem of the drop in exchange rates. cartref

Just to let you know that I contacted my HSBC bank who will receive my DWP Pension and no, they don't charge for receiving the money. All being well it should be in my French account in 3 weeks time. cartref

In June 2007 we took our Volvo estate to a local garage as it had an oil leak. They gave us a devis of €360 and we agreed and expected the job to take 2/3 days. Seven months later we still don't have the car back , and we believe that it has been to 2 Volvo franchises to be re-calibrated (albeit unsuccesfully). The local garage who were supposed to have done the original job have been abusive, arrogant and downright unhelpful when we have asked why this job has taken so long. All we want is an answer to that question. We are now , supposedly going to get the car back tomorrow (24th) and we are expecting that it will be fit to drive. We are also scared of being given a rather larger bill than the original devis[6]. If this is the case where do we stand? We have only the one original devis, but it is possible (through various interpreters) that a new gearbox may have been fitted which would obviously cost more than €360. cartref

Whilst I have only read this post 'in passing' as it were, it beggars belief that all the stories you read when it comes to having work done, extols the 'use a French artisan' syndrome. This certainly does not. I had a quote for some decorating, papering only for 2 x 12' sq rooms. I had to strip the walls, clear everything ready, find the paper and paste and they wanted 900€ [:@]. A job that I considered could be done in 2 days based on the prep work already being done. Needless to say I declined their devis. Since got it done extremely well by a British guy for £250.  And completed in less than 2 days. [:D] I rest my case. cartref

HI Mayennaise, I too had a bill dated 1/10/2007 arrived Friday. It will be interesting to see what day my bank gives them the money!!  It would be much easier (for me anyway) just to pay the back months owing and catch up right away. I hoped I would have all my standing orders/direct debits set up and running by the end of last year, but there's always one ..............[6] cartref

Logan, When you say spot market rate of the day, would that be the same as my Nationwide account (I usually get the commercial rate) or the tourist rate? cartref 

After a very sporadic service with Teleconnect last September, I now have a very good service with Teleconnect. All this because I called their English speaking helpline cos my VOIP line was consistently 'dropping'. All I had to do was to take most of the coloured wires out of the FT box and leave the white and grey ones in. Lo and behold the downstream rate went up from 5 to 22 in the space of seconds and the VOIP line is constant. But I did do the sensible thing and kept my FT line just in case[:D]. cartref

Does anyone on here have their State Pension paid directly into a French bank account?  According to the Pension Service website they do it at NO CHARGE. However, do the banks charge for receiving the moneyin France?  Any details gratefully received[:)]. cartref

Hi, I have recently cancelled SKY tv to save money. I was under the impression that FTA channels included E4, More 4 and a few others  as on Freeview but apparently not. Anyone know if these channels are due to go FTA in the near future? cartref

As I am the original poster of this thread, I was interested in all the replies it has generated. My problem is twofold, the wooden frames and windows are looking decidedly naff, one so called double glazed pane is cracked and the wood has started to rot around one of the frames. All these are at the front of the house which gets all the bad weather thrown at it. However, the patio doors (3 windows full length) are in woodgrain PVC which is in very good nick and IMHO looks good too. What I would like to do is replace the 'naff' frames with woodgrain pvc which would give the front of the house a more uniformed look. And hopefully last longer (I am a single senior citizen) and don't particularly want to replace again. Each to their own I guess but I will check out Lapeyre and other window suppliers locally here in Pas de Calais. thanks for your replies cartref

Hi, Just wondered, do you have a Paypal account here in France? If so do you have a problem using it? I had one in the UK, no probs at all but as yet over here I have only brought from the UK using my Nationwide cheque account. However, that falls down when cheques are not accepted. I also have a French cheque book, but would maybe like to start and sell stuff now. Are you registered on ebay.fr or ebay.co.uk? sorry for all the questions [:(]but your experiences would be useful to me. cartref

Hi I am a 60 year old learner lady golfer. I had a lot of lessons prior to leaving the UK and played about three 9 hole courses with some friends. I would like to continue playing while in France. I live in the Pas de Calais region and would be interested to see if there were other like minded people (male or female) who would be interested in a game/practice/pitch and putt in the coming months. I know there is a 6 hole course at Bethune for 12€ per adult that may be OK. Look forward to any would-be players replying to the post cartref

Hi I am a 60 year old learner lady golfer. I had a lot of lessons prior to leaving the UK and played about three 9 hole courses with some friends. I would like to continue playing while in France. I live in the Pas de Calais region and would be interested to see if there were other like minded people (male or female) who would be interested in a game/practice/pitch and putt in the coming months. I know there is a 6 hole course at Bethune for 12€ per adult that may be suitable. Look forward to any would-be players replying to the post cartref

Hi, I live in Pas de Calais and the window frames in my house are showing signs of wear. Are they easy to remove and replace? Anybody done this? I would like the wood grain PVC if possible. My patio door is woodgrain PVC and it would match up if the windows were the same. Anybody in this area used a window company for replacements windows? Costly? thanks cartref

Hi I know this question has probably been asked before, but I moved here in September and as yet have not received any bills for taxe fonciere and d'habitation. Who issues these bills and can I find out how much mine will be and arrange monthly payments from January? If not when are they due? I can't remember seeing an amount for my house when I signed the compromis. thanks cartref

Hi I have e-mailed them today and just had a reply to say that the bill I was expecting ( I have been with them since 2nd October) is being dealt with and should arrive in January. You must have been reading my e-mails!! I guess yours has been delayed as well. Had the same problem with my mutuelle company. Sent the details end of November and phone call on Saturday las to say they had not received all the data. Look like an 'end of year' thing. cartref