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Hi, It was on the 'AFerryfreight' website.... ....it actually said With Eurotunnel, all private use vans carrying goods exceeding 3 cubic metres in volume (similar in volume to the boot area of a large family estate car), must be booked as freight. If commercial goods are being carried you must book as freight regardless of the size. If you are carrying only private goods less than 3 cubic metres, please visit our passenger website's Eurotunnel page So many mixed messages! Some, like yourself who have taken a van laod back on ordinary crossing, others who say they tried to do that but wre made to go freight. I suppose it's the luck of the draw!! Thanks for you comments. Wendy

Thanks, I will phone them. Just seems crazy that the limit is 3 cubic metres as that's only (in Eurotunnel's words, about the same as the boot of a family car!!)

Can anybody clarify the situation as to when a vehicle has to be booked as freight rather than private? Vehicle in question is a VW Crafter 3.5 tonne panel van. Length 7m Height 2.8m Going empty UK to France. Returning with household furniture. Thanks

I received this reply from DEFRA yesterday. "Thank you for your email dated 6th April 2014. Yes it is fine if you have replacement passports issued in France Please be advised that additional pages may not be attached to the EU pet passport. If an essential section has become filled, (rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatment), you will need to obtain a re-issue passport. Re-issue passports, like the originals, should be obtained from your vet. Please note that the other sections of the pet passport are required if you wish to return to GB with your pet from a unlisted non-EU Country. For your information there will be a couple of minor changes made to the pet passport at the end of this year/ start of 2015 and more sections will be available for tapeworm treatment."

Thanks for replies... ...I have already emailed Defra but, as yet, have had no reply. Will await their reply!

Who is your UK vet?! Our UK vet charged £30 for our dog's passport renewal and, this time has said it will be £40 (per dog). Our French vet says they charge €10. I was told by UK vet that inserting extra pages was not allowed! Thanks for replying.

My UK vet said that inserting extra pages was not permissible! Perhaps I'll ask my French vet about that possibility. Thanks for replying.

We have two dogs whose passports are full & need new ones. Does anybody know whether French vets are able to do the renewal if the passports were originally supplied in the UK? My understanding is that these passports are a European document as opposed to just UK? We travel to & from UK several times a year as we have a 'maison secondaire' in France.

If I order goods (clothes)  from a US website to be delivered to France, can anybody tell me what import charges are involved upon delivery?

CA Centre could well be an option. It's always handy to have an English speaking option although, like you, most of our banking is done online these days.  Enjoying Creuse......we were in Gers before this. Thanks Wendy

Certainly an option...thanks for your thoughts!

We have held a CA Britline account since 2004 and it has been useful having an English speaking bank. However, we are now looking to change banks and wonder whether anyone can give us any advice which Bank to go for. We would prefer to still have access to a bank with English speaking facilities (although not essential). We are based in Creuse (23).  

Does anyone know anything about the package offers from www.phonesexpat.com as advertised in the 'Connexion'?

I saw one last week...just flew in front of the car for about 10 seconds! Usually we can hear them in our wood but don't see them. Beautiful!

Thank you...very helpful!

Please can anybody give me a link for French butchery cuts?

Thank you for replying. We have already taken a French marriage contract (Communaute Universelle) so we have no problem as to what happens when one of us dies. We are interested to know why our UK solicitor should advise us to make a separate French will and not include the French property in our UK will.

Having updated our will in UK (where we are resident) our solicitor advised us to make a separate French will to cover our property in France. Is this advisable/beneficial? Other contacts have given conflicting advice!

Thanks for your advice! [:)]

So...if we are going to be in France from mid June to October, the dog will be considered 'resident'. And if that's the case, will it need yearly rabies jab? This is so confusing!!

Can someone enlighten me as to why there is a charge to take a pet on a ferry crossing when they are not allowed out of the car? I have recently been in communication with SeaFrance and as yet have received no logical explanation! We have taken our Jack Russell to France several times and, on more than one occasion, our fares have been cheaper than his!! 

Can anyone tell me about the origin of French volets and why designs seem to differ according to areas?