Simon_Catlin Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Is anyone else having the same difficulties as me?I started ringing them last night from the UK. Closed at 17:00 (FST), so no problem, called today.Started at 09:00 (UK) and got the a male voice in both English and French telling me that all the lines were engaged. Kept trying for a hour about every 10 to 20 minutes. Finally got a female voice (at 14:00 UK) telling me "Welcome to F.T.Orange English Speaking Line, but all the lines were engaged" Kept trying this for an hour. Finally got through - 30 mintes hanging on the phone with a recorded announcement in English telling me they'll speak to me soon. After 30 minutes I got a French ringing tone, a long silent pause and then a French voice telling me the same thing. After 45 minutes of holding on a French number from the UK, I got the dreaded silence again. This kept on for 2 minutes. I gave up and hung up.So, is it normal to wait 30 minutes before being diverted to a French voice?Is it heavily engaged all the time?Does anyone have an email address that they accept in English?All I want to do is setup a Direct Debit on my bill, rather than having to write a cheque and risk getting cut-off. Any advice (as always) will be received with glee! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eslier Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Just call into your nearest France Telecom shop and you will be able to sort it out there. Don't forget to take a RIB from your cheque book with you. Even if you only speak a small amount of French they will help you out - and it's always much easier face to face. You can't set up a prélevement (direct debit) over the telephone in France anyway, in the same way that you can in the UK. Even if you get through to the FT helpline they will have to send the papers out to you to sign and return so it will take longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
le rouge Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Certainly agree that the only way is to go to your local FT office. I had a problem with my original fixed line installation and I wanted them to come out again. The number that the engineer gave me just put me through to 1014 then they said I needed some other number etc etc. I was also told that they wouldnt accept an English mobile no as a contact number (I have been here 3 weeks and changing my mobile hasnt been my priority).When I went to the FT office they were extremely helpful. My French is pretty good I suppose which helps but even so they arranged everything and suggested I give them my English mobile no as contact (grrrr - yes the French are no different, left hand and right hand etc etc).I now have a new line, telephone and Internet.Any future problems I am jumping in the car to the FT office. There doesnt seem to be a better way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Catlin Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 Eslier,Thanks for the info and that was very quick. I am not back at the Flat until later this month and then it is over the weekend, so the forms from FT maybe the best away around this. But does it normally take 45 minutes to get nowhere?Again, thanks for the very quick response. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breton Networks Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 [quote user="Eslier"]You can't set up a prélevement (direct debit) over the telephone in France anyway, in the same way that you can in the UK.[/quote]SAUR did for us a couple of weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chardie Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 We got a new phone line (from pole to house) connected and direct debit set up over the phone with the FT English helpline back in June. No problems whatsoever. I rang the helpline dead on 8am UK time and got through straight away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Catlin Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 Chardie,I have set the Alarm clock! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Catlin Posted October 4, 2007 Author Share Posted October 4, 2007 Rang bang on 9:00. FT - All lines engaged. Tried again and was in hold for 8 minutes. Got htrough and after 10 minutes, they have set up my direct debit. All they wanted was my IBAN, not my RIB, which surpirsed me. They are now sending to me in London a form I need to sign and send to my French Bank.Thank you all for your advice.One piece of information I did gleem, is that they are a very, very small team. The lady I spoke to said that sometimes there maybe only 2 people working at any one time, up to a maximum of 5. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 No help to you I know, but it may be to others;You can set up a prelevement automatique on the FT website - infact you can set up anything for an existing line on the FT website. In the PA case, the form is emailed to you for you to sign and send to your bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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