Somebody kindly sent me this link - you too can avoid the queues on French motorways for the princely sum of a ?30 outlay, plus ?2 per month when it is used. Debited directly to your bank account, apparently.
www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...e
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I'm sure this was mentioned on here within the past eighteen months.
It's quite simple to arrange. Go to here www.sanef.fr/fr/ecommerce/particulier/libert_sousc...M and print out the form. You will need to take a photocopy of your credit card - you can't use an English bank, but credit cards are fine - and return that with your form.
Your transponder will arrive within a week.
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Unlike the UK, (the threads about the anti-car theme here are really, really depressing and are getting me down), the French are keen to get cars moving. I've even seen several special offers on telepéage doofers with no deposit - can't remember where though I was going too fast ! ! ! !
Came back yesterday - diesel 1.02 Euros (around 68p -69p per litre) in Boulogne.
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Alternatively, arrive in the telepeage lane in a car with English plates,.
Shout that you don't understand, in English, shout some more, get waved through for free
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I read often, only post occasionally
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>>get waved through for free>>
Only ever happened to me once...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Unless you're travelling regularly you don't need one;UK credit cards work in the credit card lanes.
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I bought mine through Sanef, you can apply online with your credit card.
I normally don't travel through France more than twice a year, mainly in the holiday periods and personnally feel the minimal cost for the convenience well worth while. I can not understand why more of the French don't use them rather than sitting in up to 30 min queques at the main peages.
Even swmbo thought it was one of my better purchases as she no longer has to do anything at the tolls.
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We used to use the alternative routes if possible - most of them are excellent standard and you see more of the countryside.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Unless you're travelling regularly you don't need one;UK credit cards work in the credit card lanes.
Yes, but if you travel alone it saves the hassle of getting out of the car to collect a ticket and then having to get out again to pay. Not only that, you never have to queue, as mostly the Telépeage lanes are empty.
I have a holiday home in France and getting a transponder was one of the best things I've done.
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Isn't there a height restriction of 2m on most Telepeage lanes? No good with a people carrier or 4x4 if you have a roofbox on :o(
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Now that they have added the option of c/card payment to most of the lanes,it does not cause a concern,unless ,as you say ,you are on your own.
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Or you don't like sitting in queues.
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Thanks Robbie.
Does anyone know where/how to get a credit/debit card that works with automated French petrol pumps?
Apparently they will not accept UK credit/debit cards. Which can cause a problem when they are mostly unmanned late at night or on a Sunday.
HJ
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This from another motoring site:
......regarding getting petrol on a Sunday - if you use chip & pin card to withdraw some cash first, this will temporarily put the card "on the system" and greatly increase the chances of the card working on self service petrol thingies for the next couple of weeks or so.....
Barclays France *appear* to allow you to open a French bank account from an English address:
www.barclays.fr/sitefr/11/318/opening-current-acco...l
And some general info about French bank accounts:
www.frenchentree.com/fe-finance/DisplayArticle.asp...0
Couldn´t find anything specific. Others may have more luck.
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Only by having an account at a French bank tho' I have been told(but not tried) that round the ferryports there are some that take UK cards.
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Thanks Robbie. Does anyone know where/how to get a credit/debit card that works with automated French petrol pumps? Apparently they will not accept UK credit/debit cards. Which can cause a problem when they are mostly unmanned late at night or on a Sunday. HJ
The automated pumps will only allow French debit or credit cards. I have heard that the French will be changing their card system in line with the rest of Europe but have no idea when this will be. There is a brand new automated Leclerc filling station on the N154 near Dreux which has a notice in English stating that it will not accept UK cards.
You will have to open a French bank account to get a card. I have an account with CCSO, part of HSBC, but I refused to have a debit card because they make a charge for having one. I find it easier, and cheaper, to use my Nationwide card for cash, and my Saga Visa card for purchases as neither charge transaction fees. My HSBC card charges 2.75% and the exchange rate isn't as good as Nationwide.
Unless you spend long periods in France, and need to pay bills from the UK, then it's not worth having a French account. I need to pay bills e.g. insurance, so I only have a cheque book.
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English credit cards in French automatic fuel pumps - used not to work but was there over Easter and managed to buy diesel at a Geant and a Leclerc supermarkets.
Can also vouch for Nationwide cards. No cheaper way to buy goods than with their gold credit card and no cheaper way to get cash (from an ATM) than their debit card IMHO.
Thanks for the telepeage tip.
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I had no luck obtaining petrol from automatic machines in February.
The Telegraph confirmed on Weds/Thurs this week that Nationwide charges 0% on cash and debit card transactions abroad. Unlike any other bank.
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Saga charges 0% in the EU.
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English credit cards in French automatic fuel pumps - used not to work but was there over Easter and managed to buy diesel at a Geant and a Leclerc supermarkets.
Did you actually insert your card in the pump to obtain diesel without paying at the kiosk?
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Yes;there won't be anyone in the kiosk.
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Yes;there won't be anyone in the kiosk.
Are you also 530ddriver?
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The problem you will get is that if you open a French Bank account , a charge card will cost you about 3.? per month. As a part time resident this is well worth while, but for an occasional traveller probably not worth it unless you have a French source of euro income credited directly to your french Euro account.
The other solution is to carry enough cash to pay a French card holder to fill your tank, (that is what have I done in the past).
I think that other posters indicating that they have paid in Geant et al using UK cards refers to attended stations, NOT automated patrol pumps.
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pmh (was peter)
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