Telephone Service

 

When you want a telephone or telephone service, go to the France Telecom office closest to your home. The various addresses are listed in the yellow pages of the telephone directory. When you arrive, go to the accueil (reception desk), and tell them you would like a new service or that you have a problem with your telephone. There is usually someone in the office that speaks English. You will then be asked to sit down and wait in the reception area for a representative to help you. It is not unusual to have to wait 20-30 minutes. If you feel confortable enough with your French, you can call customer service 0800 10 14 31, (or 1014 if you call from home). In case of a problem with the line, call 0800 10 13 31, (or 1013 if you call from home).

For long distance and international calls, you may want to research alternate solutions: many price-competitive companies are available such as CEGETEL, TELE2 (le 4). There are no subscription fees for these services, and you only pay if you use them.

FRANCE TELECOM-CERTIFIED TELEPHONES AND FAXES

Although telephones and faxes can be brought from the USA and will work in France, using a voltage adapter, there are French regulations concerning the use of “foreign” telephones and faxes. A green sticker marked agréé, affixed to the base of the telephone, means that it is France Telecom-certified and therefore meets French regulations. Should you have a problem with your telephone line requiring service and you are not using certified telephones, you could be subject to a fine and possibly be held liable for any damage caused to the telephone network. For UK telephone equipment, it is difficult to source the necessary adapter plug, so it is often considered simpler to buy French equipment in France.

CONNECTING YOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE

If you are having a new telephone service installed, you must bring the following information when ordering your service:
· Some form of formal identification such as a passport or carte de séjour
· Proof of residency such as an electric bill or rental or lease contract
· The number of telephone(s) and the style(s) you would like. (You have the option of providing your own telephones if they have a France Telecom-certified agréé sticker).

You will be asked:
· Whether you would like to be listed in the annuaire (telephone directory) or wish to be liste rouge (unlisted number).
· Whether you want a Minitel, a computer terminal useful for obtaining a wide variety of information.
· Where you would like your billing sent and the payment method you prefer (check or a bank debit). If you would like a facture détaillée (itemized bill) that lists all calls, request it at this time, as calls are not usually itemized; this service is free-of-charge.

Installation will take a few days. Costs for the installation vary according to whether the housing is new or has been vacated for less/more than two months. Billing is every two months and includes the cost of equipment rental and the summary cost of all calls. Calls are not itemized unless you request a facture détaillée (itemized bill); this service is free of charge.

Annuaires (telephone directories) are issued yearly, usually in late November or early December. If you live in Toulouse, your annuaires may be delivered to your home by a Post Office employee. If you live in the suburbs, you will receive a letter telling you when and where to collect your new directory (usually the local Post Office). Take the letter and the old directory to the Post Office and you will be given a new directory in exchange.

DISCONNECTING YOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE

To disconnect your service, send a letter to the Service Commercial (listed on your billing statement) and advise them of the date when you want service to stop. To ensure that there is no misunderstanding, it is a good idea to send your request registered with an accusé de réception, which is the equivalent of a return receipt. You may find that it is easier to visit the agency directly to terminate service. Remember to take your most recent telephone bill with you. If you are moving to another area in France, you may ask for a recording free-of-charge that states your new number when the old number is dialed.

MINITEL

The Minitel is a computer terminal used to access the telephone directory and various other data banks. It is useful for finding phone numbers within France, making plane and train reservations, obtaining hotel information, and much more. It is provided by France Télécom upon request and is connected free of charge. There is a small monthly fee, although charges for actual use are calculated based on the length of consultations and the type of service used. A computer with modem may also be used to access this service, with which only actual “line usage” (timed use) charges are incurred.

The use of the Minitel has been greatly reduced by the boom of the Internet, which offers more services with much cheaper communication charges.

CABINES TELEPHONIQUES (PAY TELEPHONES)

There are three types of pay telephones commonly found in France: 1) those that only accept coins (becoming quite rare), 2) those that only accept a télécarte, and 3) phones that accept either a télécarte or debit/credit card such as carte bleue or VISA (most common). The booth will be marked to tell you what it accepts. If you do not have a télécarte, you can usually find a point phone (coin phones) in cafés and restaurants. A coin telephone can only return the coins you place in the slot which weren’t used. (For example, if you place two 0,50€ coins in the telephone for a call that costs 0,30€, you will receive one 0,50€ coin change. Had a 1,00€ coin been used, no change would have been returned.) See page 52 for a translation of the instructions that commonly appear on-screen.

Télécartes (Telephone Cards)
Télécartes (telephone cards) can be used in most public telephone booths. A télécarte can be purchased at France Telecom offices, post offices, tabacs, presses and anywhere you see a sign “télécarte en vente ici” (“télécarte on sale here”). They are available in 50- or 120-unit denominations; one unit is comparable to one local call. Cards are disposable (and even collectable) when all units are used. For maximum convenience, it is recommended that you carry a télécarte with you at all times; you may also want to give one to your kids as well. Télécartes are easy to use - just follow these instructions:

To use a télécarte, carte bleue or VISA in a pay phone:

Décrochez	Pick up the receiver
Introduire carte ou faire numéro libre	Insert the card, face up (note the direction of the arrow) or dial a toll-free number
Fermez le volet SVP	Close the door/flap over the card. (This message seldom appears, as phones now have a slot into which the card is inserted)
Solde: xx unités	The calling units remaining on the card
Numéroter	Dial the number or toll free number
Numéro appelé	The number dialed appears on screen as well as the number of units remaining on the card
Retirez la carte	Remove your card.

TELEPHONING IN FRANCE

To make calls within France, dial the 10-digit telephone number directly. The first two digits are, in fact, area codes. The area code for the greater Paris area is 01, with the four other area codes (located in approximate geographical regions): 02 northwest, 03 northeast, 04 southeast and 05 southwest. Mobile phones, regardless of province, begin with 06.

Vocabulary - Telephone Conversation

Toll free call (green number)	Numéro vert
I wish to call collect.	Je voudrais téléphoner en P.C.V.
Could you tell me how much that costs?	Pourriez vous me dire combien ça coûte ?
Can I dial direct?	Est-ce une ligne directe ?
I wish to speak with . . .	Je voudrais parler à . . . .
Could I speak with your wife?	Pourriez-vous me passer votre femme ?
When will she be back?	Quand sera-t-elle de retour ?
I’ll call again later.	Je vous rappellerai plus tard.
What number to you want?	Quel numéro demandez-vous ?
You have the wrong number.	Vous vous êtes trompé de numéro.
Excuse me.	Excusez-moi.
I have made a mistake.	Je me suis trompé de numéro.
Would you ask her to call me?	Demandez-lui de me rappeler, s’il vous plait.
Would you tell her that I called?	Pouvez-vous lui dire que j’ai appelé?
I am .....	Je suis .....
They have moved. .	Ils ont déménagé
They no longer live here.	Ils n’habitent plus ici.
Who’s calling please?	Qui est à l’appareil, s’il vous plaît?
I cannot hear you.	Je ne vous entends pas.
I can hardly hear you.	J’arrive à peine à vous entendre.
Speak up, please.	Parlez plus fort, s’il vous plaît.
I don’t understand. .	Je ne comprends pas
What was that?	Je n’ai pas entendu or Comment ?
Would you repeat that, please?	Voulez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît?
Speak slowly please	Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît.
Help me!	Au secours !
Come quick!	Venez vite !
Don’t hang up.	Ne quittez pas.
The line is busy	Le poste/La ligne est occupé.
There’s no answer. .	Ca ne répond pas
She is just coming.	Elle arrive.
I’m going to find her.	Je vais la chercher.
She is not here.	Elle n’est pas la.
She is out.	Elle est sortie.
She is doing errands.	Elle fait des courses.
She is at the market.	Elle est au marché.
I heard you and understand.	Entendu.
Who is calling?	Qui est à l’appareil?
What is your fax number?	Quel est votre numéro de fax?
Hold on /Don’t hang up.	Ne quittez pas.

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

When calling from outside the country, drop the first 0 in the 10-digit number and replace it with the country code (33) for France. (For example, to reach “05 61 12 34 56” from the USA, dial “011 33 5 61 12 34 56”.)

Telephoning the UK
To call the Royaume Uni (UK), dial 00 followed by the country code (44) for the UK and then the area code, omitting the first digit (For example, for a number beginning with the area code 01244, dial 00+44+1244, followed by the full telephone number.) Lowest rate calls to the UK are from 21:30-08:00 weekdays, 14:00-08:00 Saturdays and all day Sunday. You cannot dial 01800 freephone numbers from France.

Telephoning the USA
Calling from France to the USA can be more expensive than a call made from the USA to France. Although France Télécom has become more competitive for international calls and even offer some “discount” rate plans, it is recommended to shop around for a long-distance provider (i.e. CEGETEL or TELE2). Price information for calling any country outside France (without using ATT or MCI) can be found in advertisements appearing in newspapers and magazines, as well as on TV and the radio.

When calling the USA, it is the least costly from 02:00 - 12:00. Most USA 800 toll-free numbers are now accessible from France; however, the call is not toll-free from outside of the USA and is charged as a normal international call. (There is usually a recorded warning before the call is completed, allowing the caller to hang up if they choose not to be charged for the call).

To the USA dial:	00 1 + area code + 7 digit USA number
To the UK dial:	00 44 + area code + UK number
Telephone Information in French	12
Reverse Charge Calls (PCV)	10
Information for USA	00 33 12 11
Information for UK	00 33 12 44
English-speaking operator	00 33 12 13 (wait for the French recording to end)

To call American operators from France, dial:

ATT	0 800 99 00 11
MCI / WORLDPHONE	0 800 99 00 19
SPRINT	0 800 99 00 87

E-MAIL AND THE INTERNET/WWW - GETTING CONNECTED

E-mail, the Internet and the World Wide Web have dramatically changed our lives. Communicating with our friends and relatives, as well as searching for information, buying, conducting business, planning your vacation or pursuing other recreational activities, downloading (to name only a few of the options available) are but a click away. For many, the act of “surfing the net” and/or “browsing” have become and extremely enjoyable and interesting pastime.

Downtown Toulouse has many cybercafés where you can surf the Web or read your emails while having a drink; (the main post offices in the greater Toulouse area also offer Internet access):
· Espace Internet Wilson - 76 allées Franklin Roosevelt
· Resomania - 85 rue Pargaminières
· Microshop Informatique - 10 rue Gabriel Péri
· Bloodstation - 42, rue Pargaminières
· Toulouse Internet Club - 1, rue du Périgord.

When you subscribe to a French Internet provider, the call will be charged to your French telephone bill at a local rate. (If you keep your Provider based in the USA, UK, Germany or elsewhere, the calls will usually be charged at an international calling call rate, which is extremely costly.)

The five Internet providers mentioned below were available at the time of publication. They will send literature upon request to help you decide which provider will best meet your needs.

 

Provider:	AMERICA ON LINE (AOL)
Language:	French link to AOL in the USA
Location of provider:	Access via 08 36 number at local rates
To get connected:	Telephone: 01 69 19 94 50 – bilingual
Help line:	Telephone: 01 69 19 94 50 – bilingual

Provider:	COMPUSERVE
Language:	French or English
Location of provider:	French national number
To get connected:	Telephone: 08 03 00 60 00 – bilingual
Help line:	Telephone: 08 03 00 90 00 – bilingual

Provider:	WANADOO
Language:	French
Location of provider:	Toulouse number
To get connected:	Telephone: 08 03 83 33 14 – French
Help line:	Telephone: 08 03 83 33 14 – French

Provider:	CLUB-INTERNET
Language:	French
Location of provider:	French national number
To get connected:	Telephone: 08 01 80 09 00
Help line:	Telephone: 01 55 45 45 45

Provider:	WORLDONLINE
Language:	French or English
Location of provider:	French national number
To get connected:	Telephone: 08 21 07 21 07 – bilingual
Help line:	Telephone: 08 21 07 21 07 – bilingual
Web site:	www.usabankcorp.com