I think some of us are using these devices.
My transponder arrived a few days ago and I am jolly excited. I have been prohibited from fitting it yet, but as soon as she turns her back ...
Anyway, any hints/tips/cautionary tales?
If not, I'll report back on my return mid-August.
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Do NOT store it next to your mobile phone! I t causes the battery in the Telepeage to go flat very quickly!
I find that range is increased somewhat if it is held outside the window on approach, maybe the coated windscreen has an effect? It allows you to 'drive' at the barrier!
I have not tested it on the 'high speed' lanes on outskirts of Paris - would be interested if someone can report.
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Had one for about four years, they are brilliant things, and enable one to be very very smug as you sail through.
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well done grovveyMucker, you will be well smug. I would like to know how you ordered it & who through as I have tried a couple of years without sucess & how long did it take as Im off to france for a month 4 weeks today ?
Enjoy
Inj Doc
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Yes, I could do with one of these too, we always drive through France at least twice a year.
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Go do a search on the Total Fance Forum, they are extensively discussed there, together with how to get one:
www.totalfrance.com/
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I've had one a couple of years and, apart from not knowing how much you are spending (although you have no choice as you are on the autoroute anyway) the only problem I have had is the very first time I used it. Got too close to the car in front and operated the barrier for him, then it didn't work for me. Peage attendants soon sorted me out. So stay 2 vehicles length from the guy in front.
Two more things. They are as attractive as satnavs so don't leave it on view in an unattended car and if you do attach it to the screen remember to remove the sucker pad mark.
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Just applied for mine on line with Sanef.
Un piece de gateaux, as they probably don't say in France.
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Just finished updating my details with Sanef who I think are the only company doing the 'badges' online so here is the link for online monthly subs
tinyurl.com/2hm676
If you don't spend more than a month or two in France then the monthly scheme is probably best for a 'contrat particulier'. HGV drivers and more permanent residents need to look at the other options. I think it took about 5 days for the 'badge' to arrive in the UK and I get a paper bill sent every month in which I use it. Works all over France, including Millau bridge and some other tolls which are marked with the telepeage sign. I keep mine in a dash cubby and just hold it up with the sticky pad side forward when I arrive at a barrier. SWMBO now refuses to get rid of any small change we may have collected now this 'badge' means she doesn't have to lean out counting euros. Only once had a problem when a car followed me in closely and it didn't work straight away. My usual vehicle is 5mm under the 2m height but it always sails through because there seems to be quite a margin built in. Would not risk it in a SUV with a loaded roof rack, however, but they might let you through no problem in one of the other lanes with no barrier and a telepeage sign. Never seen the gendarmes lurking at the telepeage lane for their routine checks.
Edited by Harmattan on 17/07/2009 at 11:48
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>>> Never seen the gendarmes lurking at the telepeage lane for their routine checks.<<<
Dont rely on it! I was pulled by the French customs, going North from Toulouse, last January. Positioned 50m beyond the Telepeage Lane on the lhs. Most likely looking for people who have loaded with illegal quantities of duty free from Andorra. Customs checks almost seem to more frequent than Gendarme checks in the South.
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If you are driving in Florida they have the Sunpass system www.sunpass.com/MiniWebPDF_E.pdf . Never remembered in time to get one, but their system has no barrier, you just slow to about 30 mph and drive straight through the special lane - no barrier to wait for...
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/07/2009 at 15:52
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Go to the Sanef website-it's the only Telepeage website that allows you to pay with a UK card.
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A new thing since I signed up is that Sanef is now sometimes asking for a photocopy of your credit card; presumably they have been running into card-related scams. When my old card expired I had a letter by 'snail mail' asking me to send the photocopy of the replacement or my 'badge' would be temporarily suspended. No more dangerous or safer than dealing with any company that keeps your card details I suppose.
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Thanks everyone for sanef info, is there a height retsriction ? towing caravan & don't remember seeing height or lenght restrictions ? but then never driven through autotoll. Alway had to queue & pay?
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There is a height restriction-you will still have to queue and pay but you can just hand the cashier your ticket and the doofer when you're towing and they will charge it to your machine.
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Yes, mine was via Sanef too (though other companies offer them online). Very quick and easy process. Arrived within a week.
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ALIS are currently doing a free telepeage doofer - for details
www.offres-alis.com/fr/confort.php
you also get a free CD of music (a bit dodgy), a map of France and a florescent jacket
Bob
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I have had a telepeage for a couple of years now. Can someone help with this? The credit card that I registered with has now expired and I need to update it. However, the website does not seem to allow for this. I can log in to my details such as name and address etc but not the CC. I have not had any letters from Sanef as Harmattan has. I am about to pop over for a few days and will want to use it but I'm a bit worried about getting in the 't' lane and then embarrasingly have to reverse out!!!
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Write to SANEF with a a photocopy of your card. I have had to do this on two occasions, the first when my card was used fraudulently, and the card company issued a new one, and this year when my card had expired.
SANEF never notify you that they have received your new card details, but this year I sent them an e.mail to which they replied.
Edited by Robbie on 05/08/2009 at 11:43
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I have had a telepeage for a couple of years now. Can someone help with this? The credit card that I registered with has now expired and I need to update it.
They usually write to me and ask me to renew it - I just fill in the details on the form and fax it back, along with a photocopy of the card. I was nervous last year as I only faxed it 4 days before I was travelling, but everything worked ok.
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Thanks guys for your assistance. I will try writing with the photocopy. Clearly there's no real consistency on SANEF's approach to updating and I fear I will still be worried about going into the T lane if the message hasn't got through!! Only the French would come up with the brilliant idea in the first place and then make a hash of it!!!
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Potential problem:
From August 1st one of my credit cards will incur a minimum £2.75 or 2.75% charge (or thereabouts) for foreign currency transactions.
Does the card work through a prepaid amount which is topped up at intervals ?
or is each toll barrier a separate transactions ?
or is there a single charge at the end of every month ?
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Had mine some years and it works fine. They will also give you more than one device if you ask so I bought my parents one for their car as they visit France a lot. I pay the all the bills - they get toll free driving on french motorways.
The credit card did change and I rang up and gave them new details over the phone. No problems.
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I used my Telepeage device rather alot last month - 1700 miles driven across France. To date they have charged my card for the outward journey and the ?2 monthly fee, but not my return journey. I expect a statement will come in the post in due course.
Last year my credit card changed - they sent me a note in the post and I posted back a copy of the new card as described by other posters - I also found the web site did not grant me access to do this. I emailed them to make sure the card update was received -I did not want to find out the hard way when using the device next...
PS I kept it out of sight at all times - even on motorway service area, the device is not linked to any specific vehicle and if stolen or lost could easily be used fraudently - and charged to the card for payment.
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Brad, do you have the number you called. When I try to call on the number mentioned in my original letter all I get is a recorded message in french telling me the number has changed but at that point my language skills run out!! I have tried to e mail but get no response and I'm a little wary of sending my card details to an e mail address that has no guarantee of being the right place...
Do they speak English when you call?
Thx
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Potential problem: From August 1st one of my credit cards will incur a minimum £2.75 or 2.75% charge (or thereabouts) for foreign currency transactions. Does the card work through a prepaid amount which is topped up at intervals ? or is each toll barrier a separate transactions ? or is there a single charge at the end of every month ?
Mine only charges at the end of each month(all transactions lumped together)-there are several companies that don't charge extra for foreign transactions within the EU.
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Thanks jc2. I eventually found the info on only one of the companies sites.
So monthly account it will be.
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