Comments for No English at SFR at http://www.rivierareporter.com , comment 1 to 38 out of 20 comments http://www.rivierareporter.com Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:10:30 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-693 Having come late to this thread, needless to say I haven't read every single missive since Feb 2008. I largely agree with the writers who say that ... if you live in a foreign country you should learn the language. We have had a warm welcome wherever we've gone and, by greeting people in french, we have been involved in many enjoyable (and informative) evening sessions when we have toured in our camping car. As regards the subject of SFR, we are recent customers of SFR (for our sins) and have found them to be the most inefficient and devious company involved in internet, mobile and comms I have ever encountered. They solicited my custom using sales people who spoke good English and assured us that the setting up of the account and internet system would be flawless ... they guaranteed a working system!! From day 1 (March 2009) the system had problems and it was end of September before we had an acceptable system. In fact we spent nearly 4 months without a functioning telephone line (for voice calls) and an internet connection which was slower than a poor quality dial-up To be fair, much is to do with the antiquated equipment that FT continue to nurse rather than bite the bullet and replace with modern kit. However, as part of the package I was promised reimbursement for the resiliation costs to my previous adsl and phone call supplier. I am still waiting 10 months later despite numerous phone calls and letters and promises. We have struggled to cross the technical language divide (I am a proficient ex IT worker so I can make most equipment work) but it is made worse by a refusal to communicate with ANY english words. This is compounded by the expertise in the field of non-communication also practiced by SFR. I have never had a reply in writing to any of my letters or telephone requests nor in support of their many promises for reimbursement or compensation, though we do get acknowledgment references for every single letter we have sent(a mechanical response). They do not provide any e-mail contact except if you have a commercial enquiry and prefer to quietly ignore all attempts to set things down in the written word. I would advise everyone to avoid SFR like a plague. I shall be closing my account with SFR soon when I have made other arrangements. Despite the poor example SFR sets of the french way of life, I am still in love with people here and the level of respect they hold for each other. It's a social standard which I will be sorry to see disappear. - DaveJJ Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:56:53 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-672 I'm not sure I'd agree with : "I find the French to be extremely encouraging with learning their language and fitting in" but that is often a reflection of our own attitude to them. As far as is SFR concerned, they are amongst the most inefficient and disrespectful of several major French companies I have had the misfortune to deal with - and this has nothing to do with speaking English as my communications with them were in French, admittedly not the best, but adequate. After a series of letters complaining about a billing problem, which were either ignored totally, or 'answered' without actually dealing with the problem I had raised, I wrote them a stiffly worded letter telling them that the people in customer services appeared to be either illiterate, dim witted, or trained not to answer questions asked. I then received a phone call telling me I had to 'rewrite' my letter and show them 'more respect'. Needless to say I am no longer an SFR customer, but I did have the satisfaction recently when they called me to solicit business, of making them waste their time finding an English speaking person whom I then told precisely why I would never use SFR again, and asking her to record the conversation. - MikeP Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:40 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-671 I have lived in France for just short of 4 years now and, I find the French to be extremely encouraging with learning their language and fitting in. SFR on the otherhand (the company , not the employees) are a bunch of 'fill in your own multiple expletives here'. I used them for my internet for a year (transfered from FT) and as FT have now upgraded the infrastructure in my area and SFR haven't I decided to return to FT. As instructed by an email from SFR, I sent the box back to them and a letter to close the account as well. This was ignored and so I sent a 2nd letter which was also ignored. A trip to the local SFR shop and I found out that any mail they receive without a delivery note (yeah I know I should have used one) is refused and, so a 3rd letter was sent with a delivery note. 3 weeks later and I receive a letter from them stating that I am not the account holder and cannot cancel the account (apparently the account is in the name of my father who died 6 months before I opened the account). As this fiasco has continued (3 months at the time of writing) SFR have continued to add 30euros a month to the account and have now issued a letter (to my late father) saying they will take me to court. Suffice as to say , I was bloody furious and called them immediately to 'discuss' the problem. Let us just say , the only help I got was to be told to send them a copy of his death certificate and another copy of the damned account closure letter. SFR may well provide a good 'service' but just try and leave and watch how much bureaucracy they put in your way to slow you down (whilst charging more and more). - Timbo Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:08:24 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-509 I've enjoyed reading the feisty ebb-and-flow debate on this page. Thanks one and all. - David L. Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:00:34 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-480 There are schools in Britain where no one speaks English as a first language. If the Daily Mail is to be believed. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130077/The-schools-NO-ONE-speaks-English-language.html (Sorry I don't know how to put an URL in a comment) - PammyK Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:05:29 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-448 Net man, from a purely technical viewpoint English will do almost anywhere. But to get the most out of living in a country it's far better to be able to talk to the locals in their own language. I learned French and find it opens doors that remain closed to those who haven't bothered. If I lived in Spain, I'd learn Spanish and have a better life there for it. It's a question of courtesy. I have a friend who works with French people in a company where English is the working language. But after hours, he mixes with his colleagues socially in French and gains something those who don't bother will never get — the respect that alain mentions above. Believe me, being respected makes life a whole lot easier. But it is different for a visitor as opposed to a resident. I think everyone understands that visitors might not speak the lingo. - PammyK Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:35:46 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-445 That is the problem! we have to resist and fight against as hard as we could. Every country should protect its language and identity. I m french speaking. When i m in England i speak English. I have no allergy to other languages. I was taught " when in Rome do as Romans do". That means for me : respect - alain Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:56:12 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-443 I disagree with the comments that to visit a country you should learn that country's language. English is a defato standard now, much as, in case you are a technical type, the computer languages C and C are standard and are not in French, Russian or Chinese for that matter. So the continuing "resistance" of France to English in the communication industry is futile and will only backfire, as is obvious from the comment. - net man Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:02:36 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-350 I've found that the "the hostility of the French" is a regional thing. It certainly applies on the Riviera and in Paris but I've found that it's not at all the case in the other regions. On the contrary. As for being "a great place to live", that is largely a relative notion. France is great in ways other countries are not and is not so great where other countries are better. It's a trade-off here like everywhere. But on the whole and taking everything into account I can't think of a better place to live. If I could, that's where I'd be! - Walgren Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:38:44 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-348 I thought we were talking about SFR being useless. Personally I think France is a great place to live, depite the hostility of the French. You could argue that's part of the charm right? My bone is with SFR who, when you call their overseas helpline from outside France, give you an automated message telling you to call a local France only number like 1026. In order to activate my roaming I have two options. I do it online, which requires a code, which they will text me, but hey wait! I don't have roaming so I can't receive texts. Or I go back to France for 30 seconds so that can receive texts or call the 1026 number. Now where did I park my tardis?? Never mind. One large Gallic shrug and alls well right? Bollocks. - Jerd Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:52:51 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-160 I've never once bleated about people in the UK not talking English. As previously stated I'm here on a work placement. Never in my life did I see France as some kind of Utopia and if I had, I would have learned the language as I did Italian and Spanish. I find France an inconvenient way of life for someone in their early 30's. Probably its great when you're in your 50's . I'm not and prefer a life where I can be at ease. France dosent offer this to me and as a result I will be leaving soon. Its all about what you want in life. I've lived in Italy, Colombia, UK, Belgium and Holland and never had the problems that I've had here. Maybe its just me though......you should try a morning at the Prefecture in Nice though. Its pretty despicable. I seen pregnant women barged to the ground as people ran for positions in a queue. I seen policemen shriek "Allez Allez!" as it all went down. This is not a civilised country. - Iain Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:04:51 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-158 Whoo-hoo! Believe I'm right in saying that one of the reasons so many people choose to leave the UK is because of the number of immigrants who either can't or won't integrate and adapt to the British way of life and seem to expect Britain to change her rules to suit them. Seems to me that certain people on this forum could be considered guilty of exactly this same behaviour in France. I get fed up with expats bleating and whingeing because things are done differently here, compared to what we have been used to in their own countries. What right do we have to expect France to change and why should she? Simply to make life a bit easier for a small percentage of expats, most of whom actually live pretty comfortably compared to many French nationals in some areas of France? In case some of you haven't noticed, we are the immigrants here...isn't it up to us to learn the language (and no pathetic excuses: where there's a will, there's a way) and make a real effort to integrate? Tsk! *rolls eyes* Talk about the pot calling the kettle black... - Ghost Girl Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:49:01 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-156 You know...I spent the last 3 days in the UK. Its beautiful, people are courteous & helpful - even down to the staff at the airport security. The only thing I see that the French has over the UK...is its weather....and ability to Welcome a nazi occupation. - Iain Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:07:43 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-149 The French system is very like the Irish one. State universities and public trade schools are free of tution fees (but some books and lodging expenses are subject to income-based support "bourses"). Admission is by exam or academic qualification. Off to the UK later today for 2 weeks. Will leave you lot to get on with... - Sly Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:53:57 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-148 'free access to higher education' forgot to mention this one-Carla there is only 'free access to education' if the parents of the student don't have any money. Anyone who is in a middle income bracket has to pay for their offspring to attend university !! I don't mind an honest debate but PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK before writing completely false and innacurate rubbish. - arthur.B Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:29:23 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-147 Yes it is easy to cherry pick Carla You should try google.fr for 'Banlieu','Greve', 'Deficit', 'Integration', 'Chomage', 'racism'etc etc. There are just as many sink estates in France as there are in the uk.Crime and drug abuse is rife.The french prison system is collapsing under the strain(just like it is in the UK) The only difference is that these huge problems are all tucked conveniently away on the Cote D'azur so that tourists and dwellers in upmarket areas dont' see them. Would you like to come on a trip to L'ariane or the big housing estate in Valluris of an evening(or during the day for that matter) ? You might change your somewhat blinkered opinions if you care to investigate. - arthur.B Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:24:49 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-146 Iain that is totally disingenuous. If you want to cherry pick, any country can be shown to be lacking in some ways. Even the world's most economically successful country - the USA - has its dismal sides. France isn't perfect but in areas that are important to many of us like surviving serious illness, crime levels, private debt, life expectancy, literacy, affordable and efficient rail transport, free access to higher education, etc, it is well ahead of the UK. If Britons are leaving their homeland in greater numbers than any other western developed nation, it is for a reason. I migrate between France and the UK constantly and I see the good and bad in both. But on the whole, France is far ahead of the UK in a great many things (but not all) that really count. The fact that my bank isn't open over lunchtime is not a significant factor to me or to most people I know. It would be convenient if it was, but not essential. If you are going to Google things and use them as examples try google.co.uk with words like "yob culture", "life expectancy", "cancer survival rates", "street crime", "child delinquency", "teenage pregnancy", "NHS dentistry", "binge drinking", "MRSA", "Millennium Dome", "Terminal 5".... etc etc. See how easy it is to cherry pick? - Sly Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:02:26 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-142 Carla, Try doing a google search for 'Clichy-sous-Bois' then come back and tell how wonderful the French are. The UK is, in my opinion head and shoulders above France. Sarkozy can even recognise this by trying to adopt Britain's work ethics. As I stated previously, I'm in France as a contractor...as soon as the job is completed and the next offer comes in - I'll be all over them like a Nun sandwich. - Iain Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:58:05 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-140 Vigorously expressed opinions on all subjects are welcome on this site but please restrain from making gratuitous or aggressive personal insults. They debase the writer, contribute nothing to the debate and will eventually result in posts being deleted. Rebut if you wish but please respect the rights of others to have their say without being insulted for not agreeing with your own point of view. There are logical limits and some of you are very close to overstepping them. Admin - Riviera Reporter Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:15:52 +0100 http://www.rivierareporter.com/content/view/757/132/#comment-138 Don't watch Sky News, sorry. But I do read a lot of British papers on line and it's a simple fact that the UK holds dismal records in many areas, especially the number of Britons who are leaving (they do so for reasons, don't you think?). As for crime, child poverty, lamentable public transport, hospital infections, cancer survival rates, household debt, illiteracy and many other factors, it doesn't take much digging to find the truth. That is that the UK has is certainly not better than France in most areas... except minor details like opening hours. If it really was a better place to be, you'd be there. - Carla Warrent Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:35:08 +0100