One thing that has really started to annoy me now I am living in France is that fact that I have started, nay, had to start downloading some of the Programmes broadcast in the UK.

I genuinely dislike the thought of piracy [even though I am glad that now I am downloading copies of TV programmes, I am not going to be affected by the Draconian Mandelson measures] and when in the past I have downloaded a movie I have either went to the Cinema to experience it in it’s full glory or bought the DVD AND watched it again when it is on TV.  However I only download TV programmes which I’ll likely watch again when they are finally broadcast in my country.

STV however has let me watch some of their programmes, which is a bit of a relief but I am still refusing to watch River City, and with the possible demise of Taggart will there be anything worth watching on STV

Living in the European Union you would expect that the nature of the union would be allow the open borders of information.  I can read the BBC website, but I cannot view [some] BBC programmes.  I understand this as it’s funded by the TV licence which I always paid.  However when it comes to the commercial programming because I am outside the UK, I cannot watch UK programmes without having to defraud a certain slightly racist satellite broadcaster and say I am living in Paris, Surrey…

So, why have I had to do it?  Well plainly, I am getting too many links on twitter that say that programmes are on and I really want to see them, but it will be a while before they are shown in France.  They are only just showing Torchwood season 3 now (without the VO).  This means I have had to download the must see Waters of Mars, and Jamies America, and it looks like I will be doing it again at Christmas for the Tennant Finale.

Where programmes are shown in France and have VO, I am happy because if I struggle with the French I can switch it to english, especially in shows like Bones, [Dr] House and, the future Mrs Scotsdreamers favourite, Medium (which I secretly like as much as her).

The good side however is I don’t have to endure countless hours of the Katie Price Show (aka I’m a celeb) so when my mum calls I can happily say I don’t know whats she’s talking about.

However, with the whole European Community/Council/Union thing I would have at least hoped to have been able to see a greater breadth of International programming within the EU as a standard.

Weren’t the original goals of the EEC/EU  to remove measures restricting free competition & to develop the economies of the member states into a single common market, this sort of censorship surely negates that to some extent.

So how are you able to get hold of some of your native broadcasting without the need of a satellite dish?

Is there some sort of expat registration so we can get British or any other EU TV programmes that we know and love so dearly…

Well about time I wrote another entry about French Customer Services, this time it’s not public transport, it’s against the company with the highest suicide rate in France – France Telecom, well, actually it’s about one of their other companies Orange

As far as I recall in the UK orange provided nothing but exceptional customer services, so this was even more annoying when I get this level of experience in France.

I have a iPhone 3GS and when I bought it I specifically said it would be for international calls and text messages.  Thus I was sold the all inclusive Origami First for iPhone.  3 months down the line and after making a relatively lengthy call to the states I get a message saying I am over my contract by €90+ and that I should pay it off. 

I do just that.  2 days later my credit card is lighter of €90 and my amount over my contract is now in excess of €100 and my phone is blocked.  I can only call the number 700 which is free, only until it is connected to an agent.  So not only do I get bas service I have to pay for it as well!

It turns out that the payment was not correctly indicated on my account and the agent said they would now unblock my phone.

Erm…

I also asked where my free SMS messages were, the ones that are included in my contract and is clearly written in black and white (well Orange and white) on the site…

Ummm…

I asked how my contract amount is more than I have been billed for – my calls should come out of my monthly tariff before going over…

(cough!)

I also asked why they say I am over €100 over my contract but when you add all the numbers on the online statement it comes to €47…

Ahem…

Starting to see where I am going with this yet?

So after making the poor girl cry on the other end of the phone and saying that I was fraudulently sold the phone as the shop promised services on the contract which, were in fact a bunch of porkie pies.  I get a €15 discount on my next bill, and my phone unblocked, no inclusive SMS and no preferential international calls…

Apparently these included options were not included with the “Old” Origami First for iPhone tariff, but is with the “New” Origami First for iPhone tariffs…

Over an hour after my phone was to be unblocked, I am still waiting to have the 3G facilities and cannot call, text or even do any of the free stuff available on my contract.

We end up phoning again, to be told “It’s fine on our system, there must have been a technical issue”…

Where have I heard that before?

When we ask when it will be fixed were told that the technical team leaves at 20:00 and wont be back in the office until 08:00.

There is only one word I can think to answer this.  Bullshit, pure and utter bullshit!

I have a history of angst against mobile phone companies, especially with 3 who sell your data and then say someone hacked their database of customer data, but this takes the fucking biscuit! 

I am half tempted to post a Suicide for Dummies book to the company but, I will probably end up opting to go to SFR and see if they can do something to help me burst my contract… 

As we say in Scotland, I hope their next shits a hedgehog!