Do I buy a toll tag for France?

[Trevor Wbm]

I was just looking at the Ulys tags but was put off by negative reviews of initial direct debits failing and nasty letters being issued. I assume you live in UK and didn't have any problems ? Seems a cheaper option than emovi so may still risk it!

No problems so far, and prompt responses to requests for new windscreen bracket for the tag when I changed vehicles.

 

[HKF]

Does it work in Italy?

I don't think so.

 

[robrace]

Been going to France for 40 years! Never booked sites or Aires!Thats the beauty! Can stop or move on at Will.If you are worried book a site for a few days at start of holiday.or do as we do go to Gravelines Aire(20 mins from Calais)unwind for 24 hours then set off on your adventureGood restaurant adjacent to aire!Do the same when coming back!Calais a no go area now

 

[Arniebear57]

We were newbies last year in September 4th to 15th and loved every minute, we had nothing booked but we had Honfleur as our 1st aire to aim for. We had a couple of days there then went between aires and municple campsites just arriving with nothing booked and no problems getting in anywhere. We're off again in June and it can't come fast enough sadly a thing called work stops us going earlier
We didn't use a tag just peage as we went, we only had a issue at 1 where we didn't have a ticket to put in to say how far we had come but apparently we didn't need 1.
Relax, have fun you will love it

 

[lonnie]

No problems so far, and prompt responses to requests for new windscreen bracket for the tag when I changed vehicles.

Hi Trevor, as above, my direct debit failed with Ulys (First Direct don't offer international DDs I have learned today) so can I ask if you pay by DD or have found an alternative with Ulys please?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Hi Trevor, as above, my direct debit failed with Ulys (First Direct don't offer international DDs I have learned today) so can I ask if you pay by DD or have found an alternative with Ulys please?

I've got a Credit Agricole BritLine account in France, so I set up the payments from that.
French banks use IBAN numbers rather than account and sort code, and you can set that up from a ULYS on line account once activated. I've just entered my UK account IBAN into the site where it allows change of details, and it didn't throw up an error with it being a GB number rather than the French FR, so that might work.

 

[Itsmcb]

Thought I should point out that applying for a crit air sticker does automatically allow you to drive into any French city. It will depend on the colour sticker your van qualifies for and then the colour sticker the city/area allows in at any particular time.

 

[DBK]

I've got a Credit Agricole BritLine account in France, so I set up the payments from that.
French banks use IBAN numbers rather than account and sort code, and you can set that up from a ULYS on line account once activated. I've just entered my UK account IBAN into the site where it allows change of details, and it didn't throw up an error with it being a GB number rather than the French FR, so that might work.

The Britline account looks good. Thanks for the heads up. I've had issues at a few aires which wouldn't take an English bank card. I think I'll apply for one. Hopefully we will count as a "regular visitor" to France and can get an account.

 

[lonnie]

I've got a Credit Agricole BritLine account in France, so I set up the payments from that.
French banks use IBAN numbers rather than account and sort code, and you can set that up from a ULYS on line account once activated. I've just entered my UK account IBAN into the site where it allows change of details, and it didn't throw up an error with it being a GB number rather than the French FR, so that might work.

Thanks Trevor,

I was able to go through the account creation process and provide my IBAN. The process fell over when Ulys tried to take the 'test' 1 EUR and it was declined by First Direct. I've contact Ulys today to see if there are any other options.

The Credit Agricole option looks good so if you just send me your IBAN, I'll be sure to settle up with you at the end of each month

 

[HKF]

Thanks Trevor,

I was able to go through the account creation process and provide my IBAN. The process fell over when Ulys tried to take the 'test' 1 EUR and it was declined by First Direct. I've contact Ulys today to see if there are any other options.

The Credit Agricole option looks good so if you just send me your IBAN, I'll be sure to settle up with you at the end of each month

Why not get a tag from ATMB? You can pay with a UK credit card and have the added cover in case of a dispute All in English, too, if you need that. I live in France and use it and pay with my UK Barclaycard

www.atmb.com/en

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[lonnie]

Why not get a tag from ATMB? You can pay with a UK credit card and have the added cover in case of a dispute All in English, too, if you need that. I live in France and use it and pay with my UK Barclaycard

www.atmb.com/en

Excellent thanks. I'll give Ulys a day or two to respond and then try the ATMB route if I don't get any joy. I'd like to avoid having to send the tag bag if I can.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

The Britline account looks good. Thanks for the heads up. I've had issues at a few aires which wouldn't take an English bank card. I think I'll apply for one. Hopefully we will count as a "regular visitor" to France and can get an account.

It was a fairly painless process and the online banking is easy once set up. Be aware that French banks aren't joined up as they are in the UK: your account will be in the CA Normandy area, so should you need to visit you can't guarantee that a branch elsewhere can access your account. That said I've never needed to visit.

Another company I've started using, for moving money into the account, is https://wise.com/ ... easy to set up, they give a good exchange rate updated very regularly and once everything is set up the transfer takes minutes. They also do a debit card that uses the currency you're dealing with which might be useful lonnie .

 

[HKF]

.......

Another company I've started using, for moving money into the account, is https://wise.com/ ... easy to set up, they give a good exchange rate updated very regularly and once everything is set up the transfer takes minutes. They also do a debit card that uses the currency you're dealing with which might be useful lonnie .

I've used Wise for years, for business and personal use, and can recommend them 100% The only thing they can't help with, at the moment, is a French IBAN. The Euro IBAN is a Belgian one. If anyone is looking for an online French bank with a French IBAN, I can recommend Shine.

 

[Suenliam]

Back to driving on the right. Be extra careful in car parks. Our natural inclination is to steer left when facing oncoming traffic if there are no obvious lane markings. Also keep your wits about you when turning left at crossroads - even after many years of driving in France it does not seem right to cross the traffic lane and drive up the "wrong" side of the road. Having said a couple of days and it will seem quite ordinary to drive on the right. We have more problems returning home and getting used to left hand lane driving!
Check out Neufchatel which has a campsite and aire. Easy walk into the town and last time we drove through the market looked good. You will need to check the day. Mr Google has the answer.
Sue

 

[cesargame]

Hi Trevor, as above, my direct debit failed with Ulys (First Direct don't offer international DDs I have learned today) so can I ask if you pay by DD or have found an alternative with Ulys please?

Hi Lonnie how did you sorted out your problem?thanks

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[lonnie]

Hi Lonnie how did you sorted out your problem?thanks

Yep, cancelled Ulys and went with ATMB. All the Comms are in French (naturally) but the process - and the tag - worked like a dream!

 

[cesargame]

Yep, cancelled Ulys and went with ATMB. All the Comms are in French (naturally) but the process - and the tag - worked like a dream!

How long took atmb to arrive at your home??I bought atmb today and I’ve got 2 weeks time to go in holidays so I need it asap!!

 

[DDJC]

As we travel mostly in France and Italy, I have just ordered a Bip&Go. Covers Spain and Portugal as well.

 

[BikerGraham]

Yes
Have a mango or whatever they are called now and the ease with which it works is brilliant.

French tolls are damned expensive though so hardly use the autoroutes but when we do the tag is so good. SWMBO can continue sleeping

 

[sussexlad]

I have not applied for a Tag in the past because of this extract from the T&C’s on the Emovis website.

Are all the providers the same?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Al n Val]

I have not applied for a Tag in the past because of this extract from the T&C’s on the Emovis website.

Are all the providers the same?

View attachment 772863

I have a Class 2 tag and get through everytime with no problem

5000kgs - 3.05mtr height

 

[lonnie]

How long took atmb to arrive at your home??I bought atmb today and I’ve got 2 weeks time to go in holidays so I need it asap!!

I can't remember exactly sorry but I seem to remember it was pretty quick. Good luck