You couldn't make it up, disaster trip 2024

[chaser]

Have you got a bank account or credit/debit card that converts £ to € for no fee, no commission & base exchange rate?
I just saved myself £300 on a £5k bill by using this option rather than using the retailer's exchange rate.

If not, I'd quickly set up something like a Chase bank account [not a typo], can all be done online.

Paying by a credit card also gives you protection should you need it [if the work hasn't been done properly]

Yes see my previous post.
I can't believe how these things are so easy with all the horror stories we get on here.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

There will be no more dogs that is a definite. Blu will hopefully calm down over the next year ( she is 1 year old today ) but she is a handful, loveable but a bloody handful and she makes it very hard work to walk 4, so definitely no more. Besides if she lives to be 10-15 ill be in my sixties. That's enough for now.

Hadn't seen that about morroco but I never see or hear the news as its never good.

But there's a risk of terror attacks anywhere at anytime really so it wouldn't put me off.

I want my bumper painted lol

Good for you, it also means I can enjoy following the trip.

 

[berni109]

chaser If you have a zero fees credit card just pay with that in euros.

 

[berni109]

.

 

[MichaelT]

Not yet but I have another question now , what is the best way of paying up to 5 grand euros bill in France?

I'd do it on my barclays reward credit card as no fees.

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[MichaelT]

Aye with a new van you want a garage with all the bells and whistles. Hopefully warranty covers most of it.

But with older motors like mine and Charlie's where second hand parts are usually available then big garages are a nightmare as they want to fit new parts.

So much for the world being greener and recycling etc.

They fit new parts so they can warrant it, they dint know if the inside of a 2nd hand box is OK or has same issue so you drive down the road and same thing happens. But get your point if your van only worth a couple of grand.

 

[tezza-alli]

We have Santander Zero cards you get the exchange rate of the day and no fees. Not sure if you can get them anymore.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I can pay it directly out of my Lloyds account, if the bill is 4600 euros it will be £4000 , sounds good to me.

Yes see my previous post.

That still sounds a bit 'expensive' to me.
Would be expecting the cost to be about £3850 at today's exchange rate.
https://www.mastercard.co.uk/en-gb/personal/get-support/convert-currency.html

But of course, £150 might be worth the convenience, lack of hassle etc

 

[chaser]

That still sounds a bit 'expensive' to me.
Would be expecting the cost to be about £3850 at today's exchange rate.
https://www.mastercard.co.uk/en-gb/personal/get-support/convert-currency.html

But of course, £150 might be worth the convenience, lack of hassle etc

When we were there they said they don't take any UK credit or debit cards it had to be direct bank to bank.

 

[Just smiffy]

Sorry Chas but some of your posts I can’t help laughing… it seems like a Monty python show. Especially the hertz saga…

I hope in 5 years you may laugh about it all… life is an adventure…

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[Langtoftlad]

If you organise a Chase account today - you get those rates on bank to bank transfers

 

[dryad]

or as your son and friend going to pick it up, are they still?, give him the cash to pay them, might even get a discount..

.

 

[Mikey RV]

Not yet but I have another question now , what is the best way of paying up to 5 grand euros bill in France?

£1 a week.

 

[scousebird]

Glad to hear your MH is ready to collect. Get it home, take a breath and plan a trip to Gravelines.

 

[1967bowesj]

Just been having a bit of a Google around and apparently I can pay it directly out of my Lloyds account, if the bill is 4600 euros it will be £4000 , sounds good to me.

Lloyds will charge you a non GB transfer fee so check with them how much!!

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[VXman]

I know this sounds like a advert for lv breakdown insurance, but I just couldn't believe what they were prepared to do for us, we didn't make use of a lot they offered us as having seen horror stories on here about breakdown companies we couldn't believe half of it was serious, and it still keeps on coming.
Never having used breakdown before it came as a complete surprise, and they didn't argue about anything.

Who is the breakdown cover operated by? I doubt LV actually manage it themselves.

Is that a good thing ?

As Lennies vehicle is under Fiat warranty then yes!

Breakdown Insurance is separate. I have LV European cover on our Van and car and also personal cover for the two of us. Just got my renewal in today. £288.

Not cheap - Nationwide cover is £13 per month (£156) (going up to £18 in December (£216) for personal over for 2. Plus it includes worldwide travel insurance for you an your family!!!

Have you got a bank account or credit/debit card that converts £ to € for no fee, no commission & base exchange rate?
I just saved myself £300 on a £5k bill by using this option rather than using the retailer's exchange rate.

If not, I'd quickly set up something like a Chase bank account [not a typo], can all be done online.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts/#chase

Paying by a credit card also gives you protection should you need it [if the work hasn't been done properly]

I agree credit card would be best.

 

[Gellyneck]

When we were there they said they don't take any UK credit or debit cards it had to be direct bank to bank.

Pleased to hear it's sorted.

If you send the cash to me I've got an account with that garage so I can make sure it's paid for you. No commission required.

 

[1967bowesj]

chaser
This is the exchange rate with Revolut, just the free account but you could upgrade for one month as I think you get better rates

 

[pagey]

There will be no more dogs that is a definite. Blu will hopefully calm down over the next year ( she is 1 year old today ) but she is a handful, loveable but a bloody handful and she makes it very hard work to walk 4, so definitely no more. Besides if she lives to be 10-15 ill be in my sixties. That's enough for now.

Hadn't seen that about morroco but I never see or hear the news as its never good.

But there's a risk of terror attacks anywhere at anytime really so it wouldn't put me off.

I want my bumper painted lol

thats it get your priorities right (I want my bumper painted lol)

 

[VXman]

Just been having a bit of a Google around and apparently I can pay it directly out of my Lloyds account, if the bill is 4600 euros it will be £4000 , sounds good to me.

I doubt lloyds have the best rates out there. Worth looking at Wise. Quite easy to set up. You transfer your £££ to them and they convert and deliver it to your garages bank account. Usually better rates and lower fees. I used it regularly when living in Hong Kong to transfer money to UK. 4600 euros would work out at £3812

International Money transfer comparison | Compare best exchange rates - Wise

Compare money transfer providers. Wise uses the REAL exchange rate and charges a low, transparent fee.

wise.com

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[chaser]

Sorry Chas but some of your posts I can’t help laughing… it seems like a Monty python show. Especially the hertz saga…

I hope in 5 years you may laugh about it all… life is an adventure…

I know mate, I have to laugh myself now we are home, but we really should have some sort of claim against hertz but don't know if I can be bothered seeing that we didn't pay for it in the first place ,LV did, but we had to put up the insurance money from which they have taken £250 for repair to the tyre well obviously new tyre but then £50 for petrol and £50 to fill it, but it's not so much the money but the treatment we had from them.
Just coming and taking the car away for a flat tyre , why?
Not bringing another car , why?
Not asking how we were , why?
No mention of anything till taking my money.

 

[eurajohn]

or as your son and friend going to pick it up, are they still?, give him the cash to pay them, might even get a discount..

.

French business will not be allowed by law to accept that much cash.

 

[vkr15s]

There is a guy in India who will do it for you for 3500 Just send him the money and he will transfer it immediately.

 

[busby]

But when was the last time your car left you stranded?
For me it was over 40 years ago and up to recently I was doing over 20,000 miles per year. Breakdowns in motorhomes appear to be much more common.

Don't get enough use. BUSBY..

 

[Barchetta47]

Who is the breakdown cover operated by? I doubt LV actually manage it themselves.

It’s with Britannia unless it has changed since last year.

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[jerryz]

We stopped there for fuel in 1958 yes 1958, the fuel pump contraption consisted of a 5 litre glass jar mounted above the pump with a drain hose. There was a lever on the side of the pump to pump the fuel up into the glass jar.
Can't remember how may pesatas it was1

they still use that type of pump in some parts of rural Thailand and Cambodia

 

[busby]

Not yet but I have another question now , what is the best way of paying up to 5 grand euros bill in France?

Pound a week as Ian would say..BUSBY..

 

[chaser]

Reading this with interest as we broke down in France last Sunday with our Iveco based van which is still in France waiting to be brought home in about 15 working days.

I'm certain its the flexplate between the engine and torque converter, both certainly buggered(horrendous noise), hoping 8zf is ok!
I've now been told that the part is a Reactive recall and Iveco only do this if it breaks Apparently some flexplates had the shims spot welded at the factory which caused a weakness in the metal, they now supply them as separate parts!

I'd missed the post on Fun that advised of this possible fault and Steve Greenhalgh said he had told me but I obviously hadn't listened!
I had prepared the van well for the trip and would have been a fairly easy check if I'd known to inspect!

Insured with NFU and breakdown with RAC Arrival.

My advise to others is be very careful how you describe what happened to the breakdown and insurance companies, one wrong word and they'll try to get out of paying. It became a living nightmare!!
Fortunately the French recovery company Garage Vin Depannage got things sorted for us.

Also make sure the phones are fully charged at all times as you will be reliant on them, lost count of how many calls we had to make!

Looking forward to getting it back home but not looking forward to the bill. Our roads are too small for an Arctic with the motorhome on top so it will have to be taken to a commercial yard

Its made me question whether I ever want to go abroad again.

Are they repatriating your van without wanting to take it to a garage?

 

[Tombola]

You can open an EU "wise" bank account in minutes the. Transfer fu ds to it in gbp to pay in euros.
There are fees of course

 

[Odd job]

I know mate, I have to laugh myself now we are home, but we really should have some sort of claim against hertz but don't know if I can be bothered seeing that we didn't pay for it in the first place ,LV did, but we had to put up the insurance money from which they have taken £250 for repair to the tyre well obviously new tyre but then £50 for petrol and £50 to fill it, but it's not so much the money but the treatment we had from them.
Just coming and taking the car away for a flat tyre , why?
Not bringing another car , why?
Not asking how we were , why?
No mention of anything till taking my money.

Hire car firms are the biggest rip off companies out there, especially international rentals. They know once you leave the country it's very difficult to get any money back. I expect you didn't read the terms and conditions that you signed, who does? So they can do what they want.

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