Letters: Don't sign deals for fibre internet on your doorstep in France

To the Editor,

I write regarding the Connexion reader who had to pay a €50 fee to cancel his internet contract for a fibre upgrade, despite staying with the same operator.

I fear he fell for that oldest of tricks – the salesperson at the door demanding that you sign a contract immediately.

There was a spate of visits by such ‘Orange sales personnel’ just as independent fibre contractors finished laying fibre in our corner of southern Burgundy.

Letters: Upgrading to fibre in France was unnecessarily infuriating

Others signed up there and then, and were promptly subjected to unexpected extra charges. I seem to remember a warning at the time that these people were not genuine Orange sales personnel, but independent contractors possibly – or possibly not – working for Orange, but without direct access to Orange systems.

There are perfectly good ways to upgrade your contract to fibre online (with Orange, or indeed by taking advantage of the independent nature of the fibre network and moving to another supplier – which is what we did).

But the basic principle remains axiomatic: never sign something presented to you by a salesperson who doorsteps you. Always check out alternatives first.

In any case, demand to see full authorisation, make a phone call to Orange to confirm, and/or visit your espace personnel to check whether you’ve been invited to upgrade directly. 

Bill Maslen, by email

To the Editor,

I have now changed to fibre. However, I received several offers from different individuals to update it for me. When I asked if they were doing this on behalf of Orange, I was told they were private contractors and registered with the mairie.

My French neighbour advised me against using them as they were not from Orange.

At around the same time, I received an email from Orange asking if I wished to upgrade to fibre. I contacted them and arranged for their people to come on a certain date. They sent a new Livebox, kept me informed as to what time the contractors were coming, and the whole work went ahead smoothly and reasonably quickly. It cost me nothing.

Anne Harding, Morbihan

Read more: Portable internet service Starlink Mini is now available in France

To the Editor,

My commune in Normandy boasts it is a 'fibre commune'.

I went along to SFR who said how lucky I was and that they could connect my house. After four visits, five engineers and endless phone calls, they said my house did not exist. This, despite the fact I have the fibre wiring outside my house.  

I am still trying to get the €300 deposit returned after two years. I opted for Starlink and set it up within a week without a problem.

Allan Curtis, Calvados

Have you switched to fibre in France? Are you trying to do so? Share your experience with other readers via letters@connexionfrance.com