Orange update in France puts email accounts out of reach in UK

An Orange internet customer has written of his frustration at being unable to access his @orange.fr emails when visiting the UK.

Peter Cracknell, who has had a second home in Dordogne since 2003, has continuously had his home internet via an Orange ‘Livebox’ and an @orange.fr email address, both of which he uses for dealing with French admin matters such as banking, utilities and shopping.

However, he said recently, due to Orange adding ‘two-factor’ authentication to his email account, he is unable to access his emails when away from France.

Read more: How to check if fibre internet is available where you live in France

'Told to push button on box'

He said customer services explained that to access the account he must push buttons on the Livebox physically or receive an SMS message on his registered mobile – which must be French.

Having only an 11-digit UK mobile number and no French number, this therefore proved impossible.

“Orange is not prepared to help its customers who have been put in this position by its own actions,” he said.

Our queries to Orange about this went unanswered.

Have you also faced this problem? Do you have a solution? Let us know at news@connexionfrance.com