Expat Focus

Portugal: Kanguru Optimus Problems

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:49:19 GMT

paulmanning wrote: We were recently contacted by a cold call from Optimus offering a modem and landline package using 3G connections. The nice salesman told us that we could try this free for 7 days. All we had to do was pay the postman €52 when the box arrived and we would be able to take it back to an optimus shop if it didn't work. Well it didn't even though the nice salesman assured us that our area had a good signal. So we took it to the shop who said that we had to post it because it had come from a different department?? So we could not find any freepost info and tried the helpline which is not free and they told us to send it back. We had to pay to return it and a few days later, it came back, refused by Optimus. Once again on the phone and they told us we had to put NIF number and bank details on the OUTSIDE of the box to return it. We have just had a direct debit request from Kanguru and to date no refund. But the box hasn't come back. When we called today, they don't have any record of our customer number, NIF or telephone number. Has anybody had the same problem and what did you do to resolve it. :( The bottom line is NOT TO BELIEVE any sales rep via phone or in the flesh anywhere in the world when they assure you there will be coverage. Get some one who knows and with the right gear to test things out first. Its not just Kanguru, I've had clients who have had similar experiences with Sapo etc etc. Sales reps just sell...They do not have the details nor access to the technical data to know if a specific location has a good signal. There may even be a good signal outside one's property, but inside owing to thick walls there may be none. I don't know how many times I talked and written and warned about this and PEOPLE STILL DON'T LISTEN. Whether its Internet Broadband over landlines or via 3G over the mobile network, GET SOMEONE WITH TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE WHO KNOWS (NOT THE SALES REP OR SHOP) TO CHECK WHETHER YOU CAN RECEIVE A SIGNAL BEFORE PARTING WITH MONEY.

Portugal: What Should They or We Bring with them/us?

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:43:10 GMT

And if someone is making a day trip to Spain what should they fetch for you? What is better value in Spain? Ibuprofen that someone was asking for? I think so. The Spanish pharmacies sell generic ibuprofen in volume 400mg or 200mg for not too much.

Portugal: Mot (uk)in portugal or car freight to uk

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:24:42 GMT

Yes dooralarm, no probs,no fuss if you have UK car that is matriculated and legal. Why don't people do the same as you have done.It concerns me that an insurance company can come back with this reply, obviously there is a loohole somewhere where they get away with it legally on their side,but obviously unbeknown (or not fully explained) to the owner of the car insured of the consecquences should he have an accident, God forbid if they ever injure anyone on their travels, one wonders what the outcome would be.

Portugal: Great news info site

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:01:35 GMT

Hi All Just found a site that's great for those who want to keep up with news. The site is from the BBC. It's worth a look and if you find it useful then bookmark it so you can go back to it at a later time. Peterfc 666 http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Thailand: duties and taxes

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:52:55 GMT

Hi Keith Sorry I must have been having a senior moment...I thought it was covered in the guide. When you do find the answer please can you post the information on the forum? Thanks Kind Regards Carole

Portugal: come dine with me in portugal

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:53:53 GMT

Cheers Victoria

Norway: wages in norrway

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:42:34 GMT

I feel those comments are quite negative and perhaps give a slightly wrong impression of life in Norway. Perhaps, JonInNorway, your Kommune itself may be letting you down. Our Kommune, the NAV, registering at doctors, residency permits etc have been some of the swiftest flowing processes I've ever experienced and when we've needed responses to any queries, we normally get same day answers. I'm not sure why you're having so much difficulty, but I never hear of troubles like this. Perhaps you're not speaking to the right people or applying for the correct things. You keep referring to residency permits, I think you may be confused with Citizenship. To obtain that, you need to have lived here a minimum of 7 years (which I see you have) and you should be able to prove at minimum 300 hours of Norwegian lessons, It does also depend on your country of origin and if you came here from within the EEA. Having said this, you may fall under old laws? We moved here in Feb 09 and had no problem getting our 1 year residency permit. In January this year, they gave us a permanent permit and we weren't expecting that! Who are you applying to? Are you going through an Embassy or the police? It also depends on whether you've ever been in trouble before too... As for healthcare, although we are entitled to the UK equivalent of the NHS here, we would still have to pay for things. That's just how it is. We also have BUPA for Expats and if either of us need to go back to UK for an operation or something, BUPA pay all costs, including flights. International phonecalls for us have been very inexpensive here. I'd pay more in the UK calling someone in the next town for half an hour than I've ever paid for 1-2 hours each on the phone every week to 3 different UK relatives. Our phone bill has never been over around £60 a quarter. In the UK it was costing me that a month and I never made international calls then! As for getting to understand the paperwork here, we used to type everything in to Google Translate and you get the idea easily. If we've needed to query something, we've found that most Norwegians are happy to practice their English and most of them speak it well! Overall cost of living is terribly expensive I agree, but it is the 2nd most expensive country in the world. That's something everyone should understand before considering a move here. Especially if you're a beer drinker!!!!! Household bills I find are cheaper than UK despite that we need to use so much more electric for heat etc. Our biggest shock bill was the Norwegian TV Licence that has to be paid every 6 months and it's more expensive than the annual UK one. The most expensive thing so far I've found is food. Our weekly shopping bill for 2 people is around £180 - £200. That does not include meat because we go to Finland to buy that in bulk every 6 weeks or so. Doesn't even include alcohol because I make my own wine now!

Norway: Postage Costs in Norway

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:16:46 GMT

Thanks JonInNorway, but I've been living here in Norway now for over a year! My original post was 4th december 2008!!! Thanks for looking though

Norway: Would this affect my citzenship in the future...?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:04:18 GMT

We moved here last February (2009) and at the beginning of January, we were issued with permanent residency. They made some kind of change in the law. This does not mean we're citizens. To become a citizen, you need to have lived in Norway for 7 years and taken at minimum 300 hours in Norwegian lessons. For National Insurance, your first year is up to you if you want to pay it here, after 1 year it becomes compulsory. If you intend to stay for more than 1 year, you need to cease paying NI in the UK and pay it here. NI is normally included within your tax, if you're not on a tax free status that is. Although tax sounds expensive here, and yes it is, it does include your national insurance. I wouldn't necessarily recommend having all your salary in the UK bank, you'll lose so much in withdrawals etc because if the exchange rate. We had part of my OH's salary go into my UK bank and the other part into our Norwegian one. We've lost so much in exchange rates it's unreal. Setting up a bank account here is so simple All this can be quite daunting at first, but it is very easy once you get the idea. The services ie: healthcare, your entitlement is based partially on your 16 digit identity number (you can have a 'D' number but that's only temporary). This ID number is the UK equivalent of the National Insurance number. You'll be issued with one once you have a residency permit. The comment that's been left by another user is slightly confusing. I believe they are referring to a Citizenship, not residency. You'd be breaking the law if you're here without a residency permit. As I explained anyway, Citizenship is based on certain criteria. Get your residency permit from the local police. Going through an embassy in UK, you'll find they'll charge anything up to £250 and take 3 months. Go to the local police (in Norway!) & they'll do it free and take around 2 weeks at most I hope this helps

Portugal: A Place in the Sun, home or abroad

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:34:02 GMT

Obrigado John