Telefonica
 

With the help of you good folks we are moving along nicely and have to sign tomorrow the lease looks as though the removal guys are in line etc. So a few other issues including pet transport. However.

We have quite obviously French contracts for everything and that means our both mobiles. We will be cancelling all connections with the 'utilities' in France but keeping bank accounts.

Is there please (and here forgive us) an English speaking helpline for Telefonica so we could establish both a phone line/internet ahead of arrival for I tend to send large documents back to the UK by internet and almost daily.

Finally if we input the address is there please a web site that could report upon the bandwidth that is available. Our package here is about 38 euros per month + line rental but includes voip.

Or is there an organisation for a fee that could put in place Telefonica for us. Here in France the agency that we rent from organised that but not sure if the same system applies in Spain.

Once more our sincere thanks for all of your help an input

Re: Telefonica
 

Do not get involved with TelefoicainEnglish. They are not agents of Telefonica although they purport to be and they charge an overhead for what you can get free with the genuine Telefonica SA.

Others will be along with advice on providers and speeds but be aware Spain is light years behind in BB provision compared with other EU countries such as Holland France Germany and UK. You will need to say where your house is for best advice.

Re: Telefonica
 

When you are here if you dial 1004 and ask for the english department you will get through to them. You'll find many negative comments about TF, but in 6 years I never had a problem with them.

http://www.movistar.es/

Re: Telefonica
 

Telefonica is now branded under the name 'Movistar'.

They have English speakings reps if you ring up and ask for one. However, if you ever need to speak to anyone about engineering matters, then their technicians do NOT speak English.

Depending where you are moving to, there may be better options.

In the countryside, you'de be hard pushed to get better than 1Mb ADSL. In towns this can rise up to 20Mb (or more?) if you are cabled for fibre optic.

Sometimes there will be a local company offering WiMax and good prices but, as I say, it all depends where you are going to be.

Re: Telefonica
 

Thanks we are going to be in Javea on La Guardia. thanks once again

Re: Telefonica
 

May I suggest you keep your French mobile connections for several months, as it will take time for your friends and relatives to get used to your move ?

Basic mobiles are "relatively" cheap in Spain, or you can buy just the chip to put into a spare mobile which is what we did when we first moved.

when coming out here it is a good idea to someone like Telefonica/Movistar to connect you up and make a move a year or so later once you feel comfortable with the alternatives. But you may just want to stay, as T/M have become more and more competitive, but like the UK you have to give them a dig and threaten to move elsewhere to get the discounts.

The last time we had a problem i found their engineering had someone available with English, sometimes it is a little bit difficult, but quite honestly the telecoms business like IT is relatively common worldwide. It only takes a couple of words on each side to get it across that the line is down.

`

Re: Telefonica
 

Only from an existing Movistar 'phone of course.

Re: Telefonica
 

We just used to ring 1004 and simply say, when they answered, 'Inglese por favor'. I suspect that you do get a slightly better response when you do ask for them in Spanish. You can, if your landline is totally u/s ring from one of the many phone boxes or telephone shops.

Re: Telefonica
 

Thanks but of course I am in Spain and not sure if 1004 if available here in France and would like everything set up before we arrive. Will try some friends who live locally and see if they can help.

As to Bournemouth used to work and live there but such a long time ago.

Re: Telefonica
 

Sorry mean to say I am currently in France! Sorry

Re: Telefonica
 

have a Movistar mobile and went and lost it :eek:

BH went out in her lunchtime to one of their showrooms in town and got them to transfer the number and any money left to a new chip which took about 70secs.
The new chip has a number of contact details I haven't explored yet but if you punch in *#133# it will display your balance

`

Re: Telefonica
 

I am in the countryside 3 km from a transmitter and I get 6 Mb ADSL. It was a long haul to get Telefonica to repair the infrastructure (we lost everything whenever it rained because some of the cabling was exposed) but it's fine now.

Re: Telefonica
 

perhaps they should have used good quality insulation tape instead of the stuff from the local Chinese Shop
:rofl:
`

Re: Telefonica
 

Which is why I included the site link ;):)

Re: Telefonica
 

Has there previously been a telephone line at the property you are leasing?

Here we have a line but on the main drag on the other side of the road there are no lines at all and I don´t think there ever will be. Telefonica/Movistar are not interested in putting in any more equipment to allow people to access a landline. When we moved we just assumed that we would get one the same as in the UK but we were lucky and had to go and ask various neighbours if they would have a pole in their garden. Now even that is not allowed.

Re: Telefonica
 

Used to be free but now costs 18 cents!

Re: Telefonica
 

You get a free text telling you your balance after making a call and that is free.

Re: Telefonica
 

I am trying, with great difficulty, to find a telephone number to ring Telefonica, I have checked their website, and looked at their brochures. Does anyone have a telephone contact number to ring them from a phone which does not belong to them. It does not matter if they dont speak English!!!

Re: Telefonica
 

Off the web site

Telephone Assistance Line 1004 24x7
Self Care Line 900 10 10 10 24x7
Small Business 900 10 10 10 24x7
Business and Enterprise 900 120 900 24x7
Information Services 11822/11818 24x7
Telephone Assistance Line from abroad (English, French, German and Spanish) 34 699 99 10 04 24x7

Re: Telefonica
 

Thanks Mitzyboy, I have tried most of the numbers, with no success, except the 'Self Care Line' will try that tomorrow. I cannot understand why they cannot have a a general number for people who want to organise internet and a telephone line with them!!!

Re: Telefonica
 

They do - it's 1004.

They assume that inquiries will come from people in Spain.

Odd isn't it?

As Mitzy said , try 34 699 99 10 04

Re: Telefonica
 

Up until February last year I was getting 1mb for 40€ on my Movestar landline (rural connection), at that point my router broke.
It took weeks to get the new WiFi router delivered, and in one of the very many calls I made to them they offered me a new promotional deal, 3mb for 24€. The lady said that without a mobile from them it would be for twelve months only, but if I took a mobile it would be for ever at that price.

Well in a couple of weeks the twelve months is up, so today I called them because I wanted to extend the deal, and I was quite prepared to take a mobile on contract in order to do so...but I don't need to.
I am now on the same speed and price for another two years....it looks like Movistar are at long last reacting to the competition out there and keeping their prices competitive! :thumbsup:

I'm actually quite happy to stay with Movistar, I know it's a pain not being able to speak to the Tech department in English, but staying with them avoids all the hassle of changing companies....that should be a simple thing to do but this after all is Spain...there is no such thing as simple!

Re: Telefonica
 

I'm not sure you're right Fred - I just did a balance enquiry and then checked my online bill - I have been charged 18cents as I said previously! (I am on PAYG).

Also, 1004 is useless unless you already have a service with Movistar

Re: Telefonica
 

Yes you get charged for an inquiry.

My point was that you get an automatic, free text after you make a normal phone call that tells you your balance.

Re: Telefonica
 

never had one free or charged after making a phone call, but yes I do get charged if I ask for the balance
but then I am on PAYGO

Re: Telefonica
 

I'm talking about PAYG.

If you were on a contract you wouldn't have a balance!

You can also check it free online and even get a detailed statement.

Re: Telefonica
 

This is my point, I cannot ring 1004, because I do not have a service with Movistar. Having done lots of research I decided I wanted to acquire Movistar Fusion, buy a new SMART phone with them etc.

Now if it was just a case of changing the service I could ring 1004, or go into one of their shops, but we need to make sure that the connections are all set up from the house to the street. So therefore would prefer to speak to somone before we sign up for the package.

OH is Spanish so no problems with the language, I thought it would be a straight forward process just to call them, but now I find it so frustrating. I have twice put OH mobile number and his name into their website, which says they will call you, they have not rang back!!!

All I want to do is speak to someone to see if they will come out and check the connections before signing up. It just seems incredible that they do not do more to encourage people to take a contract out with them!!!

Re: Telefonica
 

Are you saying that you have a Telefonica line but it is not connected?

In which case the best bet is to sign up for a fixed line with ADSL and wait until they have installed it. Then you can go and buy a Smartphone at one of their shops and they will arrange the fusion contract for you.

I had a line/ADSL and the shop sorted out a new Sim for the phone and changed my contract over to Fusion (which is a very good deal).

Re: Telefonica
 

Thanks for the advice Fred, never thought about doing that - probably the easiest way forward!!!

Re: Telefonica
 

There is so much knowledge and of course personal assistance on this site and for that we are so grateful.

But from our standpoint we live in France and will be arriving hopefully in Javea on the 7th of April together with furniture hope animals and trepidation.

Simply put who do I ring with my school boy Spanish (yes folks donkeys years ago) or email to get a basic phone service + internet for I have to get dossiers back to the UK daily.

The French were and are particularly difficult towards those who do not 'communicate' with them in their own language but EDF Orange and SAUR and the like do have English speaking help lines. We used them years ago but not now. Does this exist in Spain please and as I understand it you can pay someone to sort things out for you? best wishes

Re: Telefonica
 

Call 1004 or sign up for a line/ADSL online.

Re: Telefonica
 

Fred - I really can't follow you at the moment!

How the h*ll can anyone dial 1004 if they do NOT have a movistar connection?????????????

Re: Telefonica
 

From a mobile or from someone else's house or a public phone - there are plenty of ways of contacting them.

Re: Telefonica
 

It does not work from France I am afraid. Will try from another non geographic direction.

thanks

Re: Telefonica
 

I assumed from your post that you would be contacting them when you got to Javea.

You will probably be better off trying online or calling the number that Mitzy posted 34 699 99 10 04

Re: Telefonica
 

Dear Fred you have been so helpful in all of this and I am so grateful. It is a bit stressful at the moment so if I have been a bit rude please forgive me. Not my style at all.

However have tried on-line but with no success whatsoever and what I thought was to engage the help of our two friends who are Telefonica customers in Javea and the agent from whom we are renting the villa to help? But will try once more on-line for I do like to be as best I can independent.

My Spanish which has long since been lost will have to be re-found very soon.

We are looking forward to the new venture and someone said to me this morning 'If you love the South of France you will love Javea' We certainly do love the South of France and have spent many holidays there.

Just one or two things to do and then to give notice here in France.

The world is a small place. I have never met the agency my brother in law has been our eyes and ears and we have never seen the villa! Spoke to the agency lady this morning. She was born and brought up three miles from my birthplace in the Rhondda Valley. We speak the same language!

take care

Re: Telefonica
 

Thank you Fred for your advice. We finally visited the Movistar shop to sign up for a standard line/ADSL last Thursday, and were told the Engineers would probably install the line the following Monday. We explained the problems with the connection lines and they informed us we would not be charged if they could not connect the line to the house.

Friday morning we had a phone call to check if we were at home, and could they come to install immediately. After nearly two hours they managed to get the connections working. On Friday afternoon I went back to the store, selected a SMART Phone, arranged for my existing mobile number to be transferred over. On Monday I pick up the phone and sign the contract for Fusion.

Excellent service from Movistar, faster broadbend and SMART phone in less 3 working days.

Re: Telefonica
 

So good to have a story with a happy ending! Wish we had more of them on here!!!

Re: Telefonica
 

Glad to hear it worked out so well.

Movistar do seem to be getting their act together. The new Fusion deal is a winner. It's only been available for a couple of months and they have signed over a million contracts and many were from people with other companies contracts.