New French "attitude" at Channel Tunnel? Stroppy.

[AJB Temple]

With family in Germany, Netherlands and some business in Switzerland I cross the channel frequently, usually by tunnel.

Since the Brexit vote there seems to have been a distinct hardening of attitude at the French border post on UK soil. Had this happened just once I might have thought it a one off, but it seems to be a pattern. We crossed on Tuesday afternoon. Lots of open kiosks on entry, straight through UK police check, had a drugs/explosives check (fast and courteous and was then directed to French customs. Long queues at 2 kiosks. The rest were shut. They then closed one of the kiosks causing total chaos as lots of cars had to reverse and try to get into the remaining queue.

The attitude is unfriendly and they will speak only French - even though it is a requirement for them to be able to speak English to work on UK side. One poor lady was in tears as she was being shouted at, in French, by a customs official and she could not understand what he wanted her to do.

I suspect this is a sign of things to come.

 

[RogerP]

One poor lady was in tears as she was being shouted at, in French, by a customs official .......

I hope she makes an official complaint. Has the makings of a nice little international incident if handled well

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Shock !! Horror!! Minor French officials still throwing their weight around!
No changes there, then.

 

[bugbear]

Shock !! Horror!! Minor French officials still throwing their weight around!
No changes there, then.

I though it was just waiters in Paris.

BugBear

 

[AJB Temple]

My experience was that they used to be far friendlier and not officious. All changed now.

 

[lurker]

Do what I do stay away from France
I have not knowingly bought any French produce since the mad cow disease fiasco

 

[Racers]

Do what I do stay away from France
I have not knowingly bought any French produce since the mad cow disease fiasco

I've not opened my can of confit of duck!

Pete

 

[Fatboy]

Do what I do stay away from France
I have not knowingly bought any French produce since the mad cow disease fiasco

I've not opened my can of confit of duck!

Pete

Terrible French muck, send it to me for safe eati....uhh disposal, I meant disposal

 

[Bm101]

On the subject of French passport control:

A few years back I accompanied my Grandfather over to France on the ferry. Being a little forgetful he didn't bring his passport. When we arrived the French official asked for his ID. My Grandfather, gentleman that he was explained that he hadn't brought it with him because he hadn't thought it he'd need it. The French guy then proceeded to get irate and started shouting. It was quite upsetting. I had to stand there and hold my temper while, red in the face, he shouted at my Grandfather 'What makes you think you can enter France by boat without the proper identification?!?'
My Grandad explained that the last time he'd come to France by boat it was 1944 and he'd bought his passport but when he landed there wasn't a Frenchman to be seen within 10 miles.

:wink:

 

[Austinisgreat]

On the subject of French passport control:

A few years back I accompanied my Grandfather over to France on the ferry. Being a little forgetful he didn't bring his passport. When we arrived the French official asked for his ID. My Grandfather, gentleman that he was explained that he hadn't brought it with him because he hadn't thought it he'd need it. The French guy then proceeded to get irate and started shouting. It was quite upsetting. I had to stand there and hold my temper while, red in the face, he shouted at my Grandfather 'What makes you think you can enter France by boat without the proper identification?!?'
My Grandad explained that the last time he'd come to France by boat it was 1944 and he'd bought his passport but when he landed there wasn't a Frenchman to be seen within 10 miles.

:wink:

Indeed

 

[Sawyer]

On the subject of French passport control:

A few years back I accompanied my Grandfather over to France on the ferry. Being a little forgetful he didn't bring his passport. When we arrived the French official asked for his ID. My Grandfather, gentleman that he was explained that he hadn't brought it with him because he hadn't thought it he'd need it. The French guy then proceeded to get irate and started shouting. It was quite upsetting. I had to stand there and hold my temper while, red in the face, he shouted at my Grandfather 'What makes you think you can enter France by boat without the proper identification?!?'
My Grandad explained that the last time he'd come to France by boat it was 1944 and he'd bought his passport but when he landed there wasn't a Frenchman to be seen within 10 miles.

:wink:

Mind you, if that was on June 6th. by all accounts, he would have encountered some VERY stroppy border controls!

 

[beech1948]

The answer is simple and its that we should reflect back to them whatever "merde" they give us. Failing that simply brick up the channel tunnel for a few weeks.

My own recent experience was similar except I speak excellent French and when the little stroppy bureaucrat started to use racial insults towards me I was able to stop him dead by recording it on my phone and asking in similar French for his supervisor and the police. The row with his supervisor was extraordinary in the stiff utter bulls**t coming forward.
Police eventually called and I await some action but not very quickly.

Sooner the better we leave

 

[Jake]

Can't blame them really, we do have our own national trait of being arrogant superior gits.

 

[MIGNAL]

Yep. Didn't take long for the hate to show. It's the fault of the French, it's the fault of the Germans, it's the fault of the judges. it's the fault of . . . . no stopping them now.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Groundhog day. :lol:

 

[Wildman]

do you really think Britain will in future step up to the mark if France is threatened yet again? Short memories all around.

 

[lurker]

Can't blame them really, we do have our own national trait of being arrogant superior gits.

the difference is;
We are superior 8)
Whereas the french just imagine they are :lol:

:wink:

 

[lurker]

do you really think Britain will in future step up to the mark if France is threatened yet again? Short memories all around.

Almost certianly we would
France is a buffer between us and the uncivilised world.

You can't expect France to be grateful, as they would have prefered not to have been "rescued" last time.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Fog in English Channel - Europe cut off.

 

[MIGNAL]

As usual, the old English codgers are proving to be an embarrassment. Sooner they get into that nursing home the better. I do apologise to any foreign woodworkers who also read this forum, the louters can't help themselves.