Discussion
Does anyone else find these demented morons to be overbearing and snotty?
I've been 'controlled' several times, especially at peage pay stations and been interrogated, had my car searched by these w
kers on the lookout for 'merchandise' or 'produits interdits' even on forays down to Spain in my campervan. I could possibly understand them looking for contraband coming north from Spain into France, but travelling south into Spain? In future I'll bite the bullet and take the ferry direct to Santander or Bilbao instead of travelling down through France through the tunnel, I lived in France for a while and the amount of overbearing interference from the gendarmes and douane has to be experienced to be believed. I get the distinct impression that the French don't like tourists, hence fk them.
I've been 'controlled' several times, especially at peage pay stations and been interrogated, had my car searched by these w
kers on the lookout for 'merchandise' or 'produits interdits' even on forays down to Spain in my campervan. I could possibly understand them looking for contraband coming north from Spain into France, but travelling south into Spain? In future I'll bite the bullet and take the ferry direct to Santander or Bilbao instead of travelling down through France through the tunnel, I lived in France for a while and the amount of overbearing interference from the gendarmes and douane has to be experienced to be believed. I get the distinct impression that the French don't like tourists, hence fk them. 
2yrs living in France, using every form of transport in and out, UK reg, FR reg, cars, vans, regularly with a trailer I've been asked twice to open the vans back doors or the boot of the FR registered car.
Perfectly polite and pleasant ..... I hate the challenge of just getting back into the UK these days, but they haven't ever made it a worse experience than normal ....
Perfectly polite and pleasant ..... I hate the challenge of just getting back into the UK these days, but they haven't ever made it a worse experience than normal ....
as I found out rdjohn said:
Perhaps it is the camper-van.
I regularly drive into Spain and back to the UK, in both French and UK plated cars and
have never been stopped.
Possibly, it's a Bongo so may be curiosity on their part, although I've been stopped a few times in the Shogun I had, even pulled into an aire by the 'bike gendarmes for a douane inspection, travel alone also so I may be a suspected smuggler I regularly drive into Spain and back to the UK, in both French and UK plated cars and
have never been stopped.
Off all the years travelling in France and crossing numerious borders only pulled seriously twice.
Once on the Spanish border at Portbou, I nipped over for Cheaper Fuel and was tracked coming straight back , OK looked suspicious
2nd time with a wagon that was virtually empty at the tunnel coming home. All I had was an empty domestic fridge, a few cases of beer and some rather noce and expensive St Emilion.
The back of the truck was opened up and all the young ( trainee) Douanes were disptched to search. Upon seeing the wine, the chef, a very rotund and experianced Douane realised that I was "French" or an honoury french man anyway and ordered his trainees off the lorry.
He was very polite and jovial with me and we had a good chat about all things French
I think its the camper van thats causing the distractions in your case OP
Once on the Spanish border at Portbou, I nipped over for Cheaper Fuel and was tracked coming straight back , OK looked suspicious
2nd time with a wagon that was virtually empty at the tunnel coming home. All I had was an empty domestic fridge, a few cases of beer and some rather noce and expensive St Emilion.
The back of the truck was opened up and all the young ( trainee) Douanes were disptched to search. Upon seeing the wine, the chef, a very rotund and experianced Douane realised that I was "French" or an honoury french man anyway and ordered his trainees off the lorry.
He was very polite and jovial with me and we had a good chat about all things French
I think its the camper van thats causing the distractions in your case OP
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