We live in Landes 40, close to the Spanish border, so we have plenty of year round sunshine. We already have 3 thermal solar panels on our south facing roof for hot water and to date we haven’t needed our immersion heater even in winter for hot water. This success has prompted us to consider PV panels for electricity. I’ve read some of the horror stories of the cowboys that have migrated from double glazing sales to solar panel sales, so we are wary of such ventures. We need to find a reputable company to discuss our needs. I’ve tried to contact EDF’s company that does solar but nobody in their team speaks English, so at the moment we’re stuck. I’d appreciate any information on a reputable company that can understand my poor French and be able to reply in some form of understandable English.
If you keep to 3kWc then you can self install, with minimal paperwork.
Check out this website - if nothing else it will teach you French words & phrases that relate to solar.
Bonjour, s’il vous plaît, merci, will get you a long way in France 
If that’s all you’re using it may get you a long way to a 100k € bill for solar with a due date of next week for the full balance 
If you don’t speak French then perhaps this little device may be of use to you. It won’t help you with making phone calls, but you could definitely use it for face-to-face conversations with a French person and you’d both be able to communicate.
I’ll offer my services as a translator for half the amount… it’s a win-win situation 
Hello @Jofang and welcome to the forum.
These Horror Stories - which language were they in ??? 
Might be an idea to put together a “crib sheet” written in French… containing all the questions you want to ask…
Google/whoever can do a reasonable translation into French, if you keep your sentences short and to the point.
Then you can contact EDF’s Solar Team and hopefully get along just fine…
Failing that, get a neighbour/friend to ask the questions on your crib sheet… on your behalf… 
IKEA are now doing solar panels. Where are you in Les landes? We’re in 40180 .
I do hope this suggestion isn’t frowned upon by Admin! If you can read French, even a little, or use an online translation tool, then this forum covers everything you’ll ever need to know about PV installation, including recommendations and warnings of silly prices and scams. GPPEP : Vous avez la parole - Forum photovoltaïque You could try posting a plea for English-speaking Companies…they are out there. For what it’s worth, it’s generally considered that EDF are overpriced and offer far from the best quality work and materials.
That did look interesting so took a look on YT and they also do earbuds - could help alot of folks!
Bit like a Star trek universal translator. Wonder if it does Klingon
I hope they call it a Babelfish
I don’t like sharing things at the best of times… I have a phobia about using public toilets and thank doG I’m a man so can pee standing up.
The thought of putting an earbud inside my ear that someone else has worn makes me feel queasy 
Good to hear from you. We’re in Brassempouy, 40330
Hi Stella
the horror stories came from what used to be my local paper in the UK, the ‘Evening Sentinel’.
Thanks for your suggestion, but although I can prepare questions in French I cannot understand the spoken answer over the phone.
Then you need a neighbour/friend to do it for you… they can note the answers to each question… this applies not only to EDF but also any other firms you/they contact.
Are you better face-to-face?? if so, take your questions to IKEA/wherever and make sure you note/understand their replies…
Best of luck
Use the Google Translate app, I don’t think I have ever went to a DIY or supermarket where there hasn’t been some one who speaks English, I use Google translate to explain the reason why I don’t speak french and I have never had a problem with it.
I list my questions, so I don’t kick myself later… I do that for important things like Doc/Specialist and DIY
So were these cowboys in France? Or around Stoke? Because there is a bit of a difference.
Make a list of companies to contact, making sure they are registered have a Siret etc, you can check them out on line, also how healthy they are financially. Then as Stella says make a list of questions, and get someone bilingual to help you.
If it is shopping or DIY, i prepare my questions before I go on Google translate and use the history function to bring them up.
I have answers to usually asked questions, name/address/phone number on a post it app on my phone, also the likes of Google maps exact location of the farm so I can send it/show it to delivery drivers.
It helps that I can mostly still understand french, but for any replying I just use the app and since it’s 15 years since the strokes took my ability to speak french, I cannot remember the last time I could not bumble my way through anything, it might take a little longer but we get there and I don’t get any rolling of eyes or animosity shown towards me, if I did I would just walk away and take my business elsewhere.