Important Information concerning access to PSA parts data

[xantia_v6]

As some of you may already have realised, PSA (Citroen, DS Automobiles & Peugeot) have this week (from 16/03/2020) decided to close off free access to parts information.

The public version of PSA's ServiceBox, which is the official source for parts and information has had a freely accessible parts system for registered garages, and individual mechanics / organisations. The once free parts information section has now become a chargeable service to access.

The French Car Forum has always shared parts information to members freely upon request for those who did not or could not create an account. As this latest decision taken by PSA will also affect the FCF’s ability to provide accurate parts data to our members, we will have to pay a yearly subscription service to continue to access this same data. This will more than double our current annual operating costs.

As the FCF is committed to remain free of advertising and commercial sponsors, if we are to continue to provide what is seen by many to be a valuable and key service, we will have no option but to increase our income stream. The sharing of parts data by the moderators on this site has always been discretionary, and in future requests will be ignored unless a member has made a donation to the forum fund in the current or previous calendar year. Once published on the FCF, the parts information will remain free for all to read.

Please note this announcement covers Parts Data only. Technical Documentation and Electrical Diagrams are not included.

Qualifying donations will need to be a minimum of £10 or equivalent currency which is the equivalent of only 2.7p per day. When you consider that 2 separate private accesses of the system individually would cost more that this annual donation, good value for money becomes clear.

Individual access to PSA ServiceBox is currently £5.50 per hour. The time counts down from the first access and is non cumulative, so the benefits of using the Forum to provide this data are clear.

Please note that we do not provide this service for any Renault vehicles.

Donations can be made using our Donations page here:

Please Note: Paypal donations to the French Car Forum will show up as being made to 'BXClub'. This is a historical title that we can't change, but is perfectly OK.

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[jml]

I’ll be very happy to donate towards the FCF because of the brilliant work that many of you guys do
I’m out right now but will get do it when I get home.
Just a bit bloody annoyed with PSA suddenly springing that on us without notice, as far as I’m aware

[Paul-R]

At the end of the donation process there's a message about donating to the bxclub forum. Is this correct?

[xantia_v6]

At the end of the donation process there's a message about donating to the bxclub forum. Is this correct?

Yes, that is correct. We took over the running of https://bxclub.co.uk several years ago, and they had already set up a PayPal account, so it was easier to use that than establish a new one.

[Skull]

BARGAIN more reasons to support FCF £10 for effectively 2 years of parts queries

EDIT: blimey 2017 was it that long ago

[bobins]

If I ask really nicely, would it be possible to update the 'Donor' status under our avatar / usernames. I've been a donor by standing order every month since 2016, but my status still shows 2016

[white exec]

The flagging up of members who have donated is about to be revised, so that the new system can operate easily. Should sort itself.

[bobins]

Marvellous, thanks for the speedy response

[xantia_v6]

If I ask really nicely, would it be possible to update the 'Donor' status under our avatar / usernames. I've been a donor by standing order every month since 2016, but my status still shows 2016

Users who donate via the PayPal button on the forum have their donor status updated automatically, but for members who donate via direct debit, we need to update the status manually each year, and somehow you fell off my list. I have now updated your status.

This is a good opportunity to remind members that it is possible to make a regular monthly payment by DD (from a UK bank account) of typically £1 or £2 per month, to help fund the forum expenses.

[bobins]

Marvellous, thanks for the speedy response And I (my username) appear to have gone green now - I consider that an improvement on my usual appearance

[moizeau]

Just done it, not realised I hadn't since 2018, so double the normal. The info given on here is second to none.....so give everyone. A couple of pints a year, cheers chaps

[KennyW]

Just made a donation

Kenny

[xantia_v6]

Just made a donation

Kenny

Just done it, not realised I hadn't since 2018, so double the normal. The info given on here is second to none.....so give everyone. A couple of pints a year, cheers chaps

Did you make the donations using the page linked from the button in the Forum header, or by direct payment to our PayPal account?

If the forum page is used, your donor status should be updated automatically, but that does not seem to have happened.

[moizeau]

Direct payment by Paypal, but turned the 'donor' bit off a couple of years ago. As long as you have the money, all's good

[moizeau]

Just noticed it's come back, the donor bit.