S1 Certificate

[Quiksilver]

The happy day has finally arrived and although the DWP (bless them) haven't actually confirmed that I'm officially retired, they have e-mailed my S1 certificate. This raises an immediate question...
Do I print off 20 copies (oh yes, the track record for Agen CPAM 'losing' paperwork is unparalleled) as single, one-sided sheets or as double-sided ones? Could some kind soul who's been through this recently but with hard copies confirm, please?
I've spotted at least 3 potential omissions in the details that a stroppy fonc could have a field day with, so some interesting tussles lie ahead

[A.N.Other]

Interesting to learn that they now email them, it was always by post when we were getting ours both for France in 2007 and then later in Spain in 2018.

As for copies, since it's on email then unless you delete that then any number of copies you might ever come to need is always to hand is it not

[Quiksilver]

Hi Ernie, thanks for reply. Considering that until June they were refusing to even communicate by mail, let alone send virtual certificates, I suspect that this is an emergency measure to try to reduce their horrendous backlog.
I will keep the download, obviously, but the question was more about what original certificates look like. CPAM will want 'originals', so I want to make sure they conform and that I don't give them any (more) excuses to be awkward

[exile]

From what I remember you will need 2 copies for CPAM. One for them and one they return to the UK - Newcastle?

I would advise keeping a copy (the original attachment to the email). I did not (no one suggested I should) and have had a few close shaves because I could not provide the original but in every case the get out of jail free was to say CPAM had the original and would not have issued the carte vitale without it. So far so good.

[Loup-garou]

Agree with exile about 2 copies - originals (received by post) are double sided and on a sort of greyish paper.

[Headers]

DO NOT DOUBLE SIDE THE DOCUMENTS.
Agen lost mine by only scanning the front page when they sent them on to Bayonne. They are hopeless. I ended up having to make an appointment and physically take the single sided copies to them. The process took 8 weeks in all. I have to say all medical contacts were extremely sympathetic and I eventually got back all the many reimbursements so you need to ask for feuille des soins during the period of changeover because your carte vitale will stop working for a while.
I was piggy backing on OHs card so when I reappeared in the system with my own ameli ID all my old history was gone but my CV started working again. You’ll need to make sure your account is still linked to your mutuelle if you have one.

[A.N.Other]

Agree with exile about 2 copies - originals (received by post) are double sided and on a sort of greyish paper.

Same here.

Either by accident or incompetence here in Spain they wrote some reference numbers on the originals then photocopied them and handed them back keeping the copies

[Quiksilver]

Thank you so much, @exile, @Loup-garou, @Headers and @ A.N.Other. I go fully armed into the fray

[glazedallover]

Sorry QS, I didn't realise that you had started a new thread but congrats ! I received the time limited link by email but asked for paper copies to be sent as my printer was en panne...I didn't even think of taking photocopies although I may have a soft copy stored somewhere. Make sure you keep the covering letter confirming your right to a state pension and also you should receive a letter confirming the amount and date of your first state pension payment. My CPAM asked to see both of these.

Best

[Quiksilver]

Hello GAO Thanks! Hope you had a lovely holiday! I trotted off to Agen this morning with my home-made 'originals', every certificate I could lay hands on, a sheaf of justificatifs, a blood sample and my best ingratiating manner Seems to have worked. The (initially) brusque and chilly fonc melted a bit when I bombarded her with my very best French. Assured me that there's no delay other than the paperwork being passed on to the out-sourced Company that deals with it all Assured me that my current cover won't be cancelled until the new one starts. I'll believe that when I see it!
I've still not had a letter from DWP confirming payment details.....