Originally Posted by IO540
And, unlike those at London Information, they are allowed to use it.
Not forgetting the most salient point- that the "ATCO's" at London Information aren't ATCO's, don't hold an ATC licence, nor have they done the ATC training that the French ATCO's you talk about have done.
Tolka - reading your post I suspect your friend may have filed IFR, but on a route outside the airways route structure. IFR or not, you fly outside that and you will get passed to London info if they are the most relevant unit.
I suggest your friend wouldn't have had this problem if he'd actually read the chart properly in the planning stage and realised that IFR flight inside class 'G' isn't subject to a clearance or an ATC instruction, therefore no need to actually work an ATC unit.
You want to file IFR and work ATC - read and understand the chart, know the limitations of the airspace types and what is or isn't required in those classes of airspace, and file a proper route if you want stay within the ATC system.
Doesn't matter what flavour IR you have - if you can't comprehend the above you shouldn't be operating an aircraft IFR in the first place.