Problems connecting to Rapid Chargers - and I'm not a Newbie!

[greeiig]

Hi all. It's been a while since I last did a long trip. Last week I did a longish road trip through France so had to use rapid chargers quite a lot
I've previously done this without any issues - apart from the usual hassle of using apps vs charge cards etc. My favourite one to use in France has been Ionity - I could usually connect and charge with no problems..
But on this trip I had loads of problems stemming from the charger not seeming to be able to connect with the car. I'd go to the charger, do the usual initiation, be told to connect the charger to the car. Then wait, and wait, then get told the session had stopped, or just not started as there was an error.
Most times I would try again, and it might then work, or not. Then I'd move to another charger in the row, it might then work, or not. I don't think I ever was completely unable to charge, but I had to make multiple attempts. This happened particularly with Ionity and TotalEnergies.
One time I initiated the charger, then plugged in when it told me to, but it errorred. I then tried again but this time put the cable in first, and it worked.
Other times, the same trick didn't work, but moving to a different charger did.
This never happened to me on previous trip. My MG5 is a December 2021 model, starting to get on a bit, but only 3.5 years old.
I thought I'd gotten over the whole "charging is a hassle" phase so this was so annoying...

Any ideas what might be causing this? I had a full service just in January, so should have had a software update. I'm worried that it's to do with the physical connection between the car plug and the charging cable, in which case perhaps it's just going to get worse. Perhaps I should ask MG for a software update, or perhaps a new socket!

Any suggestion from you wise sages?

 

[Fintious maximus]

I’ve had this issue a few times with Shell Recharge - others have generally been okay

 

[Gomev]

... I then tried again but this time put the cable in first, and it worked.
Other times, the same trick didn't work, ...

In my experience with the PFL it is slow to communicate and have heard of timing out before. Maybe this is the same with the FL.
I always put the cable in first in the theoretical attempt to give it the longest time, before doing the charger stuff and this always worked for me.
As others have mentioned elsewhere, maybe the connector socket on the car is getting a little worn and it may help to support the cable while it communicates.