How to ..... ?

I'm in danger of trying to teach grandmothers to suck eggs here, as everybody I know with a swimming pool professes to be an expert at keeping it clean, bright and free from green deposits (algae).

Yet, if you dig deeper and witness the number of pool owners, both Spanish and foreign, seeking advice in dedicated swimming pool shops, it is clearly a bigger problem than we think, particularly during very hot spells and when the calima is about.

Have you ever locked yourself out of your house and couldn't get in? Exactly that happened to me the other day.

Carelessly I left a key in the lock on the inside of the front door and slammed the door shut and went off for a coffee.

When I came back my other key would not engage fully and I couldn't open the door.

What to do?

Option 1 - use a ladder to climb in through the bedroom window, which was open.

drawback - my ladders were inside the house.

Option 2 - saw through the downstairs reja and climb in.

drawback - I'd have to get the reja re-welded, a costly option.

Option 3 - call a locksmith to drill out the lock.

drawback - a costly option.

Option 4 - call my house insurance company.

Option 4 - consult the glazier who made the door and fitted it.

Jose Manuel came straightaway and using his magic touch, some vaseline, a sheet of plastic and a hammer and - open, Sesame! - we were in. It took all of five minutes.

How much? No charge!

Conclusion

So, all was well that ended well!

I'll be more careful in the future .....

© The DIY Guy MMXXVI

Pictures:

Blog Vault, Ladder Zone, Rejas para ventana

Thanks:

Jose Manuel Grande

Tags:

Blog Vault, DIY Guy, glazier, hammer, insurance, Jose Manuel Grande, key, ladder, Ladder Zone, locked out, locksmith, plastic, reja, Rejas para ventana, saw, vaseline, window

If you live in the campo and do not have "town water", ie pure tap water from the local authority, you will be reliant on deliveries of fresh water or, more likely, water from a well. Whichever system you have you will need a pump or two.

[DFGW - Deutsche Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V.]    

We live in the campo just outside Ronda. The 50 or so houses/fincas in this area have no water supply other than from a huge aquifer deep below ground. To haul that water up into a deposito, or holding tank, you need a pump right down at the bottom of a flexible pipe to force the water up - an artesian well.

[Live Science]    

Then you need a second pump to get the water up out of the underfloor deposito and headed for your house and garden.

If you have a swimming pool, you need a third one as part of the control system for the management of the pool water and to circulate that water to prevent it from stagnating and turning green.

Water problems 2026

With the extreme bad weather this year, we took a big hit. Apart from lots of damage caused by flooding and high winds after the eight or so danas experienced in Andalucia, we lost one of our three phases of electricity, the one for the pool and garden.

What happened? The water in our pool quickly turned dark green. With the swimming season fast approaching we needed to take action.

[Brady's Pool & Spa Care]    

How to get your pool prepared for use

First of all I needed to establish whether the pump in the poolhouse was working, as it had been submerged for long periods. Our poolhouse is part below ground, as is the norm here. Doh!

I dis-assembled the pump unit and took it to my repair man. He quickly established that the moving parts were jammed.

"I can probably sort that out for you", he said, "but don't ask me when".

He showed me about twenty pumps that were before me in the repair queue.

"This is the worst winter it's ever been," he said.

"Well, who's surprised after the weather we've had?" I responded.

I decided to check out the cost of a new unit.

At some 300 euros I decided to abandon another project I had planned and use the money for this instead.

I bought the unit and with a bit of pipework adjustment had it fitted within half an hour.

[ESPA]    

24 hours later after the adhesive for the joints in the plastic pipework had set hard, it was the moment of truth*. I turned the electricity on and crossed my fingers ..... 

..... the new pump immediately sprung into action, there were no leaks and the process of cleaning up the pool water began in earnest.

My wife Rita had carried out some thorough research online and gave me my instructions.

1. Get the pH value down to below 7.2 using agua fuerte (we used a total of 10 litres over two days).

2. With the pH down to 7.2 we gave it its first Chlorine Shock treatment. This is a highly dangerous toxic powder which you dilute in water and distribute across the surface of the pool water The amount of choque cloro to use depends on the capacity of the pool in cubic metres.

3. Leave the pump on "circulate" overnight and assess in the morning.

4. In the morning, the pool was a shade of very light green. Eureka! A thorough clean with the pool vacuum cleaner and another choque cloro treatment overnight.

5. A further vacuuming and then a treatment of floculante to bind the particles in the water and send them to the bottom followed by more vacuuming. Repeat the floculante treatment if required.

Above two photos [Paul Whitelock]    

6. For good measure treat the pool with antialgas to help stop the water going green again.

7. Swim! Yes, time to test the water .....

    [Saatchi Art]

Links of interest

All’s well that ends well! - Secret Serrania de Ronda - Paul Whitelock

Spain... where the grass is greener – not! - Secret Serrania de Ronda - Paul Whitelock

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Wikipedia - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

WATER THERAPY: In at the deep end... Secret Serrania de Ronda - Carolyn Emmett

Water, Water Everywhere -Youtube - Bright Beginnings EFK

© The DIY Guy (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

Brady's Pool & Spa Care, DVGW, Deutsche Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V., ESPA, Live Science, Paul Whitelock, Saatchi Art

Thanks:

Carolyn Emmett, CESPA, DIY Guy, Paul Whitelock, Rita Whitelock, Secret Serrania de Ronda, Voltasur, Wikipedia, 

Tags:

7.2, agua fuerte, Andalucia, antialgas, aquifer, artesian well, Brady's Pool & Spa Care, campo, Chlorine Shock treatment, choque cloro, control system, damage caused by flooding and high winds, dana, dark green, deposito, DVGW, Deutsche Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V., DIY Guy, electricity, ESPA, extreme bad weather, floculante, holding tank, Live Science, management of the pool water, Paul Whitelock, pH value, poolhouse, pool vacuum cleaner, pump, pump unit, pure tap water, repair man, Rita Whitelock, Saatchi Art, Secret Serrania de Ronda, swim, swimming pool, swimming season, "town water", water, water from a well

The weather in the whole of Spain is atrocious at the moment, with snow, hail, torrential rain, high winds, black ice and widespread flooding. There are yellow and orange warnings for most of the country. To blame are Alison, Amy and Mehmet, named storms approaching from the West and North.

[YouTube]    

Many businesses, such as hotels and restaurants, livestock farms, olive groves and wine bodegas, as well as private homes have been affected and will be hoping that their insurance provides adequate coverage. Responsibility for damage caused by flooding passes to the Consorcio if insurance policies are in place and fully paid up.

This article explains how to claim from the Consorcio.

Eligibility

The CCS “takes care of compensation always provided that” the property has been previously insured - usually seven days. 

For its part, the CCS will cover the damages suffered by the insured persons and properties, including homes, communities, vehicles, premises, and industries.

In addition to material damages, it will also compensate those affected for immaterial damages such as loss of rental income, accommodation expenses resulting from the uninhabitability (sic) of the home, or loss of income due to the closure of commercial, industrial, and service establishments.

    [LinkedIn]

How to claim damages from the Consortium of Insurance Compensation

The policyholder can directly submit a claim to the Consortium for both personal and property damages. The CCS provides a free phone number, 900 222 665, although claims can also be processed via their website.

The insured party must promptly provide identifying information such as the policy number, policyholder, and the insured party, as well as their bank account details.

    [Money Donut]

Likewise, it is recommended to keep the remains of the damaged goods until the visit of the loss adjuster (perito) and, if not feasible, take photographs; keep the invoices in case urgent repairs need to be made; provide repair estimates and invoices for the damages, and two copies (original and duplicate) of the policy and premium payment receipt.

So, when the damage is caused by floods, the Consortium will be responsible for compensating those affected.

But “when the water comes from above,” for example, through leaks in the roof of a building, “it will not be the Consortium's concern, but rather the insurance company's,” explains broker Carlos Lluch.

    [CNN]

Leaks or dampness following episodes of heavy rain are actually quite common. In such cases, if the cause is not lack of maintenance or gradual deterioration, the affected party will be indemnified by their insurance company.

However, there are limitations. One of them is that more than 40 litres per square metre per hour must have fallen. Additionally, Lluch points out that there are policies that specify that the adverse weather phenomenon must have occurred “at an abnormal time.”

If the property that has been damaged is a vehicle, “all car insurance policies include coverage against extraordinary risks,” states the Business Association of Insurance, Unespa. They also specify that all owners whose cars have been swept away by floods or damaged by winds exceeding 75 mph will be compensated by the Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS).

[ABC News]    

On the other hand, damage caused by hailstones will be covered by the insurance company if the policyholder purchased this additional coverage.

If the weather has damaged a crop, agricultural installation, or animals, the compensation claim must be made through agricultural insurance. It is important to note, however, that anything insured by the agricultural insurance plan does not receive public aid.

Ignacio Lillo, reporter for Diario Sur, Malaga, informs us that with the first week of the torrential rains behind us, the number of claims lodged with the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros is already close to 500.

Specifically, 463 requests had been registered by the end of the year, according to government sources, from those affected who had current insurance cover.

Most of them relate to problems in homes, businesses, shops, offices, warehouses and damage to vehicles, all affected by the floodwaters.

However, the number of claims is expected to be much higher, as many of those affected are still clearing away the mud and assessing the losses they have suffered, particularly in terms of furniture and household goods.

Flood damage in Malaga [NPR]    

In addition, the Consorcio's assessors and loss adjusters ('peritos') are still working on assessing the damage on the ground, a task in which they have been immersed since the day after the catastrophe.

The aim of this agency, which reports to the Ministry of the Economy, is to be able to start paying out the first compensation settlements from the cases already processed.

How to file a claim

The Spanish government's Directorate of Consumer Affairs has clarified how those affected can submit a claim for compensation to the Consorcio.

This covers both material damage caused by the flooding and non-material damage resulting from the flooding, eg loss of rental income for property owners, costs for alternative accommodation when your home is deemed inhabitable, loss of business income due to inability to trade and so on.

The only requirement for access to Consorcio cover is that the person or property affected is insured and that the insurance was in force at the time the extraordinary flooding occurred, which must be vouched for in the application for compensation.

    [La Razon]

The Consorcio will compensate in accordance with the sums insured and the clauses within the insurance policy of the affected person, which is confirmed by the private insurance company with whom the insured has the policy(-ies).

To start the claim process, simply call the Consorcio's call centre (freephone 900 222 665) and provide the identification details of the insured person and of the damaged persons or property, if they have insurance. This information can also be completed online at the Consorcio's website. 

    [EuroWeekly News]

The government added that the Consorcio will log and manage all compensation claims received by insured persons, even if the seven-day period has elapsed since the damage occurred, as stipulated in the insurance regulations.

Endword

So, there you have it. I've made several claims to the consorcio in the past and it's always been straightforward and they've paid out without a quibble.

As for insurance companies, they're another matter - they try to wriggle out of everything!

Links

Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Here Comes The Rain Again (Remastered) - YouTube

"The Rain in Spain ....." - Eye on Spain

© The Crazy Guy (Paul Whitelock)

Pictures:

ABC News, CNN, EuroWeekly News, La Razon, LinkedIn, Money Donut, NPR, Paul Whitelock, YouTube

Thanks:

Eye on Spain, Paul Whitelock, YouTube

Tags:

112, Annie Lennox, assessor, ABC News, CNN, Carlos Lluch, consorcio, CCS, Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, David G Stewart, Diario Sur, EuroWeekly News, Eurythmics, Eye on Spain, flooding, "Here Comes the Rain Again", Ignacio Lillo, La Razon, LinkedIn, loss adjuster, Malaga, Money Donut, NPR, Paul Whitelock, 'perito', Secret Serrania, The Crazy Guy, Unespa, Wikipedia, YouTube

I wrote about this topic some 18 months ago when several satellites beaming in UK channels were turned off without warning (link to article below). This was mainly in southern Spain. "Guiris" in other parts of Spain could continue to view their favourite channels from home as before.

    [Smart Aerials]

Backstory

For southern Spain there were a number of workarounds, including streaming, VPN and Amazon Firestick, as well as very expensive internet-based systems.

    Streaming [Eroski Computer]                      VPN [Amazon]                                                       Firestick [Amazon]

I and several other "guiris" round here chose to go the Firestick route with a guy in Estepona who was selling Firesticks pre-loaded with 1000s of foreign channels. I was happy with this solution initially, until I found out that such services are highly illegal and punishable with huge fines.

Then this very week my service disappeared, despite having paid up to April 2026.

I am now firmly of the opinion that my guy in Estepona is a charlatan. He's not only cut off my service, but he is impossible to contact by phone; he ignores text messages and I've heard via another of his victims that he is now living in the UK and is seriously ill. Well, he may be terminally ill, but he still has obligations to his clients.

For everybody's information this "crook" goes by the name of Dusty Mitts, quite clearly not his real name. 

[Advertisement on Facebook]    

As for me and the missus we are going to go down the VPN route, probably with NORD VPN.

They have a special offer which expires today, so we'll have to get our skates on .....

[Xataka]    

Link to original article:

How to watch British TV in Spain in 2024 and beyond

STOP PRESS:

Look what I found in just five minutes of web-browsing:

Adi Lennon: "Anyone know how to contact Dusty Mitts IPTV. My system has gone down, tried the new Spanish mobile number and nothing, as switched off, no reply to whatsapp or facebook."

Martin Brown:  "Ah...the weekly 'where is Dusty Mitts' post. I don't know him so can't comment on his service...but he seems to be one of the world's most polarising characters."

Jackie Waters: "All the bad reports I am surprised people still use him. Pay cheap pay twice !"

Rowena Alderson: "Forget Dusty Mitts. He’s always been unreliable and now like the Invisible Man."

Jo-Anne Hodkinson: "I’m having problems too, for the second time I’ve paid for 12 months but only getting 6 months. Messaged several times but no response."

Evy Eguiluz: "Dusty Mitts is not reliable at all."

***

© The DIY Guy  

Pictures:

Amazon, Eroski Computer, Facebook, Smart Aerials, Xataka

Thanks to:

Elaine Love, Estepona Info & Chat, Eye on Spain, Nick Flynn, Nord VPN, The Curmudgeon

Tags:

Amazon, DIY Guy, Dusty Mitts, Elaine Love, Eroski Computer, Estepona Info & Chat, Eye on Spain, Facebook, Nick Flynn, Nord VPN, Smart Aerials, The Curmudgeon, Xataka

How to ….. prepare for winter in inland Andalucia

We have entered meteorological Autumn and are more than half-way through September.

Night temperatures are dropping and the first frosts won't be far away.

My frosty garden in 2024 [Paul Whitelock]    

Time to get ready for the cold winter months. The climate in this part of Spain is defined as continental:

"Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno."

In the garden

Wrap vulnerable plants such as bougainvilla, dama de noche, young wisteria, in fleece, available at garden centres (viveros), as soon as frost is forecast, otherwise you are likely to lose them.

Make sure you have plenty of firewood for your chimenea. I've stopped buying logs - they're too expensive. Instead, I collect discarded wood from the "basura", e.g. pallets, broken furniture if it's unpainted and not lacquered, branches, and cut/saw them into wood-fire-sized "logs". Just be sure you don't burn anything which gives off toxic fumes. Also make sure it's legal in your area, and get your chimney swept regularly (with thanks to Lorna Fisher - see first comment below).

After recent storms, several trees in the garden have blown down. Armed with my trusty chainsaw they too have gone into my log store. I reckon I've enough lumber for three winters.

[Deposit Photos]    

In the house

If you have a pellet stove, buy your pellets now before they go up in price. 15 kilo sacks are currently on sale round here at various prices, ranging from 4.99 to 5.75 euros per sack.

If you use heating oil (gasoil) fill your tank now before prices shoot up. Supply and demand determines prices.

If you rely on bombonas (gas bottles) for cooking and/or hot water and/or portable gas heaters, make sure you have enough. 

In our village house we need five: hot water, two gas heaters, gas cooker and one spare. Check that your gas heaters are working. Sometimes the jets get blocked with accumulated dust from months of non-use.

  Pellet stove [Climmatic]                    Bombonas [Repsol]                                                Avia domestic distribution [Facebook]                                                  

In the bedroom

It's time to clear out light summer clothing, such as t-shirts, polo shirts, shorts, thin dresses, and stuff our wardrobes full of warm clothing, like long trousers, undervests, long-sleeved shirts, thick skirts and dresses, pullovers and woolly tops, warm outer garments and sturdy shoes.

It gets very cold in the mountains, between November and February.

    [British Heart Foundation]

Good luck! Be prepared!

Related Links

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Eye on Spain

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Olive Press News Spain

Jack Frost in Andalucía - Secret Serrania de Ronda

LOG BLOG: How to keep warm and cosy during winter in Spain - Secret Serrania

Log blog! - Olive Press News Spain

In Love with SEVILLA - at last! - Help me, Ronda

© The Crazy Guy

Images:

British Heart Foundation, Climmatic, Deposit Photos, Facebook, Paul Whitelock, Repsol

Tags:

15 kilo sacks, bombona, bougainvilla, branches, British Heart Foundation, broken furniture, chimenea, Climmatic, dama de noche, Deposit Photos, Eye on Spain,  Facebook, firewood, fleece, frost, gas bottle, gasoil, heating oil, Jack Frost in Andalucia, log blog, logs, "Nueve meses de infierno y tres de invierno", pallets,  Paul Whitelock, pellets, pellet stove, portable gas heater, Repsol, Secret Serrania, Sevilla, The Olive Press, vivero, wisteria, wood-fire-sized "logs", 

I own two properties in Spain. My domicilio in the campo outside Ronda and a vivienda rural in nearby Montejaque.

"You have to sell your rental house as soon as possible," says the missus.

Well she is the boss.

Se vende

So Casa Real is on the market and is now priced to sell. I've reduced the asking price and am happy to do a deal on the furniture and fittings.

I have a viewing tomorrow morning by a UK couple who really like Montejaque. Apparently, they've looked elsewhere, eg El Gastor and Montecorto, but they seem to prefer Montejaque. I understand that. It's my favourite "pueblo blanco" (white village).

When I die I plan to go into a nicho in the cemetery.

[Photo: Karl Smallman, Secret Serrania]

The budget of the clients is less than I am prepared to accept, but let's see what happens.

So, what have I done to present the house in its best light.

Today I painted some feature walls that were looking a bit jaded. I also cleared out all the dead plants outside and planted new ones.

Tomorrow early, I shall sort out the roof terrace. Prune the plants and dress the terrace furniture.

A bit of cleaning (dust and debris on the floor) and we'll be ready.

Then, shortly before the arrival of the punters, I shall put on some strategic lighting and get the coffee on.

The contact is via Love Viviendas, an estate agency run by a friend of mine.

So, Ian will show the house (well, he's got to do something for his hefty 4% commission!) and I'll be on hand to answer any questions.

I've done what we do do in the UK - presented the house well. I've decluttered and sorted out the plants, the beds are made and the bathrooms are clean and tidy. Soft music and the smell of coffee should guarantee a sale.

I'll get back to you

.....

Update 1

The viewing went well. the potential purchasers, Tracy and Robert, who live near Bristol, where my brother also lives, made lots of positive comments. Of the many houses they've seen this week, mine had the best kerb appeal. They loved the huge roof terrace with the stunning views. They liked the location, close to the village square. They were also impressed by the way in which I had reconfigured the downstairs.

But, will they make an offer?

Update 2

No, they didn't!

However, I have another interested person. Mike, already resident in Spain with a property in Chiclana, wants to move to the Ronda area. He is currently in the UK but will be back in Andalucia next week and wants to view. This would be a private deal with no estate agent involved

©  Paul Whitelock

Acknowledgements:

Alamy, Love Viviendas, Paul Whitelock,

Tags:

Alamy, campo, domicilio, El Gastor, Love Viviendas, Montecorto, Montejaque, nicho, Paul Whitelock, "pueblo blanco", Ronda, vivienda rural

I've built a few pergolas and one carport in my time. They are essentially the same, except a carport has a roof of some kind.

Two pergolas in England and three in Spain and one carport in Spain.

It's been interesting, what with the variation in the quality of materials and different construction methods.

Although it was a long time ago, I recall that building such structures in England was relatively straightforward.

In Spain, less so.

[Photo courtesy of Homebase]     

What you need

     [Anticuable]                                                         [Rusticos Juan Garcia]                                       [Maderas Menga]   

    [Union Ferretera]

Check out this online video on building a carport by BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology):

¿Conoces la Cuenta y Tarjeta Joven BBVA?

My pergolas

The first pergola I built was at our house in Thelwall (Warrington) in around 2004 using reclaimed timber, with my teenage son, Tom, as my helper.

The second was at my house in Latchford (also Warrington) following my redundancy, divorce and nervous breakdown.

Once again, my "labourer" was my son Tom, who had just finished his A-Levels, was at a loose end and needed to earn money. That was in 2008.

Pergolas in Spain

In between times I built, alone, the best pergola I've managed to date. That was on the reconstructed terrace of a house I bought in Ronda in 2003 to do up and put on the market as a holiday rental.

Over a couple of years, I had help with the renovation of Casa Blanca from friends and family: Alan Shepherd, Amy Whitelock, Jeryl Whitelock, Johnny White and Tom Whitelock.

     [Photo courtesy of Booking.com]

Ultimately I had to sell Casa Blanca to fund the purchase of a house in Latchford (q.v.) in 2008. As a result of the renovation and the state of the housing market at that time, ie (before the world economic crash in 2010), I made a significant capital gain.

I also built a pergola for clients who had employed me to renovate their house.

Three years ago I built a carport at our domicilio just outside Ronda with the help of my friend Michael.

That does a great job in protecting the paintwork from the searing sun, which acts like paintstripper.

[Photo by Paul Whitelock]     

Currently I am building a pergola at the house.

We have a terrace outside our bedroom, which needs more shade. So I am building a pergola for the grape vine and the bougainvilla to grow over, which will give us much needed shade in this suntrap, which has vicious sun all day long.

(awaiting photo)

Conclusion

Pergolas and carports are great, aren't they? Fun to build and a definite asset.

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

Booking.com, Homebase, Paul Whitelock, 

Links:

The Houses That Jack Built - Eye on Spain

The houses that Jack built! - Secret Serrania de Ronda

¿Conoces la Cuenta y Tarjeta Joven BBVA? - BYOT

Thanks:

Alan Shepherd, Amy Whitelock, BYOT, Jeryl Whitelock, Johnny White, Tom Whitelock, 

Tags:

Alan Shepherd, Amy Whitelock, Anticuable, Booking.com, BYOT, carport, Homebase, Jeryl Whitelock, Johnny White, Latchford, Maderas Menga, Montejaque, Paul Whitelock, pergola, Ronda, Ronda, Rusticos Juan Garcia, Thelwall, Tom Whitelock, Union Ferretera, Warrington

Since the UK formally left the European Union on January 1st, 2020 - commonly known as BREXIT - it has become a lot harder to become a Spanish resident. New rules apply, as they do for other non-EU members.

    [Image courtesy of BankInfoSecurity]

Backstory

The British voted to leave the EU on June 16th, 2016, by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. The leave campaign led by the "charismatic" Bojo the Clown (Boris Johnson) famously lied throughout the campaign. Nigel Farage, then leader of UKIP was uncompromising in his desire to leave Europe.

[Image courtesy of Facebook]    

Johnson is now a disgraced politician and human being, largely because of his incompetence and hypocrisy over party-gate.

Farage is now leader of Reform, the successor to UKIP, who has finally been elected as MP for Clacton-on-Sea (Essex), following the massive demise of the Conservative Party.

How to become a resident if you're British

The options at the start of BREXIT in January 2020 were these:

1. If you were already living in Spain and had a NIE, all you had to do was upgrade to a TIE (not compulsory, but advisable); have a Spanish bank account; and exchange your UK driving licence for a Spanish permiso de conducir.
2. Get employment in Spain and comply with the above.
3. Get NLV (Non-Lucrative Visa) status.
4. Apply for a "golden visa", ie "buy your residency" by investing at least 500,000 euros in a property in Spain.
5. Become a "digital nomad".
6. Apply for Spanish nationality.

[Image courtesy of Spain Law Hub]    

How's it going?

Long-term British residents who didn't bother to fulfil the requirements suddenly found themselves subject to the 90-day-rule. Many have been barred from living in their homes for longer than the permitted number of days. Others have been tracked down and extradited and heavily fined. Their illegal cars have been seized and crushed. Their unoccupied homes are vulnerable to okupas (squatters).

I have little sympathy, it serves them right. The requirements were well publicised, well in advance, so they have no excuse for not complying.

[Image courtesy of SGM Abogados]    

British workers, mainly tradesmen, are still able to come to Spain to work on extended contracts, although they do not get residency status.

Many Brits desiring residency have acquired NLVs which means they are not allowed to work and earn money. These are mainly retired people with sufficient financial means to live in Spain.

The digital nomad programme has expanded greatly and is thriving.

Thousands of foreigners have applied for Spanish nationality. The majority are "refugees" from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, such as Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. That is a relatively straightforward process. For non-native-Spanish speakers from outside the EU, it's trickier, but do-able. I intend to make an application this month.

A major change to the rules

As of April 3rd, the "golden visa" option has been cancelled. 

Many commentators regard this decision by Pedro Sanchez' government to be a mistake.

The Press and media have had a field day. The BBC posted this on its website:

Spain to axe 'golden visas' scheme

[Photo courtesy of Navas & Cusi]    

and the English freebie published in Spain, the EuroWeekly News, said this:

Spain scraps golden visas « Euro Weekly News

The national newspapers in Spain also led on the story:

Adiós a las ‘golden visa’: ya no se podrá adquirir el permiso de residencia por inversiones inmobiliarias | Economía | EL PAÍS

Las 'Golden Visa' ya son historia y a partir de hoy dejan de concederse | Actualidad Económica - El Mundo

Ten key golden visa stats as Spain axes scheme for wealthy foreigners - The Local

The Spanish government is actively looking at ways to axe the 90-day-rule.

This would be a big boost for those affected and would bring much needed extra cash into the Spanish economy.

[Image courtesy of SGM Abogados]    

Other links:

All TIE’d up! How to apply for the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero in Spain - www.secretserrania.com

DIGITAL NOMADS - Help me, Ronda - www.help-me-ronda.com

HOW TO …..apply for a replacement TIE - www.eyeonspain.com

Photos and images:

BankInfoSecurity, Facebook, Navas & Cusi, SGM Abogados, Spain Law Hub, Wikipedia

©  The Crazy Guy (Paul Whitelock)

Acknowledgements:

BBC, EuroWeekly News, El Mundo, El Pais, The Local

Tags:

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By The Crazy Guy
 
When I lived in the UK I never received any spam calls, because I was on the TPS, Telephone Preference Service, which put you on a list of people who did not want spam calls. Occasionally, a call slipped through, but as soon as I told the spam caller that I was on the TPS, they hung up immediately. For abusing the TPS, companies could receive a heavy fine.

My experience

I have lived in Spain for 16 years and receive spam calls on a daily basis. What really gets me is that when you tell the caller that you don’t react to spam calls, THEY ARGUE WITH YOU! 

What is the matter with these people?

My current android mobile identifies suspicious calls, so I usually don’t answer. I call back and the number is not recognised, proving that I was right not to answer. 

Occasionally, a call identified as suspicious, is not. For example, my doctor’s surgery or my bank. 

It’s really not very impressive. If the UK could whack it 20 years ago, why not Spain?

The current situation

Unsolicited commercial calls without prior consent have been outlawed under the new General Telecommunications Law since June 2023. But some sly callers still manage to get through.

To make matters worse, robot-callers and cybercriminals are also ringing you, using aggressive marketing tactics to swindle you out of personal data or even hard-earned cash.

Help is at hand

If you’re “sick to the back teeth” of your phone ringing with annoying and time-consuming spam calls, it’s time to give those nuisance callers the boot. 

By signing up to the Spanish Telephone Preference Service (Lista Robinson), and tweaking some simple settings on your mobile, you can make your number pretty much invisible, making it difficult for telemarketers and fraudsters alike. 

Unfortunately, it’s not foolproof, but it makes it harder for them to ring. Think of it as putting on an invisibility cloak for your phone.

What to do

Register with the Robinson List (Lista Robinson).

It’s a free telephone preference service in Spain that allows you to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls. Visit the official website www.listarobinson.es and follow the registration steps.

You can also install call-blocking apps that nip unwanted callers in the bud.

For iPhone users: Truecaller and Hiya identify and block spam calls at lightning speed, ensuring you’re not left hanging on hold with scammers. You only need one of these, so take your pick.

For Android users: Truecaller, Hiya, and Mr. Number are all available at the Google Play Store. 

Again, you only need one of these. They all offer strong spam identification and blocking features, helping you keep those unwanted callers at bay. 

The two best options are Truecaller and Hiya, with Mr Number in third place.

Built-in protection

If your mobile is the latest model, you might already have the perfect tools to stop those harassing callers without needing extra apps.

On iPhone: Navigate to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This nifty feature sends calls from unknown numbers straight to voicemail, so you can avoid the disturbance and check messages later at your leisure.

On Android: Many Android devices come with built-in spam protection. Open your Phone app, go to Settings, and look for the spam protection option. Switch it on, and spam callers will “get the boot” automatically.

Conclusion

Don’t let spam callers drive you round the bend. Take control of your mobile phone line in Spain and give those unwelcome callers the silent treatment. 

Silence is golden, and now it’s just a tap away.

© The Crazy Guy

Acknowledgements:

Euro Weekly News
Marc Menendez-Roche
Paul Whitelock
Wikipedia

Images:

Firewall

Internet Matters

WSJ

YouTube

Tags:

aggressive marketing tactics, android mobile, call-blocking apps, cybercriminals,  Euro Weekly News, fraudsters, General Telecommunications Law, Google Play Store, hard-earned cash, heavy fine, Hiya, invisibility cloak, iPhone, Lista Robinson, Marc Menendez-Roche, Mr. Number, Paul Whitelock, personal data, Robinson List, robot-callers, Silence Unknown Callers, spam calls, spam protection, Spanish Telephone Preference Service, STOP SPAM CALLS, suspicious calls, telemarketers, TPS, Telephone Preference Service, Truecaller,  unsolicited commercial calls, unsolicited marketing calls, Wikipedia, www.listarobinson.es