Mac's Poll - Let's Vote

windtalker said:
Wednesday, March 5, 2014 @ 4:13 PM

what do you think.

mac75 said:
Wednesday, March 5, 2014 @ 5:12 PM

I can't express an opinion as live in Spain all year round, so not sure what others think outside of Spain. My impression is that Spain has improved, whether this impression has crossed borders or not I'm not sure....

Shelley Wolfson said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 7:35 AM

I would never have bought a house in Spain if I'd realised how slow and disorganised things are. Beauracracy know no bounds and corruption is still rife, at least that's my perception.

harddunby said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 8:42 AM

There has been a shift in British Soaps char actors from, " I am going to Spain", to " I am going to the Canaries". In 2006 Mula at 6 in the morning would be full of small motor bikes with men going to work, for the last 4 years there are none. Yet as the Brits of the 1990's are drifting away there place is taken by Peruvian and other South American persons, drug dealing increases yet the Spanish aren't on the streets. I just wonder how it all hangs together.

Hannah said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 8:59 AM

Endemic corruption continues to be unearthed but there is little evidence that the government is taking steps to prevent it happening in the future. The judicial system is failing to protect property owners who were wronged. Fear of buying again in Spain may last a generation. Towns remain neglected and the increasing number of stray dogs is heartbreaking. When we visit, the expat community generally give a negative impression of their current lives.

harddunby said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 9:11 AM

That is interesting Hannah as in Mula the old quarter properties purchased for 100K euros are still not shifting at half the price. It's my idea that a large number Spanish and South American occupied are owned by Spanish landlords of the Rachman order.

maggi said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 9:35 AM

I have to agree with Shelley and Hannah town halls
are disorganised and slow. Corruption is still ignored.
People have lost there life savings in Spain
and no one cares

maggi said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 9:37 AM

I have to agree with Shelley and Hannah town halls
are disorganised and slow. Corruption is still ignored.
People have lost there life savings in Spain
and no one cares

derek55 said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 9:38 AM

Having owned for seven years I can honesty say its got worse, Racism is rife, the banks attitude and the town hall bureaucracy is getting worse, jobs for the boys and corruption still the order of the day.
The traffic police see all non Spanish as easy targets, easy pickings for fines; there really is one law for the locals and one for the rest.
You live and learn, if I had known then what I know now. We would have never purchased.

HAWKINGS111 said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 10:36 AM

Well we retired here some 6 years ago and after reading the above comments i feel like i am going to be out on a limb on my own, because i do think that things are improving albeit slowly.

Shelley, "Slow and disorganised". Well Spain has always been that way and known for it, Manana, Manana. Nothing new there.
Yes there is still coruption and people are still being taken to court and some sent to prison. Everything cannot be changed overnight but some of that corruption also is OLD not new corruption, where councillors who have been corrupt in the past have at long last been caught up with.

I also think that a big percentage of that corruption was with regard to housing and although the market has bottomed out it is hardly improving much and the boom time has well and truely gone which i would think leaves less opportunity for corruption.

As far as the police go i have been stopped many times for spot checks on my paperwork etc {rarely done in the UK}, and have been dealt with politely and even when i crossed over a solid white line {unintentional mistake}, i was given a polite talking to and let off, so i can only speak as i find there.

I personally find the Spanish way of life very civilised, fairly safe, with great weather and am prepared to accept it with all its faults. we wont be returning to the Uk permanently for a good while yet i think, if ever.

Astronautilus said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 10:49 AM

My particular beef is that the government doesn't seem to be enforcing national policy to state and local government.

So many local authorities seem to have their own get-rich-quick schemes, often acknowledge to be unconstitutional or even illegal, but apparently tolerated by the national government.

Alan said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 10:58 AM

I have lived in Spain 41 years and it has always been corrupt but now it is worse than ever

Pasha01 said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 12:21 PM

NO, NO and NO. Corruption and dis-organized bureaucracy knows no bounds. As I've said many times on here, Spain is a lovely country run by Fools, idiots and mafia like politicians. How they are allowed to carry on in power I have no idea. Even the Spanish are leaving in droves, many coming to the UK.

nsmisa said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 3:18 PM

I may change my opinion if I ever get my 120k back - 8 years and counting!

jamesensor said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 5:05 PM

There is no doubt that many of the ills from which Spain suffers have a long history. If you read George Orwell`s Homage to Catalonia, written during the Civil War you will see evidnece of corruption, brutality and dishonesty. Things have certainly improved since then.

But over the ast few years, if there has been an improvement in the actual amount of corruption and dishonesty the image of Spain has deteriorated, as more and more people get to hear about it.

SHIREEN said:
Saturday, March 8, 2014 @ 8:20 PM

SPAIN IS A LOVELY COUNTRY NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT ! BUT I FIND THE STRAY DOG POPULATION SHOCKING IN THE EXTREME AS IS THE WICKED TREATMENT OF THE HUNTING DOGS.. THE GALGOS ! I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTREME CRUELTY THEY ARE FORCED SUFFER ! THIS IS WHERE THEY PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE IN TO DAYS WORLD & FORGET OLD FASHIONED IDEAS.. THERE ARE THE KIND SOULS WHO DO ALL THEY CAN BUT IT IS SADLY NEVER ENOUGH, MY SISTER & HER FRIENDS DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN BUT IT IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG !

" El Cid 2" said:
Sunday, March 9, 2014 @ 10:48 AM

We always remember "The Cid", liberating & uniting Spain
against The Moors. But also remembering the necessity for
races & individuals to work together.Within The Spanish economy this is required now, integretion & acceptance that
they must not kill the "Golden Goose ".....i.e. All those British Citizens who provide to their future, by contributing to their Economy.
Forget the short term view & attitude....Foreigners! rip them off !!
More accept Providers....worthwhile keeping could be to Our benefit ??.. & to Our advantage to...Work in Harmony.
When this occurs, then , & only then ,will The Spanish Economy
reach its optimum objective.& necessary growth .
The crooks, & shifty lawyers must be caught
quiclkly be dealt wtth . In addition the slow process of the Spanish judicial system should be bombarded to effect this affect.
Building more properties in Spain, Supply exceeding Demand ,will only lead to a further downfall of the Spanish Economy ! .....Get A Grip !!!

harddunby said:
Sunday, March 9, 2014 @ 2:16 PM

As we progress in our thoughts it appears that the Spanish system has survived the efforts of Brussels to toe the German line and all is as before except that the amount of EU money being flung at Spain has been limited. How the locals in whatever village you may live in survive is a mystery. Top level, Spain has only to mention leaving the EU and all is forgiven, so using that stick is useless. Did you know an obscure group of Arab shepherds flung out of Spain 400 years ago have launched a class action against Spain in Brussels, for compensation what else.

bhthetruth said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 @ 9:44 AM

There are still 110,000 UK citizens with property problems not dealt with. Spain has no intention of correcting these issues, we have full papers of proof of corruption within the courts of Tarragona, Spain's answer was to abduct me at Reus Airport with the Police, no paper work and after the E.U ,British Consulate investigating and freeing me, it was listed as a wrongful arrest , god only knows what would have happened if I was traveling alone, NO Spain is not safe for any one while they still carry out these actions.

jamesensor said:
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 @ 12:27 PM

Darragh Macanthony an Irishman and owner of Peterborough football club is alleged to have operated a property scam from Marbella. Deposits paid for off-plan property and furniture in a number of countries including Morocca, Bulgaria and Cape Verde were not returned and claimants allege that they did not receive property or goods.

The case was originally thrown out on the grounds that both the claimants and the accused were foreign. The Appeal Court has now reinstated criminal charges. Many will be judging Spain on the outcome and the way judgement is handled.

ads said:
Friday, March 14, 2014 @ 8:03 PM

Inconsistent judicial rulings and major compromising court delays together with all manner of unresolved injustices that have affected innocent investors in Spain, continue to harm Spain's image.

Until such time as a more consistent approach is adopted with effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that justice prevails, that Government departments take action to eradicate corruption/collusion/negligence across the legal profession, real estate and Banking/insurance industries, with effective time constraints in place to ensure that the rule of law is consistently and effectively adhered to in Spain, then many will sadly continue to feel vulnerable and unwilling to reinvest.

harddunby said:
Friday, March 14, 2014 @ 8:16 PM

Sold a small house last year and it was still under the table with the bank manager and a suitcase full of money. Don't get to excited as I made a fifty percent loss. The chances of a capital gain are as remote as the moon, just luck to find a buyer after 4 years.

james ensor said:
Saturday, March 15, 2014 @ 12:27 PM

This is one of the endemic problems of Spain and most other southern EU countries. I still believe that it would be hard to find a bank manager in England, who connived at money laundering. London bankers, of course, cheat but on a massive scale by manipulating LIBOR and other rates to defraud their clients.

phil said:
Saturday, July 4, 2015 @ 12:08 PM

If anyone thinks there is no corruption in England then they are very deluded. Corruption amongst the Elite is rife. "legal" corruption is far more subtle, which in a way make its far worse to deal with.

phil said:
Saturday, July 4, 2015 @ 12:16 PM

In Marbella, prices are starting to rise for the first time since the crash. It will take time to recover, but recovery will take place. Its all about demand and supply. Europe's population is increasing, and Spain is a place in demand. Northern Europe is very cold in the winter. It may take another decade to fully recover everywhere, but certain areas are doing very well. No one should sell their properties for half price. All that does is increase "cheap" supply of property.

phil said:
Saturday, July 4, 2015 @ 12:33 PM

In Marbella, prices are starting to rise for the first time since the crash. It will take time to recover, but recovery will take place. Its all about demand and supply. Europe's population is increasing, and Spain is a place in demand. Northern Europe is very cold in the winter. It may take another decade to fully recover everywhere, but certain areas are doing very well. No one should sell their properties for half price. All that does is increase "cheap" supply of property.