Agree, it is a crime. Yes, we have been conned.
I remember making a post a while ago to describe how we went about looking for a place in Spain. We told everyone that we had done a lot of research, looking at specific areas, looking at future prospects for the area we chose. We chose 'reputable agents' recommended solicitors, banks, and furniture suppliers. Yes, we were well researched !!!!! ' We weren't the type of people who got off the plane and could be 'taken in ' by the sun and dodgy estate agents !!!!! Now, I know just how wrong we were !!!
We were armed with all of the wrong kinds of information. This is what we should have known ------ we bought at the beginning of the end of the property boom. Huma bought the land very very cheap, and got permission from the town hall ( Money in mayors pocket ) , the Junta turned a blind eye ( more money in pockets ) the solicitor allowed us to pay installments ( turned a blind eye, more money for him ) furniture was ordered ( turned a blind eye and accepted deposits, more money ).
Our agent leaned heavily towards ACC, he drove us to Mazarron to view the Camposol development, he could have shown us MCC , we were very near. But, we now know that we would have seen all of the empty properties and unopened facilities. He got his hefty commission and has never returned any of our calls since.
Then, no one told us the site had been closed, we arrived in Spain, shocked to see what had happened.
Using our third solicitor, we try to get our money refunded. Solicitor tells us that it will be easy to execute the bank guarantee ( money in his pocket up front ) Now, over a year later, it is a lucky day if anyone bothers to return our calls.
So, now, what have we learned ? Spanish systems are run in a corrupt way. Staff right across Spain from banks, offices, councils etc are poorly trained. They choose whether or not to answer your calls. They make promises and then ignore us. I know of people who win their case, but the developer still doesn't pay. Their world is dominated by fiestas, siestas, bank holidays. Customer care -- forget it.
Spain relies too heavily on its construction industry to keep the economy afloat. Now it is in such a mess the Spanish are again turning a blind eye , why -- because the people who made vast amounts of money from people like us have disappeared and are not being held to account for their underhand activities.
Ordinary Spanish people will be struggling to get work, they are left with vast amounts of half built and empty properties. The court cases will take years to resolve.
Our biggest worry now is that a dodgy judge will hear our case ( heaven knows how long this will take to happen ) .
We have read that judges are in collusion with the developers in many cases. So, we have learned not to build up our hopes.
15 years for recovery ? the spanish don't even know that their way of doing business needs to change. Lots of people are now aware of how they operate, I hope they read forums like this and make more sensible decisions than we did.
Please, if you are reading this and looking to buy off plan, look at as many off plan forums as you can, see how many people are trying to retrieve money after 4 years or more, not anly at ACC but in many other abandoned developments.
It will be interesting to see what happens when the court cases start to be heard .
We wish everyone in the same position as us the very best of luck. Is there anyone with a court date soon ? please let us know what happens.