Calling all you keen gardeners - growing a lemon tree on the balcony

Has anyone heard yet what date the electric is being changed from builder's supply to Iberdrola?

Nick and Linda

I am in block 2 and a set up charge has just been taken from my bank account for the water, so i am sure the electric will not be far behind. They took 105 euros to set up the direct debit and i am told it will be the same for the electric.

Sue

There are a couple of questions we hope someone may know the answers to.

 If we are being charged approximately 105 euros each for water and electricity set up fees, what was the 150 euros for "utilities contract" we paid on the day of completion?

Also we found the following paragraph in a book called "Buying a home in Spain" by David Hampshire :-"When you buy a community property, the cost of connection to utility services is included in the price of the property and it's illegal for developers to charge buyers extra for this" 

 How many different fees are involved in connecting to utilities?

Nick and Linda

We have been asked for access on 11th October (block 1) for the purpose of final electrical connection.  We also paid 150 euros extra when we signed the deeds and were told that was for the final utility connections.  We believe the water has been connected, but nobody has asked us for any extra money.

Mike & Gloria

We had approx 105 euros taken directly from our bank account earlier this month by water company , without any prior notice.

On the day that we completed, we were asked for our Spanish bank account details so they could set up the direct debits for the utilities and we were charged 150 euros at the same time.  We now wonder if we have been charged twice for the water and maybe will be charged twice for the electricity when that is changed over on October 11th.

Has anyone else checked their bank statement lately?

Nick and Linda 

Hi folks

I asked our lawyer about these charges two days ago when we were in Spain and he said that we should look on the charges made by Palacios as 'agents fees' - they do after all have the very difficult task of giving all our details to the suppliers! Then we should expect more fees from the water and electricity people for connection.

I am told that the electricity meters will be installed from 10th October, so expect to start paying very very soon.

We've got post-boxes, but no keys!

The garage is all marked out but the electronic entry doesn't work yet - you have to go through the pedestrian entrance and open up the door from the inside. Small stuff though!

Palacios have just started rendering the ugly back wall of our terraces - the bit that faces out on to the fields.

There was another break-in in Block 3 a couple of days ago. The theory is the culprits have keys to the building as there was no evidence of break-in from the front door or the door on the roof, although stupid people do keep leaving the doors open!

It was wonderfully warm all week, with only one small shower one evening. There's a new tapas bar opened up on the main road in Formentera - very cheap and very tasty. There's also another restaurant/bar opened next to the Liffy - Timanfaya (I thought that was in Lanzarote!). Lovely people who run it (Spanish) live locally - in the white block opposite the park and the food is very good. The supermarket is due to open very soon apparently - looks close.

Definitely no sign of any football pitches or tennis courts and probably wont be until Domingo (builders of Brisas) are finished and they have another block to build apparently - sideways on to MYS and Brisas on the side of the road in front of those football pitches that haven't yet materialised!

We've taken some more pictures and when Alan sorts himself out, I'll post them.

Bye

Irene

 

Thanks Irene for claryfying that.

I think it's a bit much to pay twice for the utiility conextions. I think that we were charged the 150E to cover the builders 'free' water and electricity. Must be a nice little earner for him as so far we have only spent 1 week in our apartment and the electricity was more off than on !!!!!

Still i don't think that there will be use in complaining and to whom would we complain? No wonder we had to bring the money in cash!!!!

Gloria and Mike

It's a shame you couldn't cash in on the 'free' electricity & water, but there are a few people who moved in permanently who've had your share, so you are their benefactors!!!!!

Irene

Yes, i think that you may be right Irene. People were saying that we couldn't compain too much as it was all free......I wonder what they are saying now!!!!

I didn't even know my oven didn't have any shelves in it until our last night as i hadn't had enough electricity to try it out!!!!!!!!!!

Does anybody have any spare oven shelves?

Well, c'est la vie or whatever the Spanish equivalent is!!!!

Gloria

Hi Gloria

I believe the saying is tal es vida - such is life.

... and there's no such thing as a free lunch.

When you mention your oven, I thought to myself... we've owned the apartment since March and do you know, I haven't a clue how many shelves are in it! You can tell I'm not the cook in our family.

I'll check when I'm next over though.

Bye

Irene

Hi Irene,

When I looked into my oven I thought maybe Spanish ovens didn't have shelves!!!!!!

I was assured by Ann-Marie and Kevin that they had shelves and that they had used their oven. Mike did let Palacios know by email after we left but I don't suppose there is much they can, or want to do. I have one spare shelf here in the UK (I don't remenber how!) so that is packed in my suitcase to take over in a couple of weeks!!!

Maybe it's a good excuse not to do too much cooking!

Thanks for tal es vida- i have written it down.

Gloria

Hi Gloria

We've found that face-to-face discussions with Palacios are best. Next time you're in Formentera, go and see Inez and I'm sure she'll sort you out. The danger is that your English shelf might not fit - did you measure it?

Hasta luego

Irene

Hi Irene,

Yes, I think that it will fit. I have measured it but might be best to get Mike to check it. The oven in Spain seems a very standard size and much like my one here.
Aren't they all metric now? You know 500 or 600 wide or the very large ones of 750 (don't know if thats cm.or mm.but you know what i mean) Mike took the measurements  and put down 445x375 and my shelf is about 17 inches wide so I'm hoping it will fit. I will let you know.

Will also go to see Inez as I will still need another one

Thanks for the advice,

Gloria

Hi folks

I've just heard that the changover to mains electric happened last week.

Irene