Well done to Maria and her Team, Patricia, Steven, Almudena and Charlie.
We are yet another couple who had provided what was to us a substantial deposit on an off plan property early in 2007, and found ourselves in limbo, and in despair.
Originally we had hopes of securing a family holiday home, a retirement home and an investment which would be almost self financing by way of rental income, indeed this was how the property had been sold to us.
Completion was due to have been in 2009, though we were never notified as to when actual completion should be, this always being dependant on licences.
During this time we had no contact with the Developer, although we were advised that we would receive regular updates as work progressed.
Attempts to make contact invariably failed, and we were dependant on rumours. A local furniture supplier actually provided more detail and photos for us after we had contacted them early on with a view to clarifying furniture requirements and likely costs. We were hopeful, weren't we !!
We became more concerned by these rumours, and with the European property market changing so drastically during this time. When eventually, we did successfully approach the Developer to try and get a committment to repay our deposit monies, we were assured of completion and left in no doubt that nothing less than full completion would lead to legal action on behalf of the Developer.
During this time I was on the internet trying to find if others were having the same difficulties on the same development, and found that we were not alone. I managed to make contact with a person in the area who knew the Development and eventually had an "off the record" discussion, which left us feeling cold. That part of the Development on which our property was to be, was very unlikely to ever be built due to a reduction in purchases in the area
Eventually, I was pointed in the direction of Maria and Costaluz Lawyers on the advise of others.
At this point things began to happen, and suddenly our problem no longer seemed so insurmountable.
Maria responded quickly and confidently with me, putting my mind at ease and being quickly reassured of the soundness of our position from a legal point of view. We had done nothing wrong, and we were the wronged party.
At the outset, a very simple and straightforward pro-forma described the steps to be taken, with possible time scales and most importantly, visible fixed costs.
Authorisation and monies were quickly transferred to Maria to enable the start of the processes and from this point we could only wait, which was exactly what we did, it was still better than before, after the reassueances from Maria, and the prospect of success.
Any queries which we raised were quickly responded to by the Costaluz Team, whilst they quickly and quietly got on with their work.
During this time the developer tried to strike deals for alternative properties, presumably he was feeling pressure from the legal team. But as circumstances had changed so significantly in the interim,we were not in a position to avail of such offers, including difficulties meeting the requirements to obtain a Spanish mortgage.
During this period, whilst Maria and her Team were getting on with things, we learned from a contact close to the problem, that the Developer had no monies and we would either end up accepting an alternative property with attendant difficulties, or simply walk away from our deposit monies with the understanding that the Developer would not sue for completion.
In desperation, we contacted the Costaluz Team again seeking clarification and , obviously, reassurance.
Very shortly after sending this mail, we received one advising that the Developer would re-pay our monies upon receipt of our Bank Guarantees, without interest and costs.
This was better news than we ever expected to hear, or dare to expect. We immediately contacted Patricia and advised her to accept on our behalf.
Things then moved very quickly, and within 10 days we had the money in our account in the UK. NO HASSLE.
What a result !!
As I have already said in a mail to Maria, Patricia, Steven, Almudena and Charlie, saying thanks really is not enough.
A fantastic result brought about by dogged determination to see right triumph, with attention to detail, and the added benefit of keeping Clients well informed, something sadly lacking in most Lawyers / Solicitors anywhere.