Out of the blue Social Security Bill for 7.5k

Hi All,

Wondering if someone can help me.

Out of the blue yesterday I have received a notfication from social security which basically looks like a bill demanding payment.

Its for €5199 + €1,039 in "recargo" + €1,217 in "interest", a total of €7,456.

I have little idea what this is for and no way I can pay all of this at once and a little stressed out about it.

Does anyone know if I am able to pay this in installments?
If I ignore this notification, what happens? Do I get a knock on the door next week and they take my sofa, tv and the kids beds?
Should I get some legal advice? (if so who exactly?)

Thanks for any help or advice on this one!

Spain is a seriously oppresive country and my fear is that if I dont pay it they will come to our home and take everything away!

looking into it now

 I would suggest you go to your gestor if you have one and find out why they have sent you it out of the blue. If it turns out it is correct Social Security are like any other company, they want to get paid and they will accept installments which will be fixed to monthly payments on the same day each month but there are some conditions. I suggest you look into it as soon as possible. It won't go away and they will start to seize money from your bank accounts and restrict your assets.

Don't leave it - they will embargo your bank account if they request the money from the bank and you don't have the money to pay.  If you don't have a gestor, I'd suggest that you first contact your bank to see if they have tried to take any money.  If they have, get a copy of the request.  Go to the Social Security office and ask to see the form  you signed to pay Social Security.  If they haven't asked your bank for a payment, this is probably an error.  If you did not sign to pay Social Security, then you will need to contest it in writing and get someone to write a letter to them in Spanish explaining that you have been to the office, and there is no record of the signed form.  Send this recorded delivery.  If you did sign the form to pay Social Security, then you should ask why they have not requested this money before and request that you pay in instalments.  If you are not working, then you should get deregistered as soon as possible, as the amount will mount up, and they will add fines.

I also had a problem with the Social Security just taking money from my bank when I hadn't signed a form.  I eventually got it refunded.

Hope this helps.

Should I find a Gestor in Marbella that can do all of this for me? ie, go to SS office and request the information and explain it to me etc.

My Spanish is not brilliant and I would imagine that English wont be spoken in the SS office.

If it turns out that I do actually owe this, what chances do you think I could avoid paying the outrageous penalties which basically amounts to 46% of charges. The amount owed is saying 5.2k yet the charges they are imposing are 2.2k. Thats insane!

Welcome to SPAIN have a nice day

You should be able to find a gestor in Marbella who can do this for you.   You need to find out if it's kosher first.

What a nightmare! Even if it's a mistake, it will be stressful, both financially and emotionally to get it sorted.

Seems the tax office can do what it likes

Is Spain a good place to live, what with new draconian tax laws(see letter in Costa Blanca News)I suppose the "Stepford" expats will take it in their stride while they quaff red wine on their terrace, surveying their assets.

your chances of not paying the intrerest are slim to none.

this is heavy stuff and they mean business.

stop your life and fix this because if you dont the penaltys will increase greatly and they will start taking your stuff forcibly.

i bolded it above for a reason.

Go to Bocanera gestor in Marbella.
They have a big corner office with a sign in.

http://www.bocanegra.com/web/indexen.html

these guys and they speak perfect english

 "if it turns out that I do actually owe this, what chances do you think I could avoid paying the outrageous penalties which basically amounts to 46% of charges. The amount owed is saying 5.2k yet the charges they are imposing are 2.2k. Thats insane! "

Same as UK. Just look at the taxmans new 'name & shame' tax debtors list.

@ the OP, what do you mean "if I owe this"? Surely you must know?

Have you even been registered as "autonomo" in Spain? If you don't cancel it this is what can happen.

 @vantage

I have been self employed in spain for 12 years and recently stopped.

I am aware that there is a couple of missed payments but not 5k worth which is equivalent to almost 20 months.

Hence.....I require proof and explanation from SS of exactly what they are asking and this is why I am coming on here to ask if anyone knows a Gestor with experience in this situation becasue if they turn around and I do in fact owe this much, I dont want to come home one day to find the social secury collections team taking away my tv and my kids beds and anything else they feel is worth something.
 

They got mine wrong once and I received a recorded delivery letter stating that I needed to pay for a month after I had ceased being autonomo. I handed it all to my assesor who dealt with it successfully.