Spanish Bank Bureaucracy

Very odd.  I can only believe that it was an internal rule.

If you were going to pay it in and then withdraw a similar sum then I guess you could just have withdrawn the amount you wanted over the counter#

Next time if you want to be ‘difficult’ ask for the complaints forms.  I bet they will find a way of getting around  the rules.

Just had a thought.    Maybe their tills are theft proof so that there is no money at the counter.  I am not sure but I think my bank is like that.  When I  draw cash it comes out of a slot by the teller, just like with an ATM.  If that is so they of course would not have any money available to give you change.

I have had this a couple of times with my bank in the UK, Halifax, things are changing in the banking world.

Also could be because when someone before you pays in notes these denominations are / might be registered so the bank can keep check on them at the end of the day, like as in missing / stolen / forged notes, etc, you ask for change and the banks system gets a little messed up. Pay them in / take them out... All accounted for.

Paying in yesterday a large amount of notes I was joking with the cashier that the note counting machine sounded like my shredder, hope it isn't, I said..'No we are not allowed a shredder anymore due to the fire risk now'.

Sounds like this 'Complaints Form' thing is the be all and end all of everything in Spain now.

Everything is changing.

The money in my bank also comes out of a theft proof slot and you have to ask how you want your cash at the point of withdrawal They also have a minimum of 600€ minimum rule for over the counter withdrawals I tend to ignore this and have not had any problems except of course in July and August when I keep away from the inevitable slow moving queue Don't these people have banks where they live? 

scubamike said,

"Don't these people have banks where they live?"

Well they very might well not have any soon, people resist ATM's and telephone banking like the plague, but then readily reveal their security number to a complete stranger who phones them and asks for it. I have set up a DDM that allows me to do all my shopping with my credit card and have it automatically settled it in full on a monthly basis. Less money in circulation means less crime, fewer banks means fewer bank robberies and muggings of customers leaving bank premises.

Just a thought, £5.00 notes appear to be an endagered specie in the UK, could this also be the case in respect of €5.00 notes in Spain?

"'No we are not allowed a shredder anymore due to the fire risk now'." Probably an EU rule! 

"Sounds like this 'Complaints Form' thing is the be all and end all of everything in Spain now." They're such a good idea, no doubt the EU will ban them soon. Lucky UK, they're OUT! 

Yes Roberto, he said we cant have a shredder now due to the fire risk, paper and electricity.

As for 'Out' the EU you would be surprised how many 'Outers' are now saying the word 'Coming out'  we might not.

If you think this is a problem, try asking to change several 500 Euro notes.

Rossetti

I don't know for sure, but there may be a connection with the increased security being imposed within the EU generally vis a vis money laundering.  I recently bought some furniture and went to the shop to pay them in cash and was refused!!!  I was told categorically that they could not accept more that €1,500 in cash from a customer for one transaction.  This was forbidden by the Spanish tax authorities.

So I tried to pay the balance on my bank card and the transaction failed.  I subsequently learnt that the bank had imposed a "day limit" on the maximum amount I could spend on the bank card.  Not a bad idea, even better if they had told me.  So I had to go to the shop several times to settle the account in full.

I don't think it's just La Caixa, I think the whole world is going bonkers.

The cash transaction limit in Spain is actually 2500€ maybe that particular retailer had it's own limit.

Here's  a interesting article in 'On The Pulse'

The retailer reckoned it's now reduced to €1,500 and will be down to €1,000 before too long.  Presumably it's an attempt to bring the black economy under control.

If a UK business accepts payments of €15,000 or more in cash in exchange for goods in either a single or linked transaction, they must register with HMRC as a High Value Dealer.