Connection charges

I recently completed on an apartment at Golf La Finca  My solicitors paid 1500 Euros to the builder to arrange connection of gas, water and electricity  This payment also include the first years community  charges  Subvsequently I was charged again for connection by the utilities companies  Can anyone provide guidance on this from their own experiences

 

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The same happened to us, we were told we had to pay 540 euros cash to the builder on completion for connection of utilities. We were then charged by the utility companies by direct debit. Everyone on the development had to pay (including Spanish). The Community as a whole are now taking this forward and have employed a solicitor. We have since found out this builder does this on every development they have built, the company is Costa Blanca Balerics.

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What you will find the builders are doing is passing on the original costs that they have incured with the utility companies to the buyer.

Most builders do this but dont tell you or your lawyer about it untill the last minute so that you do not contest it.

I dont know the legal implications but i do know that you can argue the toss whether to pay it or not,depending on how good your lawyer is and which builder you are dealing with may effect your chances.........

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This seems quite wrong actually.  You shouldn't have to pay the developer for connection charges.

In the majority of cases that we know of, including our own, when we completed we were on builders supply.  Then some time after the meters were fitted and we had to pay for those, but we didn't pay anything to the developer. 

I would certainly get your lawyer to look into this although getting any money back from a developer is hard work.

Justin

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This happened to us (150 euros) and we think it's for the builders supply, but we won't contest it as the lawyer is likely to cost ten times as much.

 

Mike

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Many thanks to all who responded but we have now sorted it out and the builder has admitted that the vast bulk of the 1500 euros held by him are to go toewards the first years community charge and we will be refunded the difference

That's OK but the builder has a nice little earner going here holding all this money in a bank account

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Utility charge from our builder was 900 euro which we had to pay by cash through the Notary on completion.   Our builder has financial problems and is unable to pay  his  18000 bill to the utility company, hence the community which includes all the purchasers have to pay this bill, Also pay again to have the utility installed to there unit. in my book this is fraud/theft.   Solicitor said that it would cost 2500 to sue for the 900.  therefor. I advise to question the utility installation charge if you are asked to pay it to the builder.  All questions regarding property, land search & Debt should be reported by the Solicitor to the purchaser, our Solicitor is not answering our questions or telling us the real situation of the Builder. any information on what we should do would be appreciated. Regards, Doedoe.

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