Nothing short of theft

I checked my bank account on-line the other day just routinely only to find that an amount of €419.67 had been taken out of it.  I had no notification that this money was going to be taken, what it was for or when it would be taken.  I emailed my bank and they told me it was the notary who dealt with the house that I bought 18 months ago because they had undercharged me.  So they just took the money without informing me.  Surely this is just out-and-out theft?  How can they be allowed to just take money out of someone's account, and why do the banks just let them?  When I bought the house my solicitor kept all the money for the expenses and gave me back what was left, as far as I'm concerned that was it and job done.  If they undercharged me, tough luck, but what can I do?  In this time of identity theft and The Data Protection Act is Spain the only country ignoring the situation, and how many more people have my bank details?  My solicitor says he will look in to it but, yet again, I've been shafted!

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That's outrageous! Orda you must be absolutely fuming! Surely if the notary made a mistake it should be his loss? I agree that at the very least they should have contacted you to explain where they went wrong so at least you would have the opportunity to either agree or disagree it. To simply take money out of your account without notification would definately feel like theft to me. I hope you get this money refunded.

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Orda, I believe (anyone welcome to put me right if I am wrong) that the Spanish banks are very good at reimbursing monies debited to your account without authorisation (shame they're not so quick at stopping unauthorised debits!!).

The administrators of our community debited money from our account, which we had specifically told our lawyers we did did not want them to do and that no direct debit should be authorised (unbeknown to the person dealing with our purchase, someone else in the office gave our bank details to the administrators!).  Upon contacting the bank, they immediately credited the amount back into our account.

Contact your bank and let them know that you had not authorised the debit and, I believe, they should reimburse you.  You can then take it up with your lawyer/notary.

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Thanks Pitby and Buzzylizzie I'll give it a try but since I complained the silence has been deafening!

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