The petition to the Governor of the Bank of Spain is now on its way. Because the best laid plans etc… and because time is running out, it was decided to post the petition. So anyone wishing to support it and tell their own story in detail to the Governor now is the time to do that. But first, read on.
I have a couple of things to report.
1. Michael Cashman, who wrote to the Governor after I sent the Open Letter
to all MEPs, has now had a reply – a copy of which he sent to me today. It
reads (complete with errors):
Dear Mr Cashman
Thank you for your letter of January 9, 2009 regarding off-plan property and bank guarantees. While I appreciate it your concern on the issue, let me inform you that Banco de Espana is aware of the importance of this matter and all the necessary actions within the scope of its supervisory competences are taken in order to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Additionally, since 1987, Banco the Espana counts with a “Complaint Service” which carries out a bank customer’s protection procedure, provided that there is a prior complain filed before the Customer Assistance Department of the private bank. Banco de Espana Complaint Service is part of FINNET, the European Network dealing with protection of financial customers.
Nevertheless, since our Complaint Service is not part of the Judiciary, its reports are not binding but can be used as expert witness evidence before the competent Court.
A more detailed information is available in English at http//www.bde.es/servicio/reclama/reclamae.htm
Yours sincerely
[scrawled signature]
So please note that if/when you write you should provide evidence of the complaint you made to the bank providing the guarantee together with their reply.
- Yesterday I received a copy of a letter from Mark Francois, Shadow Minister for Europe, addressed to Alan Duncan, my MP who I had been to see last month. AD showed concern and promised me to raise our issues with William Hague, etc. So this is (maybe) a beginning. MF is having lunch with the new Spanish Ambassador, Carlos Casajuana, round about now (mid Feb) and is going ‘to raise this issue with him and impress upon him that something ought to be done.’ Unfortunately his office has been closed today as I wanted to give him more information re the petitions/bank guarantee problems/Auken report, etc. before he went to lunch. He needs all the ammunition he can muster. Well, no matter, perhaps it’s just as well that MF starts gently and puts the screws on later! I think it’s called diplomacy. I’ll keep you updated.
- The petition to the Governor of the BoS has been revived - this time in Spanish by a fellow petitioner. See it at: http://www.gopetition.com/online/25216.html
Nuff for now.
ruth