07 Jun 2013 10:10 PM:

 

My 84 year old Dad lives on the Costa del Sol, about a year ago he was asked by a friend who, in my opinion was fiddling the benefit claim in the UK, had no Spanish bank account and wanted a contract internet "dongle".

"I need a guarantor", says her, "all you need to do is sign for the contract and that will be it."  And so it was - until she decided to go back to the UK.  This left her dongle with, according to her, two months to run on her contract.  "Pay it for me in December and tell them to cancel it!"

Needless to say, I think the old chap got a little confused and asked the bank teller to cancel the contract.

I'm visiting for a fortnight to sort out a few other things when a bill from the phone company and a Denuncia hit the letterbox on Tuesday.  Straight up to the company shop to complain.

"Señor, you need to go to the Banco ********* to pay this, they take the money on a Tuesday or Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 then fax it to head office, bring back the receipt and fax proof of sending and I will cancel the account" - Time now 11:00!  Back up to town on Thursday at 0900!

Into the Bank, at 0915, stood in line, then handed over the bill to be paid. "No Señor not today on Tuesday." 

"The sign on your wall says Lunes or Viernes, today is Viernes!"

"No Señor only on next Tuesday or the 20th!"

"Between 8:30 and 10:30?"

"Yes Señor!"

Hmmm, flight to UK on Monday at 10, get to airport at 8!!

Round to phone shop, "Yes I told you only on certain days!  You might be able to transfer through your bank"

OK, home, fuming.  Talk to the dad, do it in the morning.  Down to his bank, back home because he's got the wrong bank card, back to the ban, transfer the cash, up to the phone shop and stand for 20 minutes while the girl talks to head office to cancel the account. "Oh, this account runs until August, but you can cancel it now for €70"

So now, he's got to wait for a letter from the phone company asking for some monthly charges and the €70 then pay that by transfer.

Difference between Spain and the UK?  Walk into the phone shop say "I want to cancel this contract." They tap a few buttons on their computer and say that will be £X you pay, they cancel the contract, you go home.

In Spain you have two hours on two days each month to pay a bill in a specified bank.  And people wonder why Spain is in financial trouble?

Thread: Paying a Bill -a Cautionary Tale

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23 Oct 2012 5:11 PM:

When you feel confident enough to crack a joke with a barman that includes a word made up from two Spanish words to indicate your standing in the community.

I visit La Carihuela near Torremolinos so regularly that now - "Soy no residente, Soy no tourista, soy medio de cada - Soy una Residista (esta mejor de touridente)!"   (I'm not a resident, I'm not a tourist, I'm half of each - a Residist!  (it's better than an Tourident)!

OR:  When the locals say "Have you been ill, I haven't seen you for some time!"

 

Thread: How do you know you've become a local?

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01 Dec 2009 10:21 PM:

In addition to buying or selling property, the other time you will end up paying Plusvalia is as a form of death duty!

If you own your property, in joint ownership with your spouse/partner, when they die, you will end up paying this capital gains tax on their half of the property when it passes into your hands.

I have heard there is a way round this (forming a PLC and putting the property in the hands of the company, but I have still to investigate this further).

Thread: Plusvalia who pays?

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