HBG

Many of the smaller Cajas, especially in Andalucia, have or are failing. Only amalgamations with the bigger ones have saved them. Many are heavily reliant on mortgage debt which is not being paid and their book value of properties is well out of date and massively overvalued.

A local Caja where I live is throwing thousands of repossessions on to the market which are not selling, probably because they are grossly overvalued. And property prices are still falling.

IB99

Perhaps I should not be buying at all, or not yet, but I suppose that is a topic for another thread !

truckergareth

I banked with Solbank for 5 years and had nothing but trouble with them, even 1 instance whilst in the USA for 2 months they stopped my card and would not put it back on until I went to my local branch and collected a new one. The reason for stopping the card was as it had been used out of Spain they thought it had been stolen! They did not give a monkeys that I was stuck in the USA without being able to access my funds. Found their charges over the top too. I have been with Santander for just over 2 years and have found them very helpful, no charges and have a good relationship with all. I have now transfered our bussiness account to them too and opened a Dollar account.

elspeth sinclair

I have been with Bancaja for the last eight years and have found them to be wonderful and now intend to bring over money from my British Bank which only guarantees me 50,000 pounds if they go broke although they are still paying huge bonuses to their staff. I was very happily with Santander for the eleven years I lived in Oliva so I may give them a second chance. Don't touch Bankinter they gave all the money in our ac count to a man in the Canaries because he had the same name as my husband and didn't check his signature It took over a month to get the money back which we quickly withdrew and closed the account. they never apologised and denied that such people as hackers existed although neither of us have ever been to the Canaries and our account was in Torrevieja.

barneysmum

How does Barclays charge you nada? On that link it says it costs €20 per quarter.

johnnyone

Good question.

I bank with Barclays and they charge me for all transactions, a maintenance fee, annual charge for my debit cards and anything else they can think of.

When I was over last week I pointed this out to the Manager as Barclays are advertising free banking for new customers and I suggested he should reduce my charges. His response was to shrug his shoulders and refuse despite my threat to change Banks that I now intend to do.

In the UK I do not incur any charges.

IB99

So, who are you going to change to ?

johnnyone

Immediately after I posted I went on Barclays es website. Perhaps I should have done that before my last post!

According to that they offer existing customers 4 different ways to benefit as an existing customer subject to circumstances etc. and invite you to 'enquire at any branch to see what suits you best'.

On the basis that I have a healthy balance I should receive most if not all of the benefits. Next time I am over I shall point this out and subject to their response decide what to do.

I will probably go with Santander as I have a Uk account with them if Barclays remain unhelpful

What it does show is the poor customer service I received that makes my Uk banks seem positively user friendly.