Uncle Buck

Doh, you’re right it is an ES prefix. Game on then.

Jon-Bxl

Thanks Steve this is very interesting.

The same happened to me it seems. From November no payments.. Did they warn me? Of course not. I hate Spanish banks!!

I have a UK account and Belgian account and every time I receive an email telling me that I should look at my banks online inbox. All other institutions do the same. Or send a letter.

I'll send you a PM to ask how you did that if I may. Ive never had any communication written or otherwise answered! The b****rs never respond. They stopped offering a service with no warning... But continued to charge €14 a month!

I haven't checked for a while as I have a standing order that covers all costs.

What a drag.

Thanks again
Jon

shirley and anthony hide

Probably a daft question on my part , but I'm not an expert on the EU banking system.

But being in the EU and the Euro what is the reason that you cannot use your Be!gian account to pay your Spanish bills?

Jon-Bxl

Not a daft question at all. I've mentioned SEPA several times on the forum. Single Euro Payments Area – SEPA Definition (investopedia.com)

The problem is that, even though,it should work, it hasn't in the past. They told me that international direct debits aren't covered. They are. To be fair I haven't checked for a while - well over a year but this is my opportunity to try again. Its a bit tricky getting all the direct debits and the mandates together when we aren't there. For me all one needs is the IBAN and SWIFT/BIC and it doesn't have to be any different than a Spanish bank. Also, it is possible that the people I talk to don't understand SEPA, even though I have included details when contacting them.

So I am now trying again and today and have an appointment this morning, at my bank to ask if there is an automatic way to transfer the DD's to my account. Like the N26 bank (and others) can do. If so I will be a VERY happy person to get shot of my pesky Spanish Account. I have other words than 'pesky' but best not to rant any more

The 14eur monthly charges nearly get us both a meal at 'the bordello' resto with desert + wine every month too! 2 euros short! (I wonder when we will get to go there again - cant wait to get to CE! Everyone I know in the UK, in my age group has had the 1st jab or will do in the next 4 days. I have no idea when Belgium will get around to it!! You may have seen the BBC news item of the huge vaccination centre in Belgium, one of many, completely empty! Its really annoying actually.!)

Stay safe

Jon

shirley and anthony hide

​​​​​​Well good luck with your endeavours this morning.
As for the EU vaccination ppprogramme . I guess the political position jockeying got in the way ,and still is getting in the way of an efficient European wide vaccination programme.
I found it astounding for example that Macrons comments on the efficacy of the Astra Zeneca vaccine undermined the whole programme .

Jon-Bxl

By coincidence I discovered my Belgian bank manager bought a Spanish property in January.

​​​​​​He used a specialist consultancy to handle everything and everything was handled really effectively. I wish I had heard of this when we bought! (What a nightmare that was!)

However he was required to open a Spanish bank account (coincidentally they chose Sabadell). They now manage the Spanish direct debits. He is checking for me with head office if these can be transferred automatically. If not I will see if I can do it manually for each one. I am most concerned for the utilities.

But if my bank manager hasn't done it, even, it could be more problematic. I suspect the local bank is necessary in the buying process ... And hope its not necessary for the ongoing bill payment. (It shouldn't be with SEPA) But I suppose most people just defer to it for everything. I didn't go into detail as my objective is now to kill the Spanish bank...if I can for the ongoing stuff. Also I need the OK of the Spanish service providers, who may not know about SEPA ... Or fear it.

It seems that there is an EU programme that doesn't work so well in practice (in Spain anyway) Where have we heard that before! I came across these barriers before, but this time Ill go as far as I can. I hope this answers your NOT daft question.

Re vaccination I was gobsmacked when Maccron (+ Merkel) announced their (political) concerns about the AZ vaccine. Best left to the scientists/experts ! France is one of the most vaccine negative in the world. Any negative + official concerns can only restrict the uptake of this vitally important vaccination programme... Globally! Eg Belgium followed suit with the concerns.

Result? The UK have vaccinated more than all the EU put together. In Belgium 75% of primary care workers dont turn up for the jab! One of my best friends in Germany (a super clever guy) won't take the jab till the AZ is off the cards (which may be never). Also the empty BE vaccination centres as I mentioned earlier (as shown on BBC... Etc etc.)

We have 10's of millions of real life (non political!) data points now thanks to the world leading vaccination programs now... From the US, UK and Israel + others. The results are encouraging.

Coincidentally, yesterday the Belgian government announced that they are about to approve the AZ jab for the over 55's. France over 65's. Now that they can see that e.g 80%+ of the elderly are protected against serious CV19 effects with the AZ... Thus reducing the hospital and sickness ... And death burden! BTW Belgian scientists+politicians will meet this week are meeting to discuss shifting the 2nd jab further to 12 weeks in order to give jab1 to more people, up front.

Finally they are coming around, but a lot of damage had been done in an environment where dangerous variants will develop at any time. Ive been really concerned about all this recently. Last week was a bad one re the news here, below are the headlines that bugged me (from the Brussels Times news).

Not happy times! (With the exception of the vaccination programmes of some countries)

Jon
‘Gigantic problem’: Belgium’s vaccination campaign further delayed

Belgian government says to stop wearing the free cloth masks they distributed ‘as a precaution’ (Jon: They are maybe toxic.. millions have used them .. and the were given out months ago at 1st lockdown. Luckily we kept ours aside)

Almost 75% of Brussels primary care workers don’t show up for vaccine

Four out of five doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delivered to the European Union have still not been used, according to an investigation by the Guardian.

shirley and anthony hide

Well all I can say is ,I have been an NHS volunteer for a few years now so was offered the Jab in January ( jumped the queue ,sorry) and took the offer up.
I can confirm so far that.
1) Apart from a sore arm at the point where the needle went in for a day or two ,no other after effects.
1) it has not altered my DNA . ( Although I do now have the urge to wear my pants outside my trousers ,like Superman. So maybe I am wrong on that one )
2) It has not altered my fertility ( That ship passed many years ago)
3) Bill Gates hasn't knocked on my door to ask for his tracker back.

Jon-Bxl

Fantastic that you volunteer....

Very funny reply thanks....

"If you dont laugh...."




Jon

shirley and anthony hide

​​​​​Not a big deal.
Just some payback for being an "I'm alright Jack ,and sod the rest of ya" for most of my life.

Jon-Bxl

Priinet are charging me 6eur a month extra cost for the unpiad bills
Bankia are charging me 14eur a month for doing nothing! Except freezing my account with no warning or notification - they have my email address and mobile!
I raised a complaint on line and they say that they will get back to me.....
..... wait for it.....

Within TWO months!


The joy of S..panish banking!

Jon

shirley and anthony hide

I wouldn't bank on it !!
Sorry ,couldn't resist.
And it's the joys of sPAINish banking .

Jon-Bxl

Its getting to the point where I'm getting ready to leave 'a deposit' on their counter !!!!

Jon-Bxl

As I suspected, it doesn't look like I can kill my Spanish account. Even though there has been an EU programme for years called SEPA allowing EU wide cross border transactions, like eg direct debits ... In practice it doesn't work (in our corner of Spain at least). Ive sent the official EU communication confirming this, but no luck.

However I stumbled across a no charge, internet only account from Bankia.

https://www.bankia.es/en/retail-bank...unts/cuenta-on
I went through the setup process which included a drop down box of many countries' international code. But on a later screen it didn't allow me to change Spain in my address.

I didn't try my Spanish address as I am not tax resident there .. and that involves hassles.

But here is a free banking account if you are interested, especially if you are resident there
Jon

shirley and anthony hide

I would love to know the reason for that Jon. As SEPA was set up specifically for cross border transactions at no additional cost. A bonus of the single currency!
So the author of the phrase "There are only two constants in life. Death and taxes"
Should have added "and Spanish bank charges"

jean&john

Has any UK non resident changed banks to N26 for utility and council bills, if so was transferring DDs fairly easy
Thanks John.