johndb

Hi

I have recently moved to Spain from the UK. The problem is that I have a very bad credit history back in the UK which I am still trying to sort out. I am worried that this will stop me from being able to open a spanish bank account which would be a nightmare.

Can any of you tell me if a spanish bank will be able to credit check me in the uk? and if so whether this will prevent me from being able to get an account?

Any help would be greatfully recieved, thanks!

scampicat

I would imagine that if you have just a basic account with no overdraft facility then they will not credit check you anyway. I don't think they credit checked us when we opened ours - all we needed was to show our passports (this was for a non-resident's account which has since been changed to a resident's account and then we just showed our residency cards).

cricketman

Yes that's right.

What you wont be able to get is any credit i.e. loans, mortgages, credit cards. Unless you start to pay in a nomina (a montly payment such as a salary or pension).

Make sure you know how much it will cost you to keep an account each month. The basic bank accounts in Spain charge a maintenance fee and some charge for transfers and withdrawels.

johncar61

And also, another word of warning about Spanish Banking.
Don't ever think you know what they charge for anything. ALWAYS ask.

Some years ago I was charged 0.4% to transfer from a peseta account in BBVA to another peseta account ¡n Gib. The total was around £400. It took year of letters/emails to get a 50% refund.

I recently made a transfer from a Sol Bank sterling account to a sterling account in Gib. That cost 0.6% It was hundreds of pounds. I tried to negotiate before I gave the instructions but they were not interested.

Estrella blanca

I recently opened a basic non-resident account at La Caixa, just with my passport, no other documents were needed and no questions about any other existing accounts were asked. The monthly maintenance fee is 2,50 euros. You get a Visa debit card. No credit facility.

bealerDSB

Me thinks I've seen this post on another forum
DSB.

Casita

Don't forget La Caixa also charge 20e annually for any cards.

johncar61

The manager at your branch (all banks) has the authority to waive any charges.

Casita

Not mine!
When I told him another bank had less charges, he told me to go there

The charge for a debit card has gone up from 12e to 20e, stil,l I can access it on line and they speak good English so I suppose for 50e a year it's not the end of the world, plus knowing my luck, if I changed banks they'd mess up changing the standing charges etc and I'd get cut off somewhere

johncar61

A couple of times when I have changed banks, the new bank has accepted a list of DD's from the other bank and they have transferred them all without any input from me.


If my bank who were charging me now and they would not reconsider, I would go to a bank that will be more considerate, and there are lots that will nopw,

Val001

Well I have gone with La Caixa mainly because there is a branch in my nearest town of Albuñol and I could open the account in London with no language problems. I have got internet banking in English and I have to pick up debit card from Albuñol when out. I have recently transferred a large sum via Moneycorp for my house purchase and was disappointed to note they have charged me 0.4% which on a large sum is quite a bit. I checked with Moneycorp and they say they have not charged me any commission but when I checked with La Caixa they say that the commission is split 50/50 with the originator and the receiving bank. So short of calling Moneycorp a liar I am stuffed and forced to accept.

Thats life i suppose.

johncar61

Why is it one always get good advice too late?

HIFX.com transfer at good rate and guarantee no charges either end. If there are any they pick up the bill.

Val001

Thanks for that

Well the bulk of the money is now transferred. I still have one more transfer to do for solicitors bill and costs but any commission won't amount to much.

Thre you go............

ForHotspot

When I used moneycorp to transfer money to SOL bank a/c I wasn't charged any commission.

johncar61

Assuming it was sterling into euros, how did the exchange rate compare with the inter bank rate and was it Moneycorp or Sol bank who did the exchange ?