[Anonymous]

In an effort to make our feelings known about the Spanish Property Roadshow I have placed a short, swift web-petition on this website:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

It’s in the form of an Open Letter to David Lidington, Minister for Europe in our present coalition Government, and will be open for signatures to be added for one month only.

If you are in agreement with the letter please add your name. All that is required is a name – plus your e-address which will NOT be published. If you wish you can add in which area of the country you are living and there is a comment box if you want to say anything else, but those extras are entirely optional. You can also remain anonymous but it will be a stronger petition if you do give a name.

I hope you will support this petition and tell others about it too. We have to move fast on it so please act quickly.

Thanks everyone.

For more on David Lidington see: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/who-we-are/our-ministers/david-lidington and
http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/lidington/entry/beating_the_drum_for_british

roots

[Anonymous]

He is more concerned about a drunk person who has been careless & irresponsible in his/her drinking than millions who had done everthing right & in good faith had been cleaned up. Typical parasite.

[Anonymous]

We have made an excellent start!!

In just over 24 hours 247 signatures have been added to this petition.

Many thanks.

Please make others aware of it whenever and wherever you can. We need it to be as forceful as possible.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

We have one month to go!

ruth

[Anonymous]

We have made an excellent start!!

In just over 24 hours 247 signatures have been added to this petition.

Many thanks.

Please make others aware of it whenever and wherever you can. We need it to be as forceful as possible.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

We have one month to go!

ruth

[Anonymous]

People who are trying to sell their properties in spain want it to be promoted. I know lots of expats who are stuck there because they can’t sell, why would they not want Spain to be promoted so they can sell to people who can now afford it and are now more informed of potential problems in Spain?

What has happened to the expats with illegal builds is a terrible thing, but there are also tons of expats stuck with properties in Spain thet cannot sell with rising interest rates etc, who will also stand to lose everything if this goes on for much longer, so it is in their interest that Spain is promoted whenever possible.

I think he should tour the whole world to promote properties in spain. ❗

Anyone trying to sell in Spain would be mad to sign the petition. I bet there are more thousands of expats trying to or wanting to sell in spain than the ones that were caught up in illegal builds.

[Anonymous]

People who are trying to sell their properties in spain want it to be promoted. I know lots of expats who are stuck there because they can’t sell, why would they not want Spain to be promoted so they can sell to people who can now afford it and are now more informed of potential problems in Spain?

What has happened to the expats with illegal builds is a terrible thing, but there are also tons of expats stuck with properties in Spain thet cannot sell with rising interest rates etc, who will also stand to lose everything if this goes on for much longer, so it is in their interest that Spain is promoted whenever possible.

I think he should tour the whole world to promote properties in spain. ❗

Anyone trying to sell in Spain would be mad to sign the petition. I bet there are more thousands of expats trying to or wanting to sell in spain than the ones that were caught up in illegal builds.

[Anonymous]

Promoting Spanish properties is one thing. However calling transparent etc is what I object to.
I expect any commercial organisation will promote its product no matter how questionable their product are or the ethos of that organisation. ( hence buyer be aware )
However when a Minister comes out one expect a certin level of honesty, integrity, moral, competance & an expectations that their institutions are in order.

Ofcourse, as we all know that there are many people from all over the world and the majority of them had no problems.

[Anonymous]

Promoting Spanish properties is one thing. However calling transparent etc is what I object to.
I expect any commercial organisation will promote its product no matter how questionable their product are or the ethos of that organisation. ( hence buyer be aware )
However when a Minister comes out one expect a certin level of honesty, integrity, moral, competance & an expectations that their institutions are in order.

Ofcourse, as we all know that there are many people from all over the world and the majority of them had no problems.

[Anonymous]

@shakeel wrote:

Promoting Spanish properties is one thing. However calling transparent etc is what I object to.
I expect any commercial organisation will promote its product no matter how questionable their product are or the ethos of that organisation. ( hence buyer be aware )
However when a Minister comes out one expect a certin level of honesty, integrity, moral, competance & an expectations that their institutions are in order.

Ofcourse, as we all know that there are many people from all over the world and the majority of them had no problems.

I agree with your comments, however, Spain needs to promote their property portfolio to sell the huge backlog.
Independent sellers are also caught up in this mess and they want Spain promoted to sell their property.
Voting to try to stop these promotions will only slow matters down for Spain even more.
I would obviously have a different view in this issue had I have been one of the unfortunate ones who got lumbured with an illegal build, but as I am not, it is in my interest and of those who wish to sell, that Spain puts 110% in getting the property market back on its feet.
So I am backing it all the way, and I assume anyone who needs to sell in Spain would agree.

[Anonymous]

@shakeel wrote:

Promoting Spanish properties is one thing. However calling transparent etc is what I object to.
I expect any commercial organisation will promote its product no matter how questionable their product are or the ethos of that organisation. ( hence buyer be aware )
However when a Minister comes out one expect a certin level of honesty, integrity, moral, competance & an expectations that their institutions are in order.

Ofcourse, as we all know that there are many people from all over the world and the majority of them had no problems.

I agree with your comments, however, Spain needs to promote their property portfolio to sell the huge backlog.
Independent sellers are also caught up in this mess and they want Spain promoted to sell their property.
Voting to try to stop these promotions will only slow matters down for Spain even more.
I would obviously have a different view in this issue had I have been one of the unfortunate ones who got lumbured with an illegal build, but as I am not, it is in my interest and of those who wish to sell, that Spain puts 110% in getting the property market back on its feet.
So I am backing it all the way, and I assume anyone who needs to sell in Spain would agree.

[Anonymous]

Forgive me Jonas. Your comments are self serving & not looking at the bigger picture & the difference between right & wrong. Like you I also had no issue with my purchase & can take the same stance as you.

Regular forum, users will know my veiws on the subject and I have not been known for not shooting from the hips..

[Anonymous]

Forgive me Jonas. Your comments are self serving & not looking at the bigger picture & the difference between right & wrong. Like you I also had no issue with my purchase & can take the same stance as you.

Regular forum, users will know my veiws on the subject and I have not been known for not shooting from the hips..

[Anonymous]

Jonas – you say “it is in my interest and of those who wish to sell, that Spain puts 110% in getting the property market back on its feet”

I understand your view but it is also vitally important for the victims that Spain puts 110% into addressing the serious injustices that are currently outstanding.

What is also important is that Spain puts 110% into reinforcing the system and supervising the property sector so future property purchasers in Spain are protected and never subjected to the corruption, negligence and abuse that has taken place over the past 10 years.

Sr. Blanco needs to take his head out of the sand and address the serious problems first. For him to come to the UK boasting about the transparency and legal security of the Spanish Property Sector is an insult to all the victims who currently stand to lose so much.

[Anonymous]

Jonas – you say “it is in my interest and of those who wish to sell, that Spain puts 110% in getting the property market back on its feet”

I understand your view but it is also vitally important for the victims that Spain puts 110% into addressing the serious injustices that are currently outstanding.

What is also important is that Spain puts 110% into reinforcing the system and supervising the property sector so future property purchasers in Spain are protected and never subjected to the corruption, negligence and abuse that has taken place over the past 10 years.

Sr. Blanco needs to take his head out of the sand and address the serious problems first. For him to come to the UK boasting about the transparency and legal security of the Spanish Property Sector is an insult to all the victims who currently stand to lose so much.

[Anonymous]

Not only his statement is a lie. He should be sued under trade descreption.

[Anonymous]

Not only his statement is a lie. He should be sued under trade descreption.

[Anonymous]

I believe it is in the interests of those who want to sell their properties to sign the petition. To restore confidence in the property market they need to solve the problems in existence. I am one of those who was not given a bank guarantee and waiting for a court case. Despite this I would still like to buy a property in Spain one day, but I’m certainly not going to do it while I am still owed a considerable amount of money. If they dealt with my problem and found a way to compensate me for that deposit I might again be in a position to buy one of the many properties available.

[Anonymous]

I believe it is in the interests of those who want to sell their properties to sign the petition. To restore confidence in the property market they need to solve the problems in existence. I am one of those who was not given a bank guarantee and waiting for a court case. Despite this I would still like to buy a property in Spain one day, but I’m certainly not going to do it while I am still owed a considerable amount of money. If they dealt with my problem and found a way to compensate me for that deposit I might again be in a position to buy one of the many properties available.

[Anonymous]

The thrust of the petition is about confronting corruption in the Spanish property market – the planning, the promoting, the selling, the buying, the whole shebang. It is addressed to David Lidington who has a UK governmental role in promoting commerce between our two countries. He has been appointed a Minister with that specific role. But he is relatively new in post.

Spain has laws – very sound laws – governing all aspects of the property market. These laws have been transgressed in many cases – I’m talking hundreds of thousands of cases – by all sections of the processes involved in the market over the last decade. David Lidington doesn’t know about these things and needs to be informed.

Whether we want to buy or to sell property in Spain, now is not the time. We are all stuck. Until the Spanish Government can sort out the mess its property market is in, very few of us can move. When Town Halls can’t be trusted, when lawyers, judges and the justice system can’t be called upon to obey their own laws, when banks can’t be relied upon to honour their guarantees, when developers use deception and lies to promote and finally go belly-up or abscond, when no official will accept responsibility for any of their actions, or non-actions, what hope is there for confidence in such a market?

Desperation only breeds further chaos. Spain needs to step up to the plate and get adult about things. Let’s not forget, it’s not just the British who are being ripped off, the Spanish are ripping themselves off, too. Big time.

So, what the petition is asking of David Lidington is please to call a halt to any further dealings with the Spanish property market wo/men until such time as monies illegally held by banks and developers have been returned and the backlog of court cases are dealt with swiftly and fairly according to Spanish Law. Is that really an unreasonable request? Then, and only then, will the market be able to move. How can anyone hope to sell in a market which can’t be relied upon to do the job properly and/or fairly, where charlatans are allowed to go free and nothing is what it seems? Anyone trying to sell property in Spain would be mad NOT to sign the petition.

This is what my own experience has taught me. I have every sympathy with all those who are ‘stuck’ as I am for whatever reason. None of us want to be in that position a minute longer.

roots

[Anonymous]

The thrust of the petition is about confronting corruption in the Spanish property market – the planning, the promoting, the selling, the buying, the whole shebang. It is addressed to David Lidington who has a UK governmental role in promoting commerce between our two countries. He has been appointed a Minister with that specific role. But he is relatively new in post.

Spain has laws – very sound laws – governing all aspects of the property market. These laws have been transgressed in many cases – I’m talking hundreds of thousands of cases – by all sections of the processes involved in the market over the last decade. David Lidington doesn’t know about these things and needs to be informed.

Whether we want to buy or to sell property in Spain, now is not the time. We are all stuck. Until the Spanish Government can sort out the mess its property market is in, very few of us can move. When Town Halls can’t be trusted, when lawyers, judges and the justice system can’t be called upon to obey their own laws, when banks can’t be relied upon to honour their guarantees, when developers use deception and lies to promote and finally go belly-up or abscond, when no official will accept responsibility for any of their actions, or non-actions, what hope is there for confidence in such a market?

Desperation only breeds further chaos. Spain needs to step up to the plate and get adult about things. Let’s not forget, it’s not just the British who are being ripped off, the Spanish are ripping themselves off, too. Big time.

So, what the petition is asking of David Lidington is please to call a halt to any further dealings with the Spanish property market wo/men until such time as monies illegally held by banks and developers have been returned and the backlog of court cases are dealt with swiftly and fairly according to Spanish Law. Is that really an unreasonable request? Then, and only then, will the market be able to move. How can anyone hope to sell in a market which can’t be relied upon to do the job properly and/or fairly, where charlatans are allowed to go free and nothing is what it seems? Anyone trying to sell property in Spain would be mad NOT to sign the petition.

This is what my own experience has taught me. I have every sympathy with all those who are ‘stuck’ as I am for whatever reason. None of us want to be in that position a minute longer.

roots

[Anonymous]

Petition update:

607 signatures and counting

Thanks
roots

[Anonymous]

Petition update:

607 signatures and counting

Thanks
roots

[Anonymous]

@roots wrote:

So, what the petition is asking of David Lidington is please to call a halt to any further dealings with the Spanish property market wo/men until such time as monies illegally held by banks and developers have been returned and the backlog of court cases are dealt with swiftly and fairly according to Spanish Law. Is that really an unreasonable request? Then, and only then, will the market be able to move.

roots

I am not being funny but if we are all expected to wait for “SPAIN” to sort things out swiftly, we will be waiting forever. 😕
You know as well as I do that things take years to sort out in Spain, whatever the issue, if courts need to get involved you have a very long wait, whether you are an expat or not.

So, although I agree with your comments. I just don’t think Spain can afford to wait many more years and neither can thousands of people waiting to sell in Spain.
I understand and feel for the people who did get conned by the system. It is in their interest to go ahead with trying to stop promotions of purchases in Spain, so they can get their money back, but it would be suicidal for desperate sellers to go along with this.

I personally want this market moving asap, and would encourage anything that may help it move along, but what you are suggesting will just slow things down and highlight negative issues with regards to Spain even more. I can understand the anger people must hold, but trying to put a stop to any future sales in spain is just ludicrous and of no help to anyone but those who were affected directly.

As for what Shakeel has said: Your comments are self serving & not looking at the bigger picture & the difference between right & wrong
I am sorry but I believe the petition is self serving to those who were affected, it is of no benefit to me or other sellers at all.

Spain in not on its ars just because of the illegal builds there is a lot more to it than just that.

[Anonymous]

@roots wrote:

So, what the petition is asking of David Lidington is please to call a halt to any further dealings with the Spanish property market wo/men until such time as monies illegally held by banks and developers have been returned and the backlog of court cases are dealt with swiftly and fairly according to Spanish Law. Is that really an unreasonable request? Then, and only then, will the market be able to move.

roots

I am not being funny but if we are all expected to wait for “SPAIN” to sort things out swiftly, we will be waiting forever. 😕
You know as well as I do that things take years to sort out in Spain, whatever the issue, if courts need to get involved you have a very long wait, whether you are an expat or not.

So, although I agree with your comments. I just don’t think Spain can afford to wait many more years and neither can thousands of people waiting to sell in Spain.
I understand and feel for the people who did get conned by the system. It is in their interest to go ahead with trying to stop promotions of purchases in Spain, so they can get their money back, but it would be suicidal for desperate sellers to go along with this.

I personally want this market moving asap, and would encourage anything that may help it move along, but what you are suggesting will just slow things down and highlight negative issues with regards to Spain even more. I can understand the anger people must hold, but trying to put a stop to any future sales in spain is just ludicrous and of no help to anyone but those who were affected directly.

As for what Shakeel has said: Your comments are self serving & not looking at the bigger picture & the difference between right & wrong
I am sorry but I believe the petition is self serving to those who were affected, it is of no benefit to me or other sellers at all.

Spain in not on its ars just because of the illegal builds there is a lot more to it than just that.

[Anonymous]

I can understand sellers wanting Spain promoted and victims of the various frauds wanting more exposure of them, but I have to agree that promoting Spanish property at this time, before any of the problems have been addressed, is sheer hypocrisy.

The problems with Spanish property have already been listed, many times, over and over again, and the Spanish government, at every level, simply hasn’t listened. It hasn’t listened because in the majority of the severest cases it hasn’t affected their own – I’ve forgotten the words used by some of the officials, but they’re clearly dismissive of foreigners.

And now they want those foreigners to come back again and rescue their housing (over-building) problem. And without warning them of the many dangers in buying a property in Spain.

It’s not right. No es correcto!

[Anonymous]

I can understand sellers wanting Spain promoted and victims of the various frauds wanting more exposure of them, but I have to agree that promoting Spanish property at this time, before any of the problems have been addressed, is sheer hypocrisy.

The problems with Spanish property have already been listed, many times, over and over again, and the Spanish government, at every level, simply hasn’t listened. It hasn’t listened because in the majority of the severest cases it hasn’t affected their own – I’ve forgotten the words used by some of the officials, but they’re clearly dismissive of foreigners.

And now they want those foreigners to come back again and rescue their housing (over-building) problem. And without warning them of the many dangers in buying a property in Spain.

It’s not right. No es correcto!

[katy]

It is in the interests of sellers and estate agents to also lobby spain to sort out the mess in the spanish legal system. It can’t be brushed under the carpet with forums like this one. I doubt if the Minister giving a few press conferences will tempt people.

[katy]

It is in the interests of sellers and estate agents to also lobby spain to sort out the mess in the spanish legal system. It can’t be brushed under the carpet with forums like this one. I doubt if the Minister giving a few press conferences will tempt people.

[Anonymous]

Jonas wrote:

I am not being funny but if we are all expected to wait for “SPAIN” to sort things out swiftly, we will be waiting forever.
You know as well as I do that things take years to sort out in Spain, whatever the issue, if courts need to get involved you have a very long wait, whether you are an expat or not.

Jonas, on the contrary there are two things that could be achieved relatively quickly by the government taking action NOW.

1. All bank guarantees should be honoured on illegal and unfinished builds. Full stop.
2. Fast-track courts should be set up to deal specifically with property issues. The law (Ley57/68) is very specific and there should be no misinterpretations.

The former could be dealt with, if not tomorrow, within weeks and the latter within months.

Monies would be freed and those still wishing to buy and live in Spain – and there are considerable numbers of those – would be in a position to try again. In this way there would be satisfaction for sellers and for reputable, licensed agents.

Come on Spain, get your act together.

And would-be purchasers, never forget the all important: Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware.

roots

[Anonymous]

Jonas wrote:

I am not being funny but if we are all expected to wait for “SPAIN” to sort things out swiftly, we will be waiting forever.
You know as well as I do that things take years to sort out in Spain, whatever the issue, if courts need to get involved you have a very long wait, whether you are an expat or not.

Jonas, on the contrary there are two things that could be achieved relatively quickly by the government taking action NOW.

1. All bank guarantees should be honoured on illegal and unfinished builds. Full stop.
2. Fast-track courts should be set up to deal specifically with property issues. The law (Ley57/68) is very specific and there should be no misinterpretations.

The former could be dealt with, if not tomorrow, within weeks and the latter within months.

Monies would be freed and those still wishing to buy and live in Spain – and there are considerable numbers of those – would be in a position to try again. In this way there would be satisfaction for sellers and for reputable, licensed agents.

Come on Spain, get your act together.

And would-be purchasers, never forget the all important: Caveat Emptor – Buyer Beware.

roots

[Anonymous]

@katy wrote:

It is in the interests of sellers and estate agents to also lobby spain to sort out the mess in the spanish legal system. It can’t be brushed under the carpet with forums like this one. I doubt if the Minister giving a few press conferences will tempt people.

I can completely see where you are coming from and I agree with respect to people that have had problems with the legal system.

This is a difficult one though, because for sellers like myself, I have purchased and sold a few properties in spain with not one single problem and I am british.
My property is legal and I want to sell, so want as much promotion for Spain as possible as other sellers do.

I agree that Spain should sort their act out, but completely disagree that this would happen quickly, even if they agreed, they would still take years. A lot of people don’t have years to wait.

Spain is trying to regain confidence in buyers and ensuring things that have happened in the past won’t happen again.
The fact that these things have happened in the past are issues that need sorting, without a doubt, but by stopping all promotions of Spain will just slow things down.

Like myself, there are thousands of British people who have not had problems buying and selling in Spain and won’t do in the future.

The two issues are separate issues.

[Anonymous]

@katy wrote:

It is in the interests of sellers and estate agents to also lobby spain to sort out the mess in the spanish legal system. It can’t be brushed under the carpet with forums like this one. I doubt if the Minister giving a few press conferences will tempt people.

I can completely see where you are coming from and I agree with respect to people that have had problems with the legal system.

This is a difficult one though, because for sellers like myself, I have purchased and sold a few properties in spain with not one single problem and I am british.
My property is legal and I want to sell, so want as much promotion for Spain as possible as other sellers do.

I agree that Spain should sort their act out, but completely disagree that this would happen quickly, even if they agreed, they would still take years. A lot of people don’t have years to wait.

Spain is trying to regain confidence in buyers and ensuring things that have happened in the past won’t happen again.
The fact that these things have happened in the past are issues that need sorting, without a doubt, but by stopping all promotions of Spain will just slow things down.

Like myself, there are thousands of British people who have not had problems buying and selling in Spain and won’t do in the future.

The two issues are separate issues.

[Anonymous]

I would just like to add that I am not being uncaring about the unfortunate one, but it works in roundabouts. I will explain.

On this forum alone there are investors who are sitting tightly waiting to purchase their next property in Spain for under 50% off the current value, they don’t care for one second what effect that might be having on the life of the person who is having to sell their property at such a huge loss. That person is probably losing everything and on top of that standing to owe the spanish bank for the difference they owe on their mortgage as not many purchased a property with a 50% deposit in the boom. so in answer to Logan’s comment on the other post: Sadly most folks really don’t give a fly**g f**k for the hapless state of others! you could say the same about the investors on here! You are also preying on someone else’s misfortune to get ahead in life.

So as unfortanate as it is for those caught up in this mess, why should what happened to them in their past have an effect on thousands of desperate sellers futures, as long as the property they are trying to sell is above board of course???

[Anonymous]

I would just like to add that I am not being uncaring about the unfortunate one, but it works in roundabouts. I will explain.

On this forum alone there are investors who are sitting tightly waiting to purchase their next property in Spain for under 50% off the current value, they don’t care for one second what effect that might be having on the life of the person who is having to sell their property at such a huge loss. That person is probably losing everything and on top of that standing to owe the spanish bank for the difference they owe on their mortgage as not many purchased a property with a 50% deposit in the boom. so in answer to Logan’s comment on the other post: Sadly most folks really don’t give a fly**g f**k for the hapless state of others! you could say the same about the investors on here! You are also preying on someone else’s misfortune to get ahead in life.

So as unfortanate as it is for those caught up in this mess, why should what happened to them in their past have an effect on thousands of desperate sellers futures, as long as the property they are trying to sell is above board of course???

[Anonymous]

“I am sorry but I believe the petition is self serving to those who were affected, it is of no benefit to me or other sellers at all”
Indeed the difference is that the petition is requesting ” a incorrect or injust situation to be corrected & acted upon “
Your self serving action is to move on in life as a personal choice & with the freedom to do so. I do not know your circumstances perhaps your property is legal & it has not affected you in a way as profoundly as it has others.

[Anonymous]

“I am sorry but I believe the petition is self serving to those who were affected, it is of no benefit to me or other sellers at all”
Indeed the difference is that the petition is requesting ” a incorrect or injust situation to be corrected & acted upon “
Your self serving action is to move on in life as a personal choice & with the freedom to do so. I do not know your circumstances perhaps your property is legal & it has not affected you in a way as profoundly as it has others.

[Anonymous]

This morning, after only one week, we have 780 signatories on the petition:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

The sheer volume of numbers says a lot.

There are two schools of thought about this petition. There are those who agree and those not in agreement with the letter and who do not want to stop the Road Shows. They want the Ministers over here so that they can be well and truly challenged.

Let me say, at this point, the cynic in me – prompted by our collective experience – says that not much notice will be taken of this petition – or any petition. We have all read the excuses given by the addressees over the last decade. But that should not stop us from trying. I can bet on it that the Road Shows will go ahead as planned. Mike and his group, together with Keith and his, protesting on Wednesday outside the Spanish Embassy will get a second chance in June to do something similar I have no doubt. They have already entered a dialogue with the Spanish officials. That is a considerable achievement.

I do not want the petition to be seen as working against that achievement. Keith and I are very supportive of one another. The petition, I would argue, allows those who wish to show their feelings to one specific person in our own Government who we believe has some power – albeit limited – to express authoritatively to his opposite Spanish Minister the position many of us are in. We are not ‘a few’. We are many. Also David Lidington must make it clear that it is in Spain’s own interests that this whole sorry business must be cleared up ASAP. He is in a particularly strong position to do this.

However, there are also others, agents and private sellers, who feel that the Spanish property market should be promoted because sellers are just as ‘stuck’ as would-be purchasers. Waiting for true justice in Spain is a fool’s game, they argue. But there are two things that could be achieved relatively quickly if the Spanish government took action NOW.

1. All bank guarantees should be honoured on illegal and unfinished builds. The fact that many banks and financial institutions did not issue BGs is no excuse under the law. It is a legal requirement. Full stop.
2. Fast-track courts should be set up to deal specifically with property issues. The law (Ley57/68) is very specific and there should be no misinterpretations.

As I have already said, the former could be dealt with, if not tomorrow, within weeks and the latter within months. Monies would be freed and those still wishing to buy and live in Spain – and there are considerable numbers of those – would be in a position to try again. In this way there would be satisfaction for sellers and for reputable, licensed agents.

Whether you think the road shows are a good thing or not, we are all aiming finally for the same thing. Justice and a life without worry and stress. By signing the petition you are becoming a member of a much larger body and we can stay in touch. So, if you haven’t already, I hope you will now sign. You can help further by notifying your own MEPs and asking for the petition link to be put on their websites. Please stress that there are only 3 weeks left to sign before the petition is sent to David Lidington.

Thank you for sticking with me thus far.

Ruth

Saturday 7 May 2011: 780 signatures and counting

[Anonymous]

@roots wrote:

As I have already said, the former could be dealt with, if not tomorrow, within weeks and the latter within months. Monies would be freed and those still wishing to buy and live in Spain – and there are considerable numbers of those – would be in a position to try again. In this way there would be satisfaction for sellers and for reputable, licensed agents.

Ruth

I really understand your plight, but, do you really think that any of these people who were involved in the illegal builds would even contemplate buying in Spain again after all what they have been through??!!
I am sorry but I do not believe it for a second. To be honest if what has happened to them would have happened to me, it would put me off buying property full stop. As I said in a previous post, “once bitten twice shy”.
I could bet my bottom dollar a good 99% of these people have been put off Spain for life !!!
So I really don’t think you should be including this point in your argument.

I do wish you all the best in your efforts though, and I know deep down that it will take years for the British to regain confidence in the Spanish market, but this is just more bad publicity for Spain. Maybe stop the roadshows in the uk, but not elsewhere.
I do hope you all get your money back as it is yours after all. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am trying to reclaim a deposit from an unfinished off-plan property, however I would still buy a property in Spain if I received my money back. It would however no longer be an off-plan or recently finished development in Andalucia, which I guess represents most of the properties the government are trying to get us to buy. Instead it would be an area of Spain where things seem to work better, such as Catalunya.

[Anonymous]

@Snowbird wrote:

I am trying to reclaim a deposit from an unfinished off-plan property, however I would still buy a property in Spain if I received my money back. It would however no longer be an off-plan or recently finished development in Andalucia, which I guess represents most of the properties the government are trying to get us to buy. Instead it would be an area of Spain where things seem to work better, such as Catalunya.

I do hope you get your money back, I hope all those involved get their money back. It is unnacceptable that you should even be in this position. It is a shame that the whole of Spain is getting tarnished with the same brush. As you say, areas like Cataluña do not have the land grab issues they have in other areas of Spain and it is a beautiful part of Spain. Unfortunately what has happened in those other areas has given the whole of Spain a bad name.

[Anonymous]

This morning we have 900 signatures on the petition.

Just over 2 weeks to go now before it is closed and sent to David Lidington.

Let’s push for 1000.

If you haven’t done so already, please notify your group of MEPs and your MP of this petition. A number of newspapers have reported on the first Road Show held in London on the 4 May.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-0 … pitch.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/ma … e-roadshow

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/exp … o-buy.html

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/pu … 0346.shtml

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/expat/annanic … as-houses/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/may/08/property-spain

http://www.simplynetworking.es/news-6251-31-spanish_property_roadshow_makes_big_impact_in_english_language_media.html.

Do use these reports as references in your letters/emails.

Let’s make this a solid demonstration of our feelings to the politician who has specific responsibility for developing our trading relationships with other European countries, and let him know that though he may not have the power to change laws in Spain, he does have influence, persuasive powers combined with training in diplomacy, and moral authority if he chooses to use them.

In the context of the property scandals exposed in this petition David Lidington has the human right to use them.

Thank you to all who have signed.

roots

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

[Anonymous]

Well done roots! 😀

[Anonymous]

FYI

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/expatproperty/8510323/How-much-of-a-bargain-is-real-estate-in-Spain.html

http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2011/05/07/spain-property-roadshow-outrage/

roots

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.html

[Anonymous]

The petition has 972 signatures – probably more as, on occasion, couples have signed as one. I’m very heartened by the response. There is just one week to go (31 May) before I close it and send it to David Lidington.

To recap:

The petition is directed at one person, and one person only – our Minister for Europe, David Lidington. Any further help you can give it by informing your MP and MEPs about it will strengthen it further. I believe he has overall Ministerial responsibility for looking after British commercial interests in Europe whether of a private individual or of an organisation. There will be people in his department who will have specific briefs to look into concerns that arise.

The petition was designed to make our Government aware of the disapproval of those of us damaged by failed attempts to buy in Spain over the last decade of any further selling of Spanish property through Road Shows sponsored by the Spanish Government.

The petition asks a direct question:

We the undersigned request the Government to revoke any permissions given to Sr. Jose Blanco to promote the purchase of Spanish Property here in the UK, and ask that it be withdrawn immediately until such time as monies are returned under the Spanish Bank Guarantee scheme (specifically drawn up to combat corrupt practices) and until the backlog of court cases are dealt with fairly according to the very excellent laws of Spain.

The petition highlights those two areas of concern which, if concentrated on and corrected, would bring relief to many who are still suffering from bad practice within the business and operation of property buying and selling in Spain. It is asking David Lidington personally to put his shoulder to our wheel in raising the profile of this thrust.

Please give your support.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-spanish-property-roadshow-open-letter-to-davi.htm[/size]l[/size]

[Author]

Posts