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Have just seen an interesting read about ordinary Spaniards being mis-sold financial products by their local Banks they thought they could trust, this one somewhere north of Valencia 🙄
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/16/spanish-savers-fall-victim-to-friendly-bankers/?ap
So not just expats ripped off 🙄
Ah!that’s better babbu 😆
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Sorry to say that nearly all my friends who are still out in Andalucia have either been broken into or mugged in the past few months. It seems that in such tough times some types have sussed that the way to get things to sell is by violent theft. Very sad. Friends who have felt safe in their homes for years are now scared.
It was going to happen…. very sad that it’s happening now. If there are people that have and people who have not then there will be thefts.
Just check out a scrap metal dealership at about 9am and see the queue of cars with things to sell….. tough times.
And yes, a major part of the crisis in Spain for me is the corrupt local cajas…. they mis-sold a heck of a lot to their own people and they are the ones suffering the most. When will Europe stick up for the people of Spain rather than the politicians who lie constantly?
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Sorry to hear about your problems mgspain.
We have friends who live in Spain, the husband plays golf at Lauro and recently as he was unloading his golf equipment two men approached him in open car park, one asked him if he was xyz, whilst the other managed to steal his wallet from passenger seat with all his cards and 100 euros in it, all on CCTV but Police not bothered. Same man has had tyre slashed at La Canada and accomplice makes off with bag from back seat of car. His wife had her bag stolen from under a table they were sitting at in open restaurant another time. Husband’s wallet again stolen by pickpocket, and more recently, a group of Romanies (eastern european ones) jostled them although with other friends, in Malaga asking for money for a ‘rose’ whilst one woman was trying to help herself literally to Euro notes from her purse whilst in her hands, and refusing loose change.
I don’t know if this is normal, but they’ve never previously been robbed in the UK 🙄
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Politicians hate to admit it, but increased poverty, in any country, leads to increased crime. And crime at all levels, if you can call the selling of those diabolical preferential shares crimes, then it’s not much different to being mugged.
I normally stick up for Spain, I live here, don’t I, but on the subject of crime I would be a total hypocrite if I didn’t admit that it’s a problem in Spain. I won’t even use the argument that the UK isn’t any better, and just admit that there is a lot of crime in Spain, a lot of crime that affects all citizens, whatever their nationality.
Every time you pick up a newspaper, Spanish or expat English, it’s full of reported crimes, and inevitably some nasty ones. Far too many expats feel the need to dress like tramps when they go out, and it’s a rarity to see a woman carrying a handbag, unless there’s a gang of them.
Tons of drugs are washed up on the shores and a whole generations of Spanish youngsters are smoking their lives away, it’s ghastly to observe at close range.
I’m not going on because it is too depressing, but contrary to what I said earlier, I’m going to be cheeky and post this link to get some balance.
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There were robberies every week at our golf course in Marbella even in the good times. Have to say that in 15 years I never felt threatened in Spain although I haven’t anywhere else either. All tourist areas all over the world has a high rate of these sort of crimes. The worst I knew was one member who had a luxury villa overlooking Las Brisas golf. He was confronted one summer evening by a youth on his terrace asking for money…ended with him being murdered. The youth got away with about 10€ , given a light sentence because he was out of his mind with drugs 🙄
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MG, I forgot to mention those same friends also had on two separate occasions, golf clubs stolen from locked garden shed, and a petrol mower and tools, despite having large iron gates and wicked pyracantha hedging growing along fence, so around 7 robberies/happenings in 10 years that they’ve admitted. Is it more than usual/expected? 🙄
At Alhaurin Golf there are a row of semi-detached villas (about 16-20) bounded by on top the road to Mijas and below by a road within the golf course. Every one of them has been robbed, there are normally several for sale at any one time, all have wrecker bars, alarms, shutters, large dogs, security lights, spiked gates etc installed now. Not pleasant at all. Some occupants have also been gassed whilst asleep and dogs drugged and then robbed. Moral, don’t buy between two easy get-away roads overlooked by mountainside and cover where the thieves watch with binoculars from.
You have to fee sorry for the Spaniards who now cannot access their money from their so called friendly banks 🙄
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MG, I’ve only felt a bit threatened once whilst in Spain, a group of locals tried demanding money from us in broad daylight as we were walking in to Marbella from a law office at the Elviria end.
Most threatening place for us, was Hebron in Israel, attacked there by fundamentalists and rescued by Israeli army, Tijuana Mexico was another place, luckily with 3 men friends who’d driven a car from the US into Mexico for the day.
Never had Bank problems though as those in topic are experiencing. 😉
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Most of the long-term expats I know have had to take steps to keep themselves safe and we have a long-established neighbourhood watch system to help us. Very few have returned to the UK purely because of the crime problems, but I know of several caught out by the bank scam who are just hanging on in the hope of getting at least some of their money back. I think they will, but the wheels of justice seem to turn very slowly in Spain.
I have noticed that my Spanish banks, all two of them, proper banks, now bend over backwards to give me free banking and all sorts of other perks to keep me as a customer. The old grumpiness has gone and they must have all been on a smiling course. I got some minor satisfaction when I discovered that a former grumpy customer service operator now works as a pool cleaner.
Recently, I have never seen anyone buy anything from the lookie-lookie men and the police are slowly getting rid off the many beggars, especially the foreign gippos. People are either skint, or fed up being ripped off, I don’t know which.
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It’s about time Spanish Banks took a more friendly approach that you’re now experiencing Rocker.
We had an account in Spain for some years, always in healthy credit, it paid a nominal interest rate, but every month we had to ask them to re-credit us with their silly bank charges which they had agreed they wouldn’t charge us, could never work that one out 😆
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Gary, mg asked a question because of a robbery, which some have answered, however someone else is also trying to ‘morph’ the topic contentiously which you’ve not mentioned, is that also a form of robbery, hijacking each thread?
I suppose that hijacking is robbery. Regardless, it is fascinating that these days one can substitute the word ‘banker’ with ‘robber.’ I wonder if this is a global phenomenon?
For the record, I’ve been robbed by banks, but in Spain, other than the ridiculous mortgage I have, the bank I’m using (Sabadell) seems ok. I’ve been bracing myself for hidden fees, but it has been 5 months and none have appeared.
Also for the record, while there have been a few unsuccessful attempts at robbing me in (Rome, Moscow), the only time anyone succeeded was in Istanbul.
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Had to smile at this from one of the coast’s largest estate agent groups who appear to be expanding again as they were in the old boom days.
Their website actively recommending a certain Alarm Company and including ‘experienced security guards’, the ‘highest level of security’, ‘FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND’, begs the question why? Are they suggesting there’s is a lot of crime on the Coast, that if you don’t have protection, your property could be unsafe? Would put me right off rather than encourage me to buy, after all, it’s another cost for buyers to consider on top of risk! 🙄
That sort of generous advice for such a level of security doesn’t normally come from estate agents in the UK 😉
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I know of a large estate agency who sell all kinds of properties, including repossessions. Their signs outside their premises, they have several, also advertise alarm systems and removal companies who specialise in returning people and their animals to the UK.
It doesn’t stop there, they also sell wedding packages and extensive gestor services for new arrivals.
And I forgot car hire. And Offex mail services. And last but not least, under the counter, Viagra.
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I think you got a bit confused there Rocker, I was talking about security issues and crime, even robbery, not a shopping list, which was the gist of the topic, but glad you know an estate agent presumably in the UK and not Spain which caters for all 🙄
Meanwhile the large one on the Spanish Coast might do those awful furniture packages they all pushed, by request if you ask, it’s just that they actively promote security services for ‘peace of mind’ 😛
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@angie wrote:
I think you got a bit confused there Rocker, I was talking about security issues and crime, even robbery, not a shopping list, which was the gist of the topic, but glad you know an estate agent presumably in the UK and not Spain which caters for all 🙄
Meanwhile the large one on the Spanish Coast might do those awful furniture packages they all pushed, by request if you ask, it’s just that they actively promote security services for ‘peace of mind’ 😛
I am talking about a large estate agent trading on the Spanish coast and I’m mindful of the security issues involved. As I said, side by side with selling properties in the sun, they advertise security systems to keep the prospective buyers safe.
As well as selling Viagra under the counter, they also sell pepper sprays to elderly ladies afraid of getting mugged. In fact, shops selling products to keep people safe have sprung up all over the place, it seems a recession proof industry, or maybe it’s an industry thriving because of the recession.
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In these troubled times, I don’t see anything wrong with estate agents in Spain selling the whole package to incoming expats.
At the extreme level, they can offer repossessions with 120% mortgages, medical and funeral insurance for peace of mind, and a way back to their home country, along with their animals, if it all goes wrong.
Furthermore, security products like alarms and pepper spays to keep them safe during their stay in Spain, and if their life’s enjoyment needs pepping up, then that’s what the little blue pills are for.
Taking the Gestor services into account to make them reasonably legal, what can go wrong?
And all they need on arrival is their passport, debit card and sun tan lotion.
Come on down.
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Well Rocker, by the same token in these troubled times then I would expect to see Supersol and Mercadona selling properties too, you know the run of the mill stuff, with El Corte Inglese selling La Zagaleta and how many Golden Miles now, of course all come with a year’s supply of Viagra 😀 What’s good for one is good for all 😉
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ah yes the ‘One Stop Shop’.
Personally I’m not a fan of the whole thing. Considering the reputation that estate agencies generally have (especially in Spain) I stay away from all of this. If someone asked for a recommendation, we try to only recommend companies that previous clients gave positive reviews about.
It is amazing the amount of companies that approach us to recommend their services and and tell us what we will get for every client. (10/15% com.) but don’t bother to tell us any other reason for recommending them…. Yeah, we really need a client coming back to us talking about the poor job done by those recommended!!
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@angie wrote:
If an estate agent on the coast is selling viagra as well Rocker, either the world has gone mad or it’s a staff perk for when they get stressed out 😛 Meanwhile, I don’t recall UK agents offering that, nor bog paper etc 🙄
If you beleive rumours, one agency also offered services supplied normally by a Madame…
These 2 agencies should start collaborating……
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I could have guessed you were not a fan of ‘the one stop shop’ Andrew, very sensible to stick to selling properties, it’s what you know, ok the odd recommendation is fine, like builders, plumbers, even furniture shops to those who move down but don’t know who to go to.
As for those two agents collaborating, no doubt would do well with a ‘lap dancing club’ in the back rooms, I guess they could be Russian estate agents 😛
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