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No commission on pensions
Spanish banks have even charged exchange commission on direct transfer of British pensions. This is against European Union banking regulations, especially when the British send the pension cheques directly in euros to the Spanish bank.
If your bank is charging commission on your pension cheques, make sure that you are receiving them by direct transfer in euros. If not, arrange to do this - a simple letter is sufficient - and tell your Spanish bank that charging commission on pension transfers is against the EU regulations.
Having said the above, many Spanish bank services function very well. Spain has one of the most complete and modern networks of electronic banking services, for example, where you can be sure of using your bank card to obtain cash from the electronic teller in all parts of the country, and in other countries as well.
Remember that, if you lose your Visa card and it is used by the thief before you report it, you are liable for the first €150 charged.
If you have a complaint with your bank service and your local manager does not give you satisfaction, you will find that almost all banks have a Defensor del Cliente, who will hear your case and who must respond within two months.
More than half of all such complaints are resolved in favour of the client, reports the banking association. If you don’t get any joy from your own bank, you can also complain to the Bank of Spain’s Servicio de Reclamaciones in Madrid.
You will have to try your bank manager first, then the bank’s own client department, and present your case in writing but the Bank of Spain helps hundreds of depositors every year. You can telephone them on 91-338 5068 for detailed information.
Writing Cheques
Once you begin writing cheques on your normal Spanish account, you will find that many Spaniards prefer a cheque made out to portador (“bearer” or, as the Americans say “cash”). Theportador cheque is preferred by many because there is no record of who cashes it. You can either accept this practice or insist on making the cheque out in the name of the person for whom it is meant.
The post-dated cheque is no longer effective in Spain. That is, if you put a date one month or so in the future on your cheque, the receiver of it will be able to cash it at the bank immediately regardless of the future date you have written.
If you have a cheque written by a person with insufficient funds in the bank, you will be able to collect a partial amount up to the total of funds available. That is, if you have a cheque for €600 and the issuer has only €300 in his account, you can collect the €300 and the bank will note this on the cheque, which you can present again later in the hopes that the rest of the money has arrived.
You will also find that personal cheques are not used quite as much as they are in most European countries for routine payments. Spaniards are still not quite used to the idea of personal cheques, though charge cards and credit cards are widely accepted. For many payments, especially instalment purchases of automobiles or major home appliances, the Spanish system prefers to use let ras, or bills of exchange.
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