BST 11/11/2009
12:41 UK (top
of page)
Greetings card company, Fluppet.com,
is offering expats a service which allows them to order and personalise
English language greetings cards, which they can order and tailor online,
which are then posted in the UK.
Living abroad makes it difficult, if not impossible, to purchase English
language cards. Fluppet.com also eliminates long posting dates and
expensive airmail charges of sending card from abroad to the UK.
Fluppet.com offers users to the ability to send hard copy personalised
greetings cards, uploading their own pictures and signatures, by “snail
mail” but without having to leave the their computer.
The service costs as little as £1.99 – including postage and a
charitably donation – which is often less the price of gift cards from
traditional retailers.
Registered users will even receive timely reminders of significant dates
by email, so they never need forget another birthday or anniversary.
BST 04/08/2009
12:41 UK (top
of page)
"Cement Graveyards"
More interesting observations from 'El Pais' on the woes of the massive
over development of Spain's Costas or coastal regions here.
BST 04/08/2009
12:51 UK (top
of page)
An entire urbanisation of around 40 properties in the
village of Palau-Saverdera, in the Alt Empordà region of Catalonia, north
of Barcelona, must be demolished before 5 December, the High Court of
Catalonia (TSJC) has ruled. Demolition work is set to begin after the
summer, reports the Spanish press.
Not far inland from the Costa Brava, the Sun Village
urbanisation is predominantly holiday homes owned by a mixture of
nationalities, mainly British and Dutch. Only 8 families are reported to
live their year round.
The court ruled that Sun Village was illegally built on
land zoned for a hotel. If demolition goes ahead, the owners will seek
damages of 12 million Euros, or 310,000 Euros per property, according to
press reports.
Narcís Deusedas, the Mayor of Palau-Saverdera for the
last 30 years, claims he is doing everything he can to fight the
demolition order, though it was he who granted illegal planning permission
in 2001.
Deusedas warns that the municipal budget can’t afford
the costs of either demolition or compensation. “It would be a death
sentence for the village,” he told the Spanish press.
BST 18/05/2009
13:41 UK (top
of page)
It was interesting to read a recent opinion piece in
Spain’s leading daily paper ‘El Pais’, entitled ‘El Gran Saqueo’
or ‘The Big Plundering’, lambasting Spain for the mess it has made of
its real estate sector, environment, and reputation.
“You can hardly understand how such a huge scandal could
have been swept under the rug for decades,” writes the author Rafael
Argullol. As we all know, and that includes even Spanish politicians, you
can’t solve a problem until you acknowledge that you have a problem, so
this is surely a positive sign.
Admittedly it’s just one article, but at least this kind
of self criticism is now being given space in influential media, which is
progress of sorts.
Sadly, politicians from both of Spain’s mainstream
parties are still in denial.
Will Spain recover from it's past development excesses and
in particular a coastline grotesquely disfigured by over development, a
warped economy, a corrupt body politic, and a poorer, dysfunctional
society?
Maybe this is a 'chink of light in the darkness that has
come to envelope this beautiful country?'
Anyone who is interested can read the El Pais article, as
it was published in English a few days later at the El Pais /
International Herald Tribune website, under the title ‘Land
Grab’ (pdf document, opens in new window).
CET
18/03/2009 18:41 SPAIN
(top
of page)
Families are now 17% worse off, thanks to plunging
house prices and the collapse of the stock market… ..and in
real terms that means each household is, on average, £45,000 worse off as
a result.
In something that won’t come as a shock to many of you,
a new report shows that £45,000 figure relates to the value of
our homes and our investments in pensions,
shares and ISAs. See
more here
CET 18/03/2009
18:54 SPAIN
(top
of page)
Nationwide is taking a bit of a kicking in the
popularity stakes at the moment!
Only recently they caused a uproar by announcing they
were going to charge you to use your cards abroad.
Now some of you who are Nationwide mortgage customers have
erupted in protest at a new policy that prevents those who pay to escape a
fixed-rate mortgage from applying for a new mortgage!
Check
it all out here
CET 03/03/2009 10:41 SPAIN
(top
of page)
AT LAST! - a good news story to gladden the heart! (as well as a lesson
on how NOT to do something, then to to get it right in the end). We
think Martin at Moneyhospital.co.uk should employ this man.
This personal account of a Spanish property investment gone wrong is a
lesson to us all in what out forbears practised through two world wars -
never give up!
Though a thoroughly unpleasant experience for the investor, he ended up
making money, and doing vastly better than he would have with his money
tied up in a blue-chip British banking stock like, say, RBS, (contributing
to Fred 'the Shred's vastly obscene pension!), or even in an index
like the FTSE.
Read more here
CET 03/03/2009 10:29 SPAIN
(top
of page)
People laughed at us a few years ago, when we decided to sell up on the
coast and move to an inland city. Judging by the horrendous stories
of the high number of illegal properties now under the threat of
demolition, (or as this story well illustrates : Being demolished
after years of failed legal wranglings!), we 'got out' just in
time!.
We always felt that as well as finding the real Spain, it would bring
us peace of mind.
Little did we realise how that would become so important to a peaceful
life in Spain.
As well as illegally built properties, there are developments, known to
us, that were never 'signed off' and given habitation certificates by the
College of Architects, (mainly in coastal regions, and mainly because
the Architect never got final payments from the developer).
After years of legal wrangling, the illegally-built Sun Village
development of 40 flats with communal gardens and a pool in Palau-Saverdera,
in Catalonia’s Alt Emporda region, will be demolished.
The owners of the flats, mainly Dutch, British, and French, have been
given 6 months to comply with a demolition order resulting from a decision
by Catalonia’s High Court in 2006. All efforts by owners and the town
hall to block demolition have now failed. Read
more here
CET 19/02/2009
15:59
SPAIN
- (top
of page)
More than a hundred owners in Marbella risk losing their
properties as a result of the collapse of the Icelandic bank Landsbanki,
reports the Spanish press. The case is being treated as a potential fraud,
and most of the victims are British pensioners. Read
more on this story . . .
CET 19/02/2009
15:49
SPAIN- (top
of page)
Spain gets another mauling in the latest EU report on
sinister town-planning practices and the ‘land
grab ‘ scandal that has brought misery to Spanish and foreign home
owners, principally in the Valencian Community.
The Petitions Committee approved the report by 24 votes to
11, thwarting an attempt by an unnatural alliance of right and left wing
Spanish MEPs to water down the report with a series of amendments. The
report will now be debated in the European Parliament on 26 March - read
all about it here
CET 19/02/2009 15:29
SPAIN- (top
of page)
This report on the difference between the English and
Spanish town planning systems was provided by Abusos
Urbanisticos No - a citizens group that defends property rights in
Spain
"I thought Franco was dead and this place was NOW
supposed to be a democracy" - this
really makes interesting reading! - Ed.
GMT 06/01/2009
14:30
SPAIN- (top
of page)
Property owners in Spain who fall foul of the Ley de
Costas, or Spanish coastal law, (which roughly translated says;
"No building within 100m meters of the Foreshore"), are
suffering “dramatic economic problems” claims Carmen del Amo,
president of national platform for those affected by the Ley de Costas
The Ley de Costas, known in English as the Coastal Law, nationalised
the entire Spanish coastline in 1988, effectively confiscating thousands
of private properties and businesses located close to the shore. As well
as failing to provide affected owners with any compensation, critics say
the law has been inconsistently applied, and that boundary changes are
made without any judicial oversight.
Homes and businesses situated on the “public land” of the coast
will ultimately be demolished, though owners may be able to get a
concession of use for between 30 and 60 years. In the meantime owners are
not allowed to do any building work on their properties, which they will
also struggle to sell.
Few foreigners are aware of the Ley de Costas issue, and every year a
number buy what they think is a dream property on the beach, only to find
out that they have walked into a nightmare.
The Valencian Community has the biggest problem with the Ley de Costas,
says Carmen del Amo, who expects the problems to multiply as the boundary
between public and private land continues to be drawn. Only 50% of the
Valencian coastline has been done so far.
The coastal department of the Ministry of the Environment has rarely
taken any notice of the suffering caused by its arbitrary application of
the Ley de Costas, riding roughshod over the interests of affected owners.
But according to Carmen de Amo, there are small signs that the Ministry is
taking a more conciliatory approach, making the situation of affected
owners “more hopeful”. “It seems that the Ministry has adopted a
different way to deal with this, and is looking for solutions,” says de
Amo.
GMT 30/12/2008
08:49
SPAIN- (top
of page)
In Good Faith or The Road to Hell is paved with
good Intentions
With all the problems people are having with property in Spain, the
amount of people using the defence that they bought in “good faith” is
on the rise. But what does “good faith” actually mean? A little
research produces the following definition:
“Good faith, or in Latin bona fide, is the mental and moral state
of honesty. If you act in good faith, you believe that what you are doing
is right and legal.”
GMT 22/12/2008
12:49
SPAIN- (top
of page)
A new glossy magazine available on quarterly
subscription has been launched.
Entitled LIFETIMES, it is aimed squarely at Brits living in Spain, or
more more precisely in Andalucia. It looks well produced and
offers many interesting articles.
The first issue (Autumn 2008) actually arrived free via
the Correos a week ago.
This was presumably a marketing tactic, to get the
magazine moving, as the cover or news stand price is €2.50, (which
may be a bit of a strain on many, (particularly British pensioners), who
are particularly hard hit by the pound / euro exchange rate just now!).
In common with many new periodicals, it contained the
odd 'special offer', or 'discount voucher' to "whet the
appetite" of it's target audience.
Unfortunately - one such offer by Healthspan actually
expired LESS than 2 weeks after the magazine dropped through the letterbox
- Ill thought out? - Particularly when using the Spanish Post Office, not
withstanding the mailing's proximity to Christmas and early New Year.
PLUS - the same offer code is in their latest AD in
the Winter edition of the mag!
Now I don't know about you, but MOST un-solicited stuff
found in my mailbox (whether e-mail or snail-mail), goes directly to the
trash bin, SO, you would think wouldn't you, that where someone has
actually got a chance of their correspondence being opened and read, ANY Advertiser
in there would ENSURE that any offer would have a good long life
span -
LET ALONE BE OUT OF DATE BEFORE THE MAG WAS EVEN
ISSUED!
Whilst on the subject of Healthspan, (who despite their
ill thought out advert timing, do incidentally, offer minimal cost
delivery to Spain). This is to be encouraged.
However, if you plan on ordering, be careful how you
go about it - at the time of writing, their website, according to my
Internet protection software, appears to be downloading a script
containing a *Trojan virus. (search Google to find out what this
is).
This, combined with a 'not particularly friendly'
website leads me to say if you are desperate for any of the products they
sell and cannot obtain them elsewhere, at least protect yourself by using
the advertised UK phone number or postal address.
* under investigation with Trend Virus Laboratory.
GMT 22/10/2008
16:49
SPAIN- (top
of page)
Telefonica appear to have have changed their charging
policy. We stated elsewhere on this news page that booking a
telephone line installation via a Telefonica retail outlet cost €150,
whereas, booking an installation via their website cost nothing.
It has not escaped our attention that many Telefonica
shops have now hastily added hand-written window notices saying "Free
line installation", or actually "Linea instalacion Libre".
Maybe people in high places do take notice eventually.
At least this way, you don't have to be either Internet
or Spanish savvy, as many of the shop assistants do speak some English.
Anyway, make sure you know exactly what you are getting
before you sign anything.
Also, don't agree to taking their Domo telephone! -
It's an expensive option.
Buy a phone at one of the many electrical outlets or
hypermarkets, and simply plug it in when your line has been installed.
GMT 22/10/2008
16:26
SPAIN- (top
of page)
Vodafone have a little known service available in Spain, and
judging by the way they rip off people who use it - maybe
it's best to keep it that way!
Just in case you do hear of it and are tempted - here's
the low-down;
They offer connection to the internet for your PC via a
suitably equipped pay as you go (pre pagar) mobile phone, in
order to browse and deal with emails, etc., for €1.90 a day.
Allegedly offering up to 19 megabytes of download, it
looks at first glance to be reasonable value - 10¢ for a million bytes?
DON'T BE FOOLED!
We connected twice over 2 days (€1.90 a day remember)
and they reduced our card balance by over €20!
According to their records we downloaded around 28
Mb in total over the two days.
We are still trying to find out how they arrived at
their charges, which for the record were:
Day 1 €2.90 + €8.70 giving a total of
€11.60
Day 2 €8.90 giving a GRAND total of €20.50
Total bytes used (allegedly*) 28,836 (28.1
Mb)
I say allegedly, since I think it was less than
this. BUT, even if this figure was accurate, we were supposed
to get 19Mb per daily connection, or 38Mb based on connecting over 2
days!
So, in fact, we use 10Mb LESS THAN OUR
ALLOWANCE!
Given the general reputation and anti-customer antics
of Spanish telephone service operators, we don't expect to get anywhere
with this, despite contacting and complaining in writing.
Their customer service were unable to explain why we
were overcharged. They simply said it "was a very expensive way
to connect to the internet" - can't argue with that!
Our Advice? - AVOID THIS SCAM! - VODAFONE'S PROFITS
WORLDWIDE ARE BILLIONS!
(not difficult to see why given their charging policies and dubious
practices!)
Does anyone have a good word for ANY phone company
in Spain? - let everyone know
here
GMT 17/04/2008 13:26
SPAIN - (top
of page)
"Looks like you could be getting your money back" -
Spanish lawyers are starting to take up the cases of non-residents who
paid too much Capital Gains Tax when they sold their property in Spain.
It seems that the law (recently changed), that insisted
that non-resident property owners pay CG tax at a rate of 35%, as opposed
to residents rate of 15%, was illegal - well fancy that - who would
have guessed?
It has been calculated, based on property sales
records, that the government could owe each non-resident house vendor up
to €8000 + interest.
Sounds like another issue that the Spanish can wriggle
around with for a few years to us.
Watch this space.
GMT
21/03/2008 13:03 UK
- (top
of page)
"Don't get screwed on your UK Mobile" - Have a look at the 3
network from Hutchison Whampoa in the UK.
The 3 (three.co.uk) network
have launched a pay as you go service in the UK with a number of desirable
features.
They offer a number of top-up
facilities between £10 and £50 via vouchers that can be purchased at
many high street stores such as Tesco, or after registration via any
credit card including AMEX.
Once your account is topped up you
can use this money in a variety of ways.
You can buy straight call time, or
a mixture of calls and text messages, all calls, all texts, and/or a
number of additional add-ons.
In addition to calls, texts and
add-ons (more later), you get automatically FREE Skype calls.
For those of you un-acquainted
with Skype, it is a system of allowing FREE computer to computer voice
calls via a reasonably fast internet connection (broadband preferably).
The difference with this? - you
don't need a computer, AND, because it's via your cellular phone - it's
fully mobile.
OK - what's the catch?
Well you need a "Skype
enabled phone", which start at around £50. If you need to make
frequent calls abroad, (back to Spain, or children in the USA, like us -
it soon starts to pay for itself)
If you spend more on your phone,
you start to get additional features - Internet connection for your
PC or laptop for instance.
I bought a Nokia 6120, which as
well as offering Skype facilities, allows a broadband connection to the
internet (up to 2.8 mbits/sec in most parts of the UK, and up
to 750 kbits/sec in the rest, for my laptop).
Even at the slower speeds, it's
still much, much faster than dial-up connections, and because it's mobile,
it's more convenient.
The phone now costs around £70. It
offers lots of features available on higher quality cell phones. It
has a 2meg camera with built-in flash, video camera, bluetooth and USB
connections as well as a number of 'office type' functions.
Three now do a specific SkypePhone
WITH 3.5G HSDPA. (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access, which is
good fast internet on your PC or Laptop via the mobile phone).
It's called the S2 and is available on both PAYG and contract. It's
a breeze to set up as all the PC drivers etc are actually stored in the
phone itself, so NO PROBLEMS if you have a Netbook or PC without a CD or
DVD drive - just plug the phone into a free USB socket and follow the
instructions - foolproof!
Purchase a £10 credit voucher and
as well as FREE Skype calls you can purchase a very useful add-on.
Mobile broadband - £10
gives you up to 1 Gigabyte (about 3 hours browsing a day, plus your
emails).
If you spend £15 you get 3GB,
which is probably more than adequate for all but the most ardent Internet
TV watcher or games player!
You can connect your computer via
bluetooth if your PC is thus enabled (or you have an adapter), or via the
provided USB cable, and a free USB port.
It all works under Windows,
including the latest Vista. (I believe an Apple version is also available,
but check before you buy)
All in all ten quid a month
for a pay as you go no-contract broadband connection for anyone
spending short to medium periods of time in the UK is a definite plus,
never mind the FREE Skype CALLS.
Vodaphone offer a similar
service in Spain.
It is via a USB modem at around
£60, (which is an option available from 3).
Unlike 3, it is not available as
pay as you go, but requires signing up to an 18 month contract at around
37 euros a month!
Finally, if you travel to Italy,
Austria, Hong Kong or Australia with your 3 system - you can use your top
up credits in exactly the same way - with no further roaming charges.
Roaming? - Call costs are
in-line with most other Pay as you go providers, BUT watch out for
internet connecting which is £3 a megabyte if you use it OUTSIDE
of the UK, or the areas mentioned above.
That being said, if you are like
us, and spend a number of months in Spain, and in the UK, then a look here
is certainly recommended.
A good idea, whilst you are in
Spain, is to have a look around for a good "Cyber cafe", (most
charge around a euro an hour), or even a free Wi-Fi connection, both
of which, are starting to spring up all over the place.
In Antequera, for instance, the
are a number of both.
I also heard that a number of
local authorities are offering free broadband connections via Wi-Fi to residents.
Don't ask me - enquire at your
local town hall.
GMT
26/07/2007 18.31 SPAIN - (top
of page)
“Illegal Hotel” - painted on Caba de
Gata hotel - GREENPEACE claim work is still going on at El Algarrobico.
Greenpeace used gallons of black paint to paint
letters around 10 metres high and covering most of the front of the
controversial El Algarrobico hotel.
Members of the environmental group scaled the
20-floor complex, built on land inside the protected Cabo de Gata Natural
Park, and painted the words “Illegal Hotel” on its frontage.
Last May, the Junta de Andalucía regional
government said steps had been taken to demolish the 411-bed hotel, built
on protected land.
See more NEWS here
GMT
25/07/2007 14.38 SPAIN - (top
of page)
Motril man latest in child
porn crackdown
A MOTRIL man arrested as part of a police
crackdown on paedophilia had 300 pornographic photos on his computer,
according to police.
The man, was among 66 people detained throughout
Spain during Operation Penalty.
See more NEWS
here
Oleander, seen in many
urbanisations, along motorway central reservations, as well as lots of
private gardens in Spain, is an incredibly poisonous plant, with toxic
components which can be deadly to people - especially young children.
Oleandrin and neriine, which affect the heart, plus, the bark contains
rosagenin, which acts in a similar way to strychnine.
The
entire plant, as well as the sap is toxic. Even when dried, the
leaves can still be lethal. One leaf holds enough poison to kill a small
child.
Animals who mistake this plant,
sweet to the taste, for food, often die within days. Clippings are
particularly dangerous because of this.
See more NEWS
here
