Non resident having problems getting bank to pay direct debits

Kayjayb wrote on Wed Aug 24, 2022 4:34pm:

We bought our house in Los Narejos about 2 years ago right at the start of COVID. The lawyers said they would help set up direct debits for all the regular payments eg IBI, Refuse collection,water,electricity etc, however lockdown came and this never happened.  We have visited Spain 3 times ...

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...since each time trying to sort out with Sabadell Bank in L>A> to get these bills paid by direct debit. We,ve visited the town hall on every visit to try to sort this out.  We were helped last year by a Town Councillor Ms. Joanne Scott (who I understand has now retired due to ill health). We have been fined due to late payment last year for rubbish collection. Seems it used to be with the water bill the previous year which was paid OK but it changed and we had no idea. I am told today (24th August 2022) two people (they said from the Town Hall) visited the house to say we owed over 300Euros . I can only assume this is IBI.  But when we were in Spain in May this year we visited the Town Hall and Sabadell Bank and signed various documents and were assured that the direct debits for IBI and all the utilities were set up. We know electricity and water are OK, as these have appeared on statements, but Sabadell refused to give us a print out of all direct debits so that we can check everything.  We receive no bills as the house is in a gated compound and there is no point in us having a post box on the outside wall as we are only there 6 weeks each year.

What month are IBI bills sent out and how can I set up to ensure they are paid on time. I dont want to keep getting late penalties for non payment!! I should state that since we bought the house the only bills we ever receive are from Ibederola, no-one else has ever sent us a bill so we,ve no idea whats going on and despite all our efforts when we think the time we,ve spent to resolve it seems to fail every time despite assurances to the contrary. We will be in Spain for 3 weeks from 27th September so if anyone can help with useful advice we would be very grateful

Ken

Jan1961 wrote on Thu Aug 25, 2022 6:30pm:

Hi if you fall under Murcia Email the below

[email protected]

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It took my Solictor 2 years to get my Direct Debit set up on my Bank Sabadell Account then I closed Account think that was Email I used to set up on my Wise Account.

If you have Sabadell Account if you log on to account you should be able to view Direct Debits or speak to Solictor to see if they attempted to set up Direct Debits for Utilities on Completion.

Kayjayb wrote on Fri Aug 26, 2022 10:41am:

Thanks for that info.  Will try to check on DD on Sabadell bank website from UK in first instance.  But I do also have a Wise account and had not thought of using that, so a good fallback alternative.

Very helpful, thanks again

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Ken

Jan1961 wrote on Fri Aug 26, 2022 12:35pm:

Hi Ken if I were you if you are getting charged like I was €40 every couple months with Sabadell why not switch all Direct Debits to Wise.I did last October mind it wasnt easy from Spain side but Wise accept Sepa international Payments that includes Direct Debits even though one Spanish utility...

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... company first refused and I said I'd report them to Wise.I just Top my Wise account every couple months using my UK debit Card.

Jan1961 wrote on Fri Aug 26, 2022 12:35pm:

Hi Ken if I were you if you are getting charged like I was €40 every couple months with Sabadell why not switch all Direct Debits to Wise.I did last October mind it wasnt easy from Spain side but Wise accept Sepa international Payments that includes Direct Debits even though one Spanish utility...

Read more...

... company first refused and I said I'd report them to Wise.I just Top my Wise account every couple months using my UK debit Card.

Carol57 wrote on Wed Aug 31, 2022 3:36pm:

Hi Ken, 

I pay all my direct debits through my wise account.  I have a standing order from my uk account each month into my wise GBP wallet and watch the exchange rate to convert to euro to cover my bills.  It's fantastic and no fees attached.