Free banking - Page 5

I have to be honest, from each time I have recommended this bank after tons of researching and now 6months of use, I find it astounding that most people try to find fault with this bank instead of looking at the benefits which I keep outlining. Yes if you go into branch and do a transaction there is a fee for that month but ask yourself how many times have you needed to do this. I manage 6 differrent bank accounts in Uk(savings mostly) and 2 are current accounts, I have never had to go into a branch yet! I did all the work for you, just go and open account or keep paying extortionate fees. Your choice. If you are hesitant because you may find yourself with no english speaker(website and app all in english) in branch then use google translate or take a spanish speaking friend. After all you are in a foreign country and should be used to that happening anyway.

Pauline.

If you're referring to me, I am not finding fault with anything, just after a bit of clarification. Like you, I spent a long time some year's back after Halifax packed up, trying to find a low/no fee account for non residents and couldn't find one at the time, and like you I do all my UK banking online. I know transferring D Debits can sometimes go wrong. If that happens in Spain bills might get missed and fines imposed....been there before, so I would be interested to hear if others have experience of this.

I was not referring to your good self but to the many replies to my recommendation of Cajamar. I have offerred this recommendation on at least 20+threads but the general consensus is the majority complain about their fees yet dismiss this particular bank as if they are 2nd grade. Its almost like as they,re not considered as well known as "the big boys" ie. Bbva, Bankia,Sabadell, Caixa then they can,t be worth considerring. How wrong. I was always advised to eat at restaurants that the locals use, same with banking, they are well used by the Spanish who wouldnt pay a cent more than they have to for their banking. I accept your  comments re direct debit bills, which Cajamar did undertake to switch, however in my first reply I did say I contacted my companies myself to confirm the change due to the points you raised. Btw I too was with Halifax.es and shoved onto Sabadell with their extortionate fees. I wish I,d had the confidence to leave them earlier but I too kept being refused fee free banking as a non resident. I just got sick this year of putting off and determined to find my fee free bank. I looked at N26, Starling and alternative non spanish bankers but felt it better to find a Spanish bank that I could identify with. I wish you good luck in your outcome

Regards

Pauline.

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. This project is top of my list for my next visit to the house and I'll post the result on here for others to see.

Paulsav.........

I have sent you a PM.

Thank you very much, Pauline, I too am trying to be brave and make the jump so Ill certainly look into your suggestion. Sabadell fees are just too high.

Marie

Hello , dont mind me asking but would you happen to know what they would charge for a three bed house / apartment insurance. thanks .

Be careful taking out a bank's insurance for anything.

There are several posts on here complaining about their reluctance to pay out in the event of a claim.

Yes Roland, you are correct, wouldnt trust any of them. In 2006, we bought our property, 6mnths later paid £5k to company for 18ton lorry to take 90% of our stuff from UK and 6mnths after that whole lot was ransacked! I do mean everything! Caixa was our banker and insurer and refused to pay out, despite 3 solicitors and their fees we got told "take us to court"!!

Why? Because our property had its fence taken down by Renfe to build their AVI train track just 50ft from our door, starting 2months after filling the home, and we didnt even know a thing about it. Corrupt lawyer didnt tell us on buying and insurance said "if we had told them about workmen around our land for 2 years they would have felt we would have been more vulnerable and they,d have refused the cover." So not only did they dig up a loophole (we didnt know so how could we tell them) but they sent our premium back as a "goodwill" gesture. I had to fight to get insured after that as we had to declare the rejection but we lost over 20k€ property(5 bed house totally full). 

I wont even trust a Spanish insurer now and have been with Towergate eversince. They,ve paid out twice for various reasons, no problems and no hassle. It didnt just rob our property but our lives, it,s taken 10years to replace everything.

Have got our spanish car with Liberty Seguros so keep my fingers crossed we,ve chosen well.

Regards

Pauline.