Advice needed

Do you have a query on how to get things done in Andalucia, where to find things, who to call? Find out by posting and hear about others experiences.
jennyshaw
Resident
Posts: 652
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:31 pm
Location: Near Baza/Yorkshire

Postby jennyshaw » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:38 am

Thanks for the good replies, and yes their situation is really bad, I'm afraid probably some of you dont realise how bad it is.
They do have family in the UK who have tried to help them, they have sent money by post in a food box but it has never arrived, it got lost somewhere in Spain.
The family cannot get to a bank, they live in a small village with no bank, the nearest one would be over an hours walk away.
Yes they have property and it is on the market and as been for months but nobody wants to buy it.
They have been eating rice and drinking spring water for the last 2 weeks.
I am going over a week on Saturday, I know I am interfering and probably they wont thank me for it, but I am going to phone their family again and get something done for them.
Thanks again for your suggestions and offers of help, its gratefully appreciated by me at least.
Jenny

User avatar
lola2
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:38 am
Location: Manilva

Postby lola2 » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:45 am

What about remortgaging the property or looking at equity release?
Is Dyslexia a problem for you? If so pm me.

User avatar
ICCSL
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 238
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:59 am
Location: El Contador, Chirivel

No money

Postby ICCSL » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:46 am

Jenny, how well do you know this family?

I am quite well known in my area for being a person who will help anybody out (mug would be a better word really) and recently one of our vendors had the same problem as you describe. They came to tell me about their problems and during the conversation told me that they had not eaten for two days. They asked if they could loan 300 euros. I put together a parcel of food and loaned them 300 euros (which to be honest I do not expect to get back). Recently we had a client who wanted to view their house and I had noticed that the vendors had not signed an Authorisation for Sale agreement so our sales person took the agreement there when the viewing took place. They refused to sign this agreement which a) gives us as an agency authorisation to sell their property and b) details the commission agreement we have with them. There is only one reason that vendors refuse to sign these agreements - they will try to effect a direct deal with any prospective purchasers and without an authorisation agreement we would not have a leg to stand on in court. Aren't people wonderful ?

The amount of times that I have "helped people out" is staggering and yet these same people seldom have a good word to say about me. I am told that the possible reason for this is that they have a lack of respect for me because I am a "mug". However, if your friends can get to me, I will certainly give them some food. If they are in Baza, I am 20 minutes down the motorway toward Murcia.
Tina

Jool
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 4915
Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 5:56 am
Location: Coastal Almeria

Postby Jool » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:52 am

It is not a lie about immigrants being given cars - we applied for a loan for a car for my son in the UK when he was a teenager for him to get to work. We were asked if we had any immigrant status and told he would get it if he was an immigrant needing transport to be able to work but not as a UK born and bred.......and that was when we found out from the garages that he would get 4 to 6000GBP as it was then, and that Social Security would pay the money direct to the garage and the immigrant simply turned up to collect the car......and for them it was not even a loan but a work tool to enable them to work and get off benefit.............

Surely this family can get their relatives in the UK to buy plane tickets online for them and someone can drive them to the airport? If their house has no mortgage and is owned outright they would be better off keeping it for now, renting in the UK whilst working and then try and sell again when the market may be better, or facilities may have changed in their village? Very strange to send money over in a food box for someone who is desperate for it...using normal post and not a courier......

jennyshaw
Resident
Posts: 652
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:31 pm
Location: Near Baza/Yorkshire

Postby jennyshaw » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:45 am

ICCSL,
I have p.m'd you, thanks.

Yes I found it strange too to send the box that way too, its not a way that I would have done it.

And they can't work because where they live there is'nt any work available.
Jenny

User avatar
.Griff.
Resident
Posts: 409
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:46 pm
Location: Mijas La Nueva / Walsall

Postby .Griff. » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:47 am

Jenny how do you know all of this?

In your opening post you said they couldn't afford any phone calls so that would suggest he/she hasn't been updating you via the phone. Letters require stamps, which cost money, so I guess that counts that out.

Are they emailing you by any chance? If so can't they sell the PC? How much money are they spending on internet access?

j4mes
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:14 am

Postby j4mes » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:16 pm

surely the family in the UK that sent the money in a box could just book em flights home for tomorrow??

jennyshaw
Resident
Posts: 652
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:31 pm
Location: Near Baza/Yorkshire

Postby jennyshaw » Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:17 pm

Another person has e-mailed me, they were concerned also.
Jenny

Bongtrees
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 2341
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:51 pm
Location: Valencia

Postby Bongtrees » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:14 pm

jennyshaw wrote:Thanks for the good replies, and yes their situation is really bad, I'm afraid probably some of you dont realise how bad it is.
They do have family in the UK who have tried to help them, they have sent money by post in a food box but it has never arrived, it got lost somewhere in Spain.Thanks again for your suggestions and offers of help, its gratefully appreciated by me at least.
Jenny, like many people here i have given money food and all sorts of help to people in the 7 years i have been here.

Many of the things you write above are excuses in a way because if their plight is so bad their relatives can buy the flights online and telephone them with the booking number.

Cash in a food parcel sounds at best naieve at worst stupid and unbelievable. The cost of a parcel of food plus the food? doesnt make any sense, why not just send money by Wells Fargo or direct to any bank without need for a bank account. Can be done at high street bank or Thomas Cook

I suggest that you offer them the use of your phone today and get them to call someone in the uk to book flights, ask to speak to the Uk person yourself and get their number and give them yours so they can call you with the flight details which you can pass on.

Ask around for people to take them to the airport and give them one meal a day until the flight, shared out amongst say 5 caring people this would cost no-one much money.

julian
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 5976
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:38 pm
Location: marbella

lending

Postby julian » Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:55 pm

all, without exception , of the people i have lent money to when they were in difficulty have failed to return it later when things got better, most of them now avoid me, unfortunatly the word "no" I still find difficult to use when i should, but I guess that´s because I´m stupid (don´t all agree with me on that please)

katy
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 13752
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:45 pm

Postby katy » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:00 pm

Well, I do agree Julian. It has happened to me a few times, even with a Boyfriend. Most people have friends and family and they are the ones they should be looking to for support.

julian
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 5976
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 8:38 pm
Location: marbella

lending

Postby julian » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:14 pm

most of them were friends Katy, I intend to limit it to family in the future, helping a friend in need seems to be the quickest way to losing a friend !
Katy,I hope your husband doesn´t find out about your boyfriend! :lol:

Campo Kenny

Postby Campo Kenny » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:17 pm

Hubby has been searching for him for ages......................to see if he wants her back 8)

User avatar
Retro P
Resident
Posts: 1928
Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:00 pm
Location: York/Marbella
Contact:

Postby Retro P » Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:01 pm

I feel sad for this family, however it has to be said, I have highlighted many times here (in my arrogance) that it is nothing short of folly to move to any foreign country unless you have a super secure safety net.

I know of a number of people/couples/families who have trodden this path, moving to the campo in search of "the dream" and ending up destitute, they won't be the first or the last.
Ah! the full english!!

Campo Kenny

Postby Campo Kenny » Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:18 pm

Jenny, just to go back to your original post re. the couple not being able to sell their house.
I am certain that at the "right" price it would sell.............even in this climate. Just having arrived back from three weeks there I can confirm that 2 houses on our track have sold contrary to the belief that the market is dead...............albeit at roughly 15-20% off the ask.

My point being that desperate times I'd assume would call for desperate measures.
Out of interest would you say their house is sensibly priced for this current time or are they in dreamworld? i.e. wanting a nice juicy profit. The answer to this would make people who have mentioned donating feel comfortable with their decision I would guess.

Kenny

pete_l
Resident
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:59 pm
Location: Benamaurel, Granada

Postby pete_l » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:15 pm

Retro P wrote:... I have highlighted many times here (in my arrogance) that it is nothing short of folly to move to any foreign country unless you have a super secure safety net....
Oh it definitely not arrogance. Part of the problem is that people in the UK lead such safe, reliable lives - with the walfare state there to pick them up every time they "fall over" that they just can't imagine what it would be like to be really, completely, totally up the creek. It's not necessarily their fault - they just have no experience of it and cannot imagine what it would be like - or even to recognise when it's looming.

I'm not saying the UK way is wrong, just that it doesn't prepare people for life without it and they (we) tend to take it all for granted.

User avatar
Raquel
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 225
Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 6:35 pm

Postby Raquel » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:44 pm

Maybe it's not necessarily that they rely on the welfare state to pick them up when they fall..but the fact that work if you want it is readily available in the UK. Unlike Spain where unemployment is high. Then you have the would-be entrepreneurs who hope/think that their business will be the one that will make it. Their idea will bring in the dinero.

User avatar
ICCSL
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 238
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:59 am
Location: El Contador, Chirivel

Postby ICCSL » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:10 am

jennyshaw wrote:ICCSL,
I have p.m'd you, thanks.

Yes I found it strange too to send the box that way too, its not a way that I would have done it.

And they can't work because where they live there is'nt any work available.
I don't have a PM from you yet Jenny
Tina

PaulaJean
Andalucia.com Amigo
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:28 pm
Location: Cádiz Province

Postby PaulaJean » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:13 am

beachbabe wrote:
most have been given cars
Oh for goodness sake! Far too much Daily Mail in your daily diet.

Sorry, but this is a massive lie.
Quite correct. The only source I can find for this is the BNP. Northhamptonshire CC and Police have issued a statement dismissing it as a myth - completely untrue.

If anybody would care to post the name of the authority that they believe is giving out this cash, I would be happy to investigate further.

Jool
Andalucia Guru
Posts: 4915
Joined: Fri May 18, 2007 5:56 am
Location: Coastal Almeria

Postby Jool » Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:48 am

Social services throughout the South East were doing it, I under stand from a County level but I am talking about 8 years ago. I have also read on another forum that someone who has a garage in London regularly sells cars to immigrants presenting a social services cheque......

I can tell you categorically that it DID happen in the past as we were told it first hand from the relevant place but whether it still does I don´t know as we have not lived in the UK for 6 years.


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests