Spanish Banks - Any Advice?

TiffyBarrett

TiffyBarrett

Well-Known Member
Right, so I'm having a bit of a mare whilst trying to book a villa for my wedding in 2018. I know its a long way of but whatever..

Made the bank transfer to BANKIA via a company over here called UAE exchange, and BANKA have blocked the money going in (apparently because it's from an 'Arab country'). The villa owner said that they can return the money back to my account, details passed over - but the money hasn't arrived despite the villa owner saying its been processed.

The villa owner is now telling me weeks later that they cannot do anymore as all the bank is telling them is that the transfer has been returned. Today, they have given me the phone number of BANKA for me to call them myself to resolve...?!?!?!

A) I don't speak Spanish and the language barrier will be absolutely terrible
B) If I found a Spanish speaking friend, surely I can't phone BANKIA and talk to them about someone else's bank account? Isn't there security clearance etc?

If anyone has any advice on what I can do about this then I'd be hugely grateful (and please, serious answers only)
 
You can probably provide verbal or written authorization for someone to speak on your behalf.

But you should be having UAE exchange chase BANKA.
 
mmintz said:
You can probably provide verbal or written authorization for someone to speak on your behalf.

But you should be having UAE exchange chase BANKA.
Click to expand...

The money entered the BANKIA account but had a 'blocked' notice on it and the funds weren't released into the Spanish account. The accout holder was able to send the money back to my UAE bank account and it has left her account but now isn't in mine - so it's confusing on who to actually speak to!

I just tried phoning the Bankia helpline, but there was no English option - currently finding a Spanish speaker that can help me! Fingers crossed
 
Have you paid in USD or Euros?
And what I don't understand, how can the account holder do anything with the money if it is blocked?

A couple of years ago I had some problems with entities listed on the US OFAC List.
My bank told me, that the funds where blocked by the Bank of America, but returned some weeks later to my account whitout me having to do anything.
I made the payment in Euros, which was more than fine.
 
Namaste said:
Have you paid in USD or Euros?
And what I don't understand, how can the account holder do anything with the money if it is blocked?

A couple of years ago I had some problems with entities listed on the US OFAC List.
My bank told me, that the funds where blocked by the Bank of America, but returned some weeks later to my account whitout me having to do anything.
I made the payment in Euros, which was more than fine.
Click to expand...

I made the payment in Euros from a UAE bank account, and the account holder showed me a screenshot of their log in page showing the amount as blocked in their account. I just thought that they would be able to ask their bank how the transfer was going and whether it was completed from their side.

Fingers crossed it'll just 'appear' then...!
 
Touch wood then.

Maybe you should think about an offshore account.
If you can't pay your holiday villa from UAE now who knows what else you can't pay in the future.
 
Namaste said:
Touch wood then.

Maybe you should think about an offshore account.
If you can't pay your holiday villa from UAE now who knows what else you can't pay in the future.
Click to expand...
I'll just use my UK account from now on - but for now I just need this money back lol!
 
Hi, when I was planning my Ibiza wedding in 2015, TransferWise was a huge help as it enabled me to make lots of transfers to Spanish bank accounts in Euros without incurring the high fees that most UK banks charge. If you send me your email via private message, I can invite you.

Every little helps and that!
 
Thanks guys. Turned out the main villa website that I went through had been hacked and whoever it was stole our money so we'll swiftly move on and try again another way

I'm coming out this summer so will pay people while I'm out there. No messing about.
 
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