A couple of easy questions to start !!

[kd&sal]

Hi all,
This is my 1st post at last after having been lurking around and checking out this forum at least once a week for past couple of months. Its been very useful for some great info gathering.

We're in the early stages of planning a permanent move to GC (hopefully before end of year) and are coming over for couple of weeks in May to check out some property and visit some relations who live in PR.

This visit will be a good opportunity to sort out NIE registration and maybe open a bank account. I guess we need the NIE first though!!

First up, is there a police station in PR where we can register for NIE? Also will our relations PR address be suffice for the form filling?

Second, can anyone recommend a bank in PR or anywhere else in GC for that matter ? I've read a lot on other forums about banks in Spain stinging foreign clients for hefty charges when moving money or requesting bankers drafts. Any advise welcome.

Any suggestions on any other formalities that we can get started whilst over there would be welcome.

Thanks for now.
kd&sal

[coolcreen]

1 No police station in Puerto Rico that I know of. Police station a few kilometers down the road in Arguineguin next to the Catholic Church and across the road from a filling station. Town Hall covering the Mogan area (every place between Arguineguin and Mogan) adjacent to the police station.
2 Cannot answer your question regarding NIE. Our solicitor obtained it for us prior to purchasing a property so I so I suspect she used her address. For this reason, I suspect that you can. One of the other member may be better informed.
3 As you probably know, this site was hacked last December and an incredible amount of excellent info was lost. However, I do remember reading reviews on banks. The one which received the most negative comments was Banco Santander. As I read the reviews after I selected a bank....Banco Santander, I can agree with every negative comment made. Went for a reputable well-know bank to my cost. Outragous charges and fees. Wish I had read the reviews on this forum in advance of making a choice. I copied the info off the site prior to December, I have it on my computer at home. As this is the work of other members of this forum, I feel that it would not be proper for me to cut and paste it on to a reply. I will however check on what I have and give you a general synopsis of the other banks positive and negative points as outlined by other members (without naming them).
While we are dissatisfied with Banco Santander, we must be fair and state that we do not have personal experience of any of the other banks and for this reason, cannot compare their service and fees first-hand.
Will get back to you within the a few days with the above info.

[redswanlady]

Hi

We used the police station in PDI to do our NIE also any address on the island is ok to use.

We opened bank account with Caja in Las Palmas, very helpful bank manager and fee's not too bad.

wish you well with your move

[mary]

La Caja bank is one that alot of people use - Pablo (I think) is the bank mamager - if you get onto Sheena at www.canary-property.com (http://www.canary-property.com) - she recommends him too. He understand the different problems that us expats may have and is very helpful.
Saying we use bankinter - only because a friend worked there so it was simple for us - i do all our banking online and you can have an english speaking operator to help you if needed.
Any address that the post person knows is ok - the spanish tend to have old addresses on thier NIE's as its sucha hassle to change the address. Its important though that the address you use is a reliable one - the post can be a bit hit and miss and if the post person cant find your address then your post may just not reach its destination!!

[coolcreen]

Hi KD&Sal,

Some brief details as promised from the pre-hacked forum members.

(1)
La Caja got two satisfied reviews, nobody dissatisfied. One interesting point about this bank, (according to the review) it appears that you will receive the same preferential treatment as a resident when you get your NIE, you do not have to become a resident. Check it out however.

(2)
Banco Popular http://www.bancopopular.es/eng/ was regarded as one of the best by another member. He/She found you can set up a bank account online in english before you arrive with a very small amont of money with the english website. He/She advised that you will need to fill in the forms & get your ukbank to sign the form.

(3)
Another member found BBVA very good and very helpful.

(4)
Santander all negatives


My own personal experience of Santander
In 15 months, I have paid about €1100 in crazy fees as they classify me as non-resident. I have an NIE. When I complain about these fees, they say "become a resident".

Hope the above is of some help to you. Double check everything however before making a choice

[MARCUS]

Well first of all you don't need to be a resident in Spain to open a bank account.I have taken many people on holiday to open a bank account.I recommend "La Caja de Canarias" i have had an account with them for 15 years and never had a problem.
You do not have to be a resident either to purchase a property in Spain(but it does help!)
After living here so long,i have discovered that it's all about "Knowing the right people" and nothing else! i am a believer that there is always a way to find a solution.Keep things simple and straight forward.
Marcus :mellow:

[kd&sal]

Thanks everyone for that great info. It will definately save a lot of leg work.

Mary, out of interest, is the La Caja de Canarias branch with nice Pablo the bank manager in Las Palmas ? I would assume there are quite a few branches throughout the island. It would be great if we could go straight to someone who is on our side.

Thanks coolcreen for retrieving those reviews. There is nothing better than personal recommendations. Sorry to hear about your own experiences.

Marcus, I couldn't agree more about knowing the right people to get things done. After having lived in Venezuela for a few years some time back it was the only way, unless of course you have deep pockets !!

Thanks again.

kd&sal

[mary]

Mary, out of interest, is the La Caja de Canarias branch with nice Pablo the bank manager in Las Palmas ? I would assume there are quite a few branches throughout the island. It would be great if we could go straight to someone who is on our side.

kd&sal

I think Pablo is at the branch in Escaleritas in Las Palmas but cant be sure. If you ask Sheena about rental property and to buy etc on www.canary-property.com (http://www.canary-property.com) she advise you

[coolcreen]

MARCUS (http://www.canaryforum.com/forums/member.php?u=184) http://www.canaryforum.com/forums/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif vbmenu_register("postmenu_7738", true);
Registered User


Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Puerto Rico(Mogan)
Posts: 124


http://www.canaryforum.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif
Well first of all you don't need to be a resident in Spain to open a bank account.I have taken many people on holiday to open a bank account.I recommend "La Caja de Canarias" i have had an account with them for 15 years and never had a problem.
You do not have to be a resident either to purchase a property in Spain(but it does help!)
After living here so long,i have discovered that it's all about "Knowing the right people" and nothing else! i am a believer that there is always a way to find a solution.Keep things simple and straight forward.
Marcus :mellow:
Hello Marcus,
your are quite right that you do not need to be resident to to buy a property or open a bank account if you originate from an EU country. I wasn't suggesting that this is a requirement. I was trying to ensure that KD&Sal (or indeed any other viewer of this thread) did not fall into the same trap I did. Maybe I did not explain myself clearly enough.

My bank is Banco Santander
Bank Commision on one bank draft was almost €900 (Yes almost nine hundred euro) This high fee according the Banco Sandander staff is because my am not a resident. I cannot be a resident as I live in GC for only about 5 weeks per year. I think 153 days is the minimum required. If I was a resident, then Banco Santander staff said they would charge me about €10 for the same bank draft.
€890 may be insignificant to some people, but it is a huge charge where I am concerned.

Blessed with hindsight

If I had selected La Caja bank and if they would treat me in the same manner as a resident, regarding bank fees and charges, then the bank draft would have cost me in the region of €10.

On your second point, I also agree with you. Get to know the right people and doors will open for you. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. For example, if you were to arrive in the town where I live, you would not be able to find the right people immediately. This can take quite some time. Add in a foreign language, and the situation becomes more challenging.
Even when you believe you have found the right person, you may be in for a few surprises. There are a small number of people in every part of this planet willing to take advantage of the ill-informed or vunerable.

This forum goes some way towards solving some of the problems.

Finally, I must confess that I do not know even 0.25% of what you know about the island. I merely try to help with the very limited knowledge I have. I am quite happy to be corrected if I make a mistake as I am now more informed also.

I am a daily viewer of you weather report...excellent, though you do make me envious at times.

[redswanlady]

Hi

The bank manager is called pedro at La Caja, and his branch is in Las Palmas. He is a lovely guy, helped us with our bank accounts and is easily contactable if you have any questions or problems.

[mary]

Hi

The bank manager is called pedro at La Caja, .

Ahhhh - Pedro - ok so its not Pablo but very close!!!!

[redswanlady]

you were nearly right!!!! LOL