Customer Service in Spain - Page 2

Morning Steve

This is an extract from something I posted last August

“I will bore you with a little story. Some years ago, when I was a newbie to Spain, I had some difficulties and needed to visit the Ayuntamiento. I was informed by a neighbour that the staff spoke English. As I have said many times, my Spanish is limited and certainly not up to explaining the problem I was having

I memorised “lo siento, no hablo espanol, por favor puede habler en ingles”. The guy replied in rapid Spanish, non of which I could understand. Long story short, I was reduced to tears and returned home having achieved nothing

The problem needed sorting so, I used my iPad and translator to explain the problem, saved it, and returned the next day to show the same guy. Initially, he wouldn’t even look at the iPad, just pushed it away. I pushed it back and eventually, he read it.  He sorted the problem, returned my paperwork to me and said “ you need to take this paperwork to the bank and they will set up the necessary direct debit. These are your receipts”. All in perfect English”

To avoid a repeat of this experience, when I moved to Moraira, I chose Sabadell, who say “we speak your language” and they do! I always speak very highly of them. However, with one particular female, I need to “play the game”. I long since found if I approach her with “lo siento ....”, her response is a shrug of the shoulders and something approaching “we can try”.

If however, I just say “buenos dias” and then continue in English, all is well.

I feel bound to say that when I’m in the U.K. and find that I’m interrupting two assistants gossiping about their escapades the previous night, my “game plan” is somewhat different!

Countries and customs vary enormously. Working out which game needs to be played definitely pays dividends 🤪🥂

Comparisons don't lead to solutions, it's no "good" or "bad", it's different, and even when you disagree, you must accept the habits to "survive". Do not try to teach a Spaniard or tell him what he's doing wrong. Live and let live everyone on it's own. Spain has 100.000 faces, pick the best for you and forget about the rest. After so many years I cannot imagine myself elsewhere.

This has turned out to be a thread for "Brit wingers living in Spain" Should make a silly tv program out of it.

Spain is not the UK. Spanish people have always been respectful towards me and my wife. We have been here years and although things are not always done as expected they always get done....in time. If I go somewhere important I take a translator with me and everything (usually) goes smoothly. I never expect a Spanish person to speak English.....ever. We live in Spain (and love it) so we live the Spanish way.

Steve 

My post wasn't meant to be anti Spanish at all, quite the contrary. It was really more trying to help people adopt a different mindset in a different culture.

Like you I love Spain and the Spanish and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. (Maybe Barbados January and February 😁)

Steve

Personally I thought your original post was helpful, especially to newish visitors to Spain. One thing I have learned over the years is that people can interpret something written in many different ways, often not as the words were intended. 

Aitch.

Thank you Rob...I have now TOTALLY given up on this, should you have followed this incident from the beginning, this is NOT my doing!

'The Bank', can now 'shove it where the sun don't shine'!

Please have a good weekend...🅱️😈.

My location is fantastic thanks. I love it. 

Opinions and all that.

The OP was aimed as a little aid, not derogatory. 

I've worked and therefore lived and dealt with local officialdom, services etc., for anything from a few days to a couple of years, all over the world. In general I have found people everywhere to be OK. Yes, there have been a few ignorant b's along the way, but I have encountered them as much in the UK as anywhere.

Those that suffer unduly almost always bring it upon themselves. Even whilst believing in themselves that they are being nice/polite/courteous, they may well be giving off the wrong vibes and could be viewed as condescending, supercilious etc. Brits and Americans seem to excel in that area.

I've often, for example, switched queues at immigration in far flung places, because I've heard a Brit or Yank voice rising in righteous indignation ahead of me and know they are almost certainly going to be held up.

I've certainly said or done the wrong thing myself on numerous occasions, but you learn (or should do) from your mistakes.

The one thing that's gets me apart Spanish car hire companies is that no one ever replies to my emails!

I have to say, that after 17years living in Spain, that, in general, I get friendly, helpful service, particularly in retail establishments.    However, the two bugbears in my life, are my local Sabadell branch + the one in La Zenia, and (I’m surprised that nobody else has mentioned it) are POST OFFICES!    In these establishments you are treated as an irritant or a numbskull,and certainly looked upon as an interruption to their working patterns.