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Hello. I'm just curious if Sabadell has asked this of another non-resident. Yesterday, my bank book was full and I went in to get another. She told me that there is a new fee of 10 euros to get another. We have already been paying around 70 euros quarterly for an account that provides no specific services. Thoughts?
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:22am
Legendary helpful member
Hi Shay,
Sabadell are diabolical. I'm resident, so pay €15 per quarter for our account, but what I find disgraceful about them is the way they introduce charges and don't tell their customers.
I've had a pre-payment card for a year now - it allows me to make online payments, by loading precise amounts from my online banking onto the card and then using the card to pay for my goods. It keeps my bank account secure and means I don't have to have a credit card for the handful of online payments I make each year. (Oh, and when the bank suggested the card, they didn't tell me that there was a one-off charge of €6 for the card - I discovered that when it appeared on my bank statement.)
Last Saturday, I loaded €100 to the card to buy some wine. I was checking my bank account the following day and spotted a "commission" of 51 cents had been deducted. I discovered it had been charged in respect of me moving, electronically, money from my own bank account to my own pre-payment card, a transaction in Euros between the accounts of the same customer. I have never been charged a commission before for loading my pre-payment card and it's not the amount of the commission, but the fact that Sabadell just started making these charges without warning.
On 27 September, I sent my personal banker an email asking when the charges were introduced and how were they communicated, in advance, to customers. I'm still waiting for an answer 😡
As a non-resident you have much cheaper options available, such as Cajamar's Wefferente account, or a mobile banking app, such as Starling. There have been many discussions on these over the last six months, which you should be able to find, using the search function at the top of the page. Good luck!
Kind regards,
Kim
Please read my reply to Kelvin1960 also today re "Bank charges". Stop paying fees, Cajamar Bank, have an online account "wefferrent" fee free even for non residents. Google website, I can highly recommend them.
Regards
Pauline
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:44am
Super helpful member
Kimmy11 wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:22am:
Hi Shay,
Sabadell are diabolical. I'm resident, so pay €15 per quarter for our account, but what I find disgraceful about them is the way they introduce charges and don't tell their customers.
Read more...
I've had a pre-payment card for a year now - it allows me to make online payments, by loading precise amounts from my online banking onto the card and then using the card to pay for my goods. It keeps my bank account secure and means I don't have to have a credit card for the handful of online payments I make each year. (Oh, and when the bank suggested the card, they didn't tell me that there was a one-off charge of €6 for the card - I discovered that when it appeared on my bank statement.)
Last Saturday, I loaded €100 to the card to buy some wine. I was checking my bank account the following day and spotted a "commission" of 51 cents had been deducted. I discovered it had been charged in respect of me moving, electronically, money from my own bank account to my own pre-payment card, a transaction in Euros between the accounts of the same customer. I have never been charged a commission before for loading my pre-payment card and it's not the amount of the commission, but the fact that Sabadell just started making these charges without warning.
On 27 September, I sent my personal banker an email asking when the charges were introduced and how were they communicated, in advance, to customers. I'm still waiting for an answer 😡
As a non-resident you have much cheaper options available, such as Cajamar's Wefferente account, or a mobile banking app, such as Starling. There have been many discussions on these over the last six months, which you should be able to find, using the search function at the top of the page. Good luck!
Kind regards,
Kim
Hi Kimmy
You're just not spending enough on wine ;-)
Kimmy11 wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:22am:
Hi Shay,
Sabadell are diabolical. I'm resident, so pay €15 per quarter for our account, but what I find disgraceful about them is the way they introduce charges and don't tell their customers.
Read more...
I've had a pre-payment card for a year now - it allows me to make online payments, by loading precise amounts from my online banking onto the card and then using the card to pay for my goods. It keeps my bank account secure and means I don't have to have a credit card for the handful of online payments I make each year. (Oh, and when the bank suggested the card, they didn't tell me that there was a one-off charge of €6 for the card - I discovered that when it appeared on my bank statement.)
Last Saturday, I loaded €100 to the card to buy some wine. I was checking my bank account the following day and spotted a "commission" of 51 cents had been deducted. I discovered it had been charged in respect of me moving, electronically, money from my own bank account to my own pre-payment card, a transaction in Euros between the accounts of the same customer. I have never been charged a commission before for loading my pre-payment card and it's not the amount of the commission, but the fact that Sabadell just started making these charges without warning.
On 27 September, I sent my personal banker an email asking when the charges were introduced and how were they communicated, in advance, to customers. I'm still waiting for an answer 😡
As a non-resident you have much cheaper options available, such as Cajamar's Wefferente account, or a mobile banking app, such as Starling. There have been many discussions on these over the last six months, which you should be able to find, using the search function at the top of the page. Good luck!
Kind regards,
Kim
Hi Kim,
the "wefferrent" account is for residents and non residents. Most Spanish use Cajamar bank. My posts recommending them frequently is because they are the only Spanish bank I could find that was free for non residents and had no conditions. When I opened our account almost all banks were free for residents(not so now). I'm really surprised you pay charges as a resident but then Sabadell is so sneaky. I had paid over 2000€ over 12+yrs and have already saved over 200€ since opening. If you do open an account "transfer services" were not included in our start up so returned to branch and got that added (has to be "contracted"? ). No fee just not part of basic service. They don't have to my knowledge a "prepaid card" but I, d never heard of that as a bank service only for money exchanging so maybe they have similar. My branch had no English speakers but we,re 70kms inland of Alicante, but used Google translate and got there OK, but maybe yours will. They did have a good savings account at time but as non residents preferred to keep our savings in Uk. Trouble is now interest is nothing in Uk now. Hope this makes you think about it. Your money has to work as hard as you had to work to get it!.
Regards
Pauline
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Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:52am
Legendary helpful member
You're so right Kelvin! 😄 I only found the vineyard during lockdown research - the plan to make up for my delinquency has already swung into action 🤪🤭
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 12:44pm
Legendary helpful member
Kimmy11 wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 10:22am:
Hi Shay,
Sabadell are diabolical. I'm resident, so pay €15 per quarter for our account, but what I find disgraceful about them is the way they introduce charges and don't tell their customers.
Read more...
I've had a pre-payment card for a year now - it allows me to make online payments, by loading precise amounts from my online banking onto the card and then using the card to pay for my goods. It keeps my bank account secure and means I don't have to have a credit card for the handful of online payments I make each year. (Oh, and when the bank suggested the card, they didn't tell me that there was a one-off charge of €6 for the card - I discovered that when it appeared on my bank statement.)
Last Saturday, I loaded €100 to the card to buy some wine. I was checking my bank account the following day and spotted a "commission" of 51 cents had been deducted. I discovered it had been charged in respect of me moving, electronically, money from my own bank account to my own pre-payment card, a transaction in Euros between the accounts of the same customer. I have never been charged a commission before for loading my pre-payment card and it's not the amount of the commission, but the fact that Sabadell just started making these charges without warning.
On 27 September, I sent my personal banker an email asking when the charges were introduced and how were they communicated, in advance, to customers. I'm still waiting for an answer 😡
As a non-resident you have much cheaper options available, such as Cajamar's Wefferente account, or a mobile banking app, such as Starling. There have been many discussions on these over the last six months, which you should be able to find, using the search function at the top of the page. Good luck!
Kind regards,
Kim
Hi Kimmy, I think it's a bit sweeping to claim that Sabadell are diabolical.
I appreciate that's your personal opinion based on your experience but in many other threads on banking and finances where this has come up there have been many replies from many people who are extremely happy with their service at Sabadell.
I'm also a bit confused about why a resident (or even a non resident) would need a prepayment card to pay for goods. When I opened my account 5 years ago it came with a Mastercard debit card which I use for all normal daily payments. For non normal payments - eg for tradesmen - you can make a National transfer free in the App, Euros to Euros. For example, if you were buying wine from a Bodega say 4 or 5 times a year you would set them up as a Payee and transfer the money via the National Transfer option in the App. The money appears in the payees account immediately and there is no charge. Using a pre paid card is bonkers, unless I'm misunderstanding you somehow.
A lot of people will change their bank thinking it's a smart move to save 100€ a year but they rarely post that they later ran into administration problems with their new bank when it wasn't so rosy and green on the other side of the fence.
I'll give you a couple of examples - when I needed 12 months of statements printed off and stamped, Sabadell did it for free. I didn't need an appointment, I queued to see an advisor, and he did it willingly. When I made a recent property purchase they didn't charge me for the bankers draft.
I will always stick up for Sabadell because my experience with them has been nothing short of excellent.
So let's be clear, Sabadell are diabolical in your opinion!
Kind regards, Steve
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 12:58pm
Legendary helpful member
Shay wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 5:17am:
Hello. I'm just curious if Sabadell has asked this of another non-resident. Yesterday, my bank book was full and I went in to get another. She told me that there is a new fee of 10 euros to get another. We have already been paying around 70 euros quarterly for an account t...
Read more...
...hat provides no specific services. Thoughts?
Why not use the App for your banking? It's in English and really easy to use. National payments (ie within Spain) are free. I'm sure they charge for a new book because it's now a very old fashioned way to bank and they probably want to discourage it.
If you're not very technical, you can download the App easily on any modern phone, Android or iPhone. Go to Google Play Store and search. Or.. Google "download Banco Sabadell App". Click the link and follow the instructions. You'll never look back. The only time when it can be a little tricky is if they send you a two step ID code to verify an online purchase (Amazon for example). On my phone, once the message has come in with the 4 digit code, the place to enter it (sign) doesn't appear visible, but when you scroll down you do see it. Then you enter the code and your tranfer of money is complete. I'm pretty sure all accounts come with a debit card which facilitates easy ATM withdrawals and contactless payments in shops etc at checkouts.
70 euros a quarter, regardless if you pay in less that 700 monthly, sounds wrong, too high, and you should have a polite conversation with an advisor in your home branch about that.
Kind regards, Steve
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 2:53pm
Legendary helpful member
dinnerout wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 12:44pm:
Hi Kimmy, I think it's a bit sweeping to claim that Sabadell are diabolical.
I appreciate that's your personal opinion based on your experience but in many other threads on banking and finances where this has come up there have been many replies from many people who are extremely happy with their service at Sabadell. ...
Read more...
...
I'm also a bit confused about why a resident (or even a non resident) would need a prepayment card to pay for goods. When I opened my account 5 years ago it came with a Mastercard debit card which I use for all normal daily payments. For non normal payments - eg for tradesmen - you can make a National transfer free in the App, Euros to Euros. For example, if you were buying wine from a Bodega say 4 or 5 times a year you would set them up as a Payee and transfer the money via the National Transfer option in the App. The money appears in the payees account immediately and there is no charge. Using a pre paid card is bonkers, unless I'm misunderstanding you somehow.
A lot of people will change their bank thinking it's a smart move to save 100€ a year but they rarely post that they later ran into administration problems with their new bank when it wasn't so rosy and green on the other side of the fence.
I'll give you a couple of examples - when I needed 12 months of statements printed off and stamped, Sabadell did it for free. I didn't need an appointment, I queued to see an advisor, and he did it willingly. When I made a recent property purchase they didn't charge me for the bankers draft.
I will always stick up for Sabadell because my experience with them has been nothing short of excellent.
So let's be clear, Sabadell are diabolical in your opinion!
Kind regards, Steve
Hi Steve,
Yes, it is my opinion, I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear in my response. As you've been involved in the same - many - previous threads about members complaining specifically about Sabadell, I assume you've forgotten I usually point out that, despite Sabadell's faults, they have a very good online presence and the most extensive network of branches and ATMs - personally, that's the only reason I stay with them.
But I don't understand why you think that gives you the right to use your own opinion to criticise how I manage my account? I care about security that's in line with my personal circumstances - that's my prerogative and, at the risk of sounding more blunt than I intend, it's actually none of your business.
The OP's post commented on a fee introduced by Sabadell with no advance notice - the first they knew of it was when they went into their branch. I discovered similar behaviour when I used my accounts on Saturday, and I shared that experience with the OP. There are some very good aspects to Sabadell's service and as a commercial enterprise, they have the right to change those services as they see fit, but in my opinion, communicating with their customers about new fees in a professional and timely manner is something at which they are very poor.
Kind regards,
Kim
Posted: Fri Oct 2, 2020 6:25pm
Legendary helpful member
Kimmy11 wrote on Fri Oct 2, 2020 2:53pm:
Hi Steve,
Yes, it is my opinion, I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear in my response. As you've been involved in the same - many - previous threads about members complaining specifically about Sabadell, I assume you've forgotten I usually point out that, despite Sabadell's faults, they have a very g...
Read more...
...ood online presence and the most extensive network of branches and ATMs - personally, that's the only reason I stay with them.
But I don't understand why you think that gives you the right to use your own opinion to criticise how I manage my account? I care about security that's in line with my personal circumstances - that's my prerogative and, at the risk of sounding more blunt than I intend, it's actually none of your business.
The OP's post commented on a fee introduced by Sabadell with no advance notice - the first they knew of it was when they went into their branch. I discovered similar behaviour when I used my accounts on Saturday, and I shared that experience with the OP. There are some very good aspects to Sabadell's service and as a commercial enterprise, they have the right to change those services as they see fit, but in my opinion, communicating with their customers about new fees in a professional and timely manner is something at which they are very poor.
Kind regards,
Kim
Cheers Kimmy, thanks for the clarification.
Regarding part of what your reply said..
"But I don't understand why you think that gives you the right to use your own opinion to criticise how I manage my account? I care about security that's in line with my personal circumstances - that's my prerogative and, at the risk of sounding more blunt than I intend, it's actually none of your business"
You posted details in the thread about one of the ways you work with Sabadell and in my view that gives anyone reading them the right to comment on them. If you didn't want anyone to comment on them it might perhaps have been wiser to omit them from your post. I wasn't being rude or personal, simply casting doubt on it as an efficient way to use the tools at your disposal.
Kind regards, Steve
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