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Caixa Bank Charges

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 11:12am
81 replies4084 views15 members subscribed
JRS

JRS

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Hi,

I opened a Caixa bank account whilst over in Spain on 14th Feb just in case it was needed although am hoping not to use it and find a cheaper solution instead.

It is a Holabank living solutions account for non residents and I was told the fees are €8 per month or €24 per quarter. The account has not yet been used other than to fund it to cover fees.

However, they have already debited the following:

10th March - €8

4th April - €16

21 April - €8

Does anyone have any experience of this account and what might be going on?

I have written to them and asked for an explanation but they have not responded.

Meanwhile the search for a better solution goes on. N26 looked promising but no longer open to UK residents due to Brexit!

Thanks

Jon

JRS

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:05pm

JRS

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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:05pm

This post that was quoted has been deleted.

Thanks Ray.

So I'm effectively going to have to pay 16 Euros a month for this account? The only charges that were mentioned on opening were the 24 Euros a quarter. I was warned about Spanish banks being a law unto themselves but this is ludicrous.😠

JRS

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:39pm

JRS

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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:39pm

This post that was quoted has been deleted.

Cheers Ray,

I will keep trying to get an answer out of them and continue to try and find an alternative. A bit difficult at the moment though being stuck in the UK and most non-resident accounts require in branch opening. I have only given my lawyers my Starling Euro IBAN to work with in sorting my bills and DD's but I expect they will come back wanting a Spanish account.

Jon

JRS

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:18pm

JRS

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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:18pm

Some success is being had with Starling. Probably worth persevering.

https://www.andalucia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=39959

Jon

Kenbo

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:18am

Kenbo

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:18am

JRS wrote on Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:18pm:

Some success is being had with Starling. Probably worth persevering.

https://www.andalucia.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=39959

Jon

JRS

I have just read through your link to the Starling thread, the poster did seem to get there in the end to set up his direct debits with Starling, I too have a Starling account.

I have had similar discussions with someone else saying that the Starling IBAN number being prefixed GB could be problematic, although others may have managed it ok.

In the end, as I also have a Transferwise borderless account I switched all my direct debits in Spain to this, working perfectly with no fees.

Next step is to close my Bankia account when I can get to Spain, as this may be a while yet and as I will be paying their recently inflated charges I am looking into getting my Solicitor to close the account.

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JRS

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:29am

JRS

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:29am

Kenbo wrote on Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:18am:

JRS

I have just read through your link to the Starling thread, the poster did seem to get there in the end to set up his direct debits with Starling, I too have a Starling account.

I have had similar discussions with someone else saying that the Starling IBAN number being prefixed GB could be problematic, although others may have managed it ok.

In the end, as I also have a Transferwise borderless account I switched all my direct debits in Spain to this, working perfectly with no fees.

Next step is to close my Bankia account when I can get to Spain, as this may be a while yet and as I will be paying their recently inflated charges I am looking into getting my Solicitor to close the account.

Thanks Ken

Does the Transferwise borderless account not have a GB IBAN then?

I will look into opening one if the Starling account can't be used.

Jon

Kenbo

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40am

Kenbo

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40am

JRS wrote on Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:29am:

Thanks Ken

Does the Transferwise borderless account not have a GB IBAN then?

I will look into opening one if the Starling account can't be used.

Jon

Jon

Transferwise account is based in Belgium so BE.

Previously it was in Germany so DE

I have had the Transferwise account 8/9 years now and used this for topping up my Spanish bank account and paying Trades people in Spain. The account comes with a debit card.

It is only recently that they have started to support direct debits...bye bye Spanish bank account.

JRS

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40am

JRS

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Posts: 110

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40am

JRS wrote on Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:29am:

Thanks Ken

Does the Transferwise borderless account not have a GB IBAN then?

I will look into opening one if the Starling account can't be used.

Jon

Just opened one and it seems you get a BE IBAN with a Euro account. Hopefully that will keep some of those happy that refuse to use a GB IBAN

Jon

Kenbo

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:57am

Kenbo

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:57am

JRS wrote on Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40am:

Just opened one and it seems you get a BE IBAN with a Euro account. Hopefully that will keep some of those happy that refuse to use a GB IBAN

Jon

Yes that is correct Jon

Forgot to mention earlier that their exchange rates are up there with the best and also have english speaking customer support based in London.

The only thing that I don't use this for is withdrawals at atm, I use my Santander account fee free in a Santander atm, or Starling if I can find an atm that doesn't charge.

Geoffro

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:35pm

Geoffro

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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 2:35pm

Although i am happy with Bankinter at the moment, no fees, I have made a note of Openbank run by Santander, also no fees.

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